A Mountain of Japanese Animation Updates Dropped During the Holidays

The Yuletide season present a plethora of pastimes considerably more enjoyable than scanning the latest news: opening presents, getting stuffed on delicious food, and using deep breathing to not yelling at family members. I hope you were able to enjoy all these things and more. That said, the world of entertainment doesn't go on vacation, and this is notably true for the realm of anime. Many noteworthy news items came out over the break, and if you overlooked a few, here is a roundup of the juiciest bits.

The One-Punch Man Series Its Third Season Will Continue (Come 2027)

Perhaps the most shocking announcement, the much-discussed controversial season that was season 3 of One-Punch Man failed to stop more episodes. The show will return with a second cour in 2027—such a distant date they easily could have dubbed it season 4. Adding to the surprise, the studio J.C. Staff will continue to be at the helm. Thankfully this time, director Shinpei Nagai is attached to direct from the beginning, which could be taken as a positive development. But, the key visual for the new episodes is the same image the one used for season 3, just with characters Saitama and Garou facing different directions. This leads one to believe that, nowadays, they could be mocking the fans.

Ruri Dragon Is Poised to Be the First Shonen Jump Anime From Kyoto Animation

Kyoto Animation has forged a reputation for being an prestigious animation studio, setting itself apart not just for the superb artistry of its output but for the fair treatment of its employees—a rarity in the industry. Unexpectedly, until now, it had not produced an anime based on a manga from Shonen Jump, possibly the best-known magazine in the field. Ruri Dragon will end that streak, and what a great choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo gained a huge following when it launched in 2022 after just a handful of installments, but then went into a lengthy break due to the mangaka's health issues. When it resumed publication with a reduced workload, the series proved it maintained the fans' support and goodwill, and now everyone is thrilled about the upcoming KyoAni adaptation.

Kingdom Its Sixth Season Has a Sequel Currently in Production

Kingdom is the best-selling, decades-spanning Shueisha manga that is not One Piece. If you've haven't come across it before, it's because it only fairly recently obtained an English release, but the anime has been going on for years, and its sixth season was yet another stellar entry. As it happens that was just the initial batch, because a "sequel" has been revealed as in development, and it will probably debut in 2026.

Science Saru Will Adapt A Witch in Mongolia To Anime

One more studio renowned for the artistic merit of its projects, Science Saru has brought us masterpieces of the caliber of Space Dandy, Devilman Crybaby, and, more recently, Dandadan. This time, the studio will be producing the adaptation of Tomato Soup's manga A Witch's Life in Mongol, inspired by the real historical figure of Fatima, an influential woman and scholar in the Mongol Empire in the 13th century. Judging from the trailer, the anime titled Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia will have a truly original and intriguing visual style, which reminds me a bit of Ranking of Kings. Set to premiere in July 2026, this one will without a doubt be on my watchlist.

Tougen Anki Is Set to Continue With a Second Season

Shortly after the release of its twenty-fourth episode, it was confirmed 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 second season of the anime will cover the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a concrete air date has yet to be revealed.