A Ton of Japanese Animation Updates Landed During the Festive Season

The Christmas holidays present a multitude of pursuits considerably more enjoyable than catching up on the latest news: unwrapping gifts, indulging in delicious food, and harnessing deep breathing to not yelling at loved ones. I hope you succeeded in accomplish all these things and more. That said, the showbiz industry doesn't go on vacation, and this is particularly true for the realm of anime. A slew of exciting developments surfaced over the festive period, and if you missed some of them, here is a summary of the juiciest bits.

One-Punch Man Its Third Season Is Moving Forward (In 2027)

Without a doubt the most shocking piece of news, the widely-criticized controversial season that was season 3 of One-Punch Man wasn't enough to deter further production. The show will be back with a follow-up batch of episodes in 2027—a date so remote they easily could have called it season 4. More surprisingly, the studio J.C. Staff will still be in charge. On a positive note this time, director Shinpei Nagai is attached to direct from the start, which might be a hopeful indicator. But, the key visual for the new episodes is the same image the one used for season 3, just with protagonists Saitama and Garou looking opposite ways. This leads one to believe that, at this point, they must be mocking the fans.

The Ruri Dragon Series Will Be the First Shonen Jump Anime Produced By Kyoto Animation

Kyoto Animation has built a name for being an elite animation studio, distinguishing itself not just for the superb artistry of its work but for the ethical practices of its employees—a uncommon practice in the industry. Unexpectedly, until now, it had never worked on an anime stemming from a manga published in Shonen Jump, arguably the most iconic magazine in the field. Ruri Dragon will break that tradition, and what a excellent choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo became a huge following when it first appeared in 2022 after just a few chapters, but then went into a lengthy break due to the author's health issues. When it resumed publication with a more relaxed pace, the series demonstrated it hadn't lost the fans' appreciation and goodwill, and now everyone is overjoyed about the upcoming KyoAni adaptation.

The Kingdom Series Its Sixth Season Will Get a Sequel Now in the Works

Kingdom is the top-selling, decades-spanning Shueisha manga that is other than One Piece. If you've never heard of it before, it's because it only just received an English localization, but the anime has been running for a while, and season 6 was a further stellar entry. Apparently that was just the first cour, because a "sequel" has been announced as currently being made, and it will almost certainly debut in 2026.

Science Saru Will Adapt A Witch in Mongolia To Anime

A further studio renowned for the superior craftsmanship of its productions, Science Saru has given us masterpieces of the caliber of Space Dandy, Devilman Crybaby, and, lastly, Dandadan. This time, the studio will be handling the adaptation of Tomato Soup's manga A Witch's Life in Mongol, which is based on the real historical figure of Fatima, an prominent woman and intellectual in the Mongol Empire in the 13th century. Based on the trailer, the anime titled Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia will have a highly unique and fascinating visual style, which reminds me a bit of Ranking of Kings. Scheduled to launch in July 2026, this one will without a doubt be on my list of anticipated shows.

Tougen Anki Will Return With a Second Season

Shortly after the conclusion of its twenty-fourth episode, it was revealed that Tougen Anki will be securing a follow-up. Adapted from the Japanese legend of Momotaro, Tougen Anki brings to life the manga by Yura Urushibara. The new season of the anime will delve into the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a concrete release date has not yet been announced.