A Heap of Japanese Animation Updates Dropped During the Festive Season

The Yuletide season present a plethora of pastimes considerably more enjoyable than scanning the latest news: discovering surprises, getting stuffed on delicious food, and employing deep breathing to avoid snapping at relatives. Hopefully you were able to enjoy all these things and more. That said, the showbiz industry never sleeps, and this is particularly true for the realm of anime. A slew of noteworthy announcements surfaced over the festive period, and just in case you didn't see some of them, here is a summary of the most exciting bits.

The One-Punch Man Series Season 3 Is Moving Forward (By 2027)

Perhaps the most surprising announcement, the notorious controversial season that was season 3 of One-Punch Man failed to halt further production. Season 3 will return with a subsequent part in 2027—such a distant date they could have labeled it season 4. Even more shocking, the studio J.C. Staff will remain in charge. On a positive note this time, director Shinpei Nagai is attached to direct from the outset, which could be taken as a positive development. But, the promotional image for the continuation is a mirror of the one used for season 3, just with protagonists Saitama and Garou facing different directions. This leads one to believe that, nowadays, they are probably mocking the fans.

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

Kyoto Animation has forged a name for being an elite animation studio, making its mark not just for the exceptional quality of its productions but for the ethical practices of its employees—a rarity in the industry. Surprisingly, until now, it had never worked on an anime stemming from a manga from Shonen Jump, arguably the most iconic magazine in the field. Ruri Dragon will break that tradition, and what a superb choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo became massive popularity when it debuted in 2022 after just a small number of issues, but then went into a extended pause due to the author's health issues. When it resumed publication with a reduced workload, the series proved it maintained the fans' appreciation and positive sentiment, and now everyone is thrilled about the forthcoming KyoAni adaptation.

Kingdom Its Sixth Season Has a Sequel In Production

Kingdom is the top-selling, long-running Shueisha manga that is aside from One Piece. If you've never heard of it before, it's because it only just received an English translation, but the anime has been running for years, and its sixth season was another outstanding entry. It turns out that was just the first half, because a "sequel" has been announced as in development, and it will very likely air in 2026.

Science Saru Is Bringing A Witch in Mongolia To Anime

One more studio known for the superior craftsmanship of its work, Science Saru has brought us hit shows of the ilk 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 actual historical person of Fatima, an powerful woman and thinker in the Mongol Empire in the 13th century. From the trailer, the anime called Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia will have a highly unique and intriguing visual style, which is somewhat reminiscent of Ranking of Kings. Set to premiere in July 2026, this one will definitely be on my must-watch list.

The Tougen Anki Series Will Return With a Season Two

Immediately following the conclusion of the final episode of the first season, it was revealed that Tougen Anki will be getting a follow-up. Adapted from the Japanese legend of Momotaro, Tougen Anki adapts the manga by Yura Urushibara. The upcoming season of the anime will adapt the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a specific release date has yet to be revealed.