A Ton of Japanese Animation Updates Landed Over the Holidays

The Christmas holidays offer a wealth of pursuits much better than scanning the headlines: unwrapping gifts, getting stuffed on festive fare, and employing deep breathing to refrain from yelling at loved ones. I hope you succeeded in enjoy all these things and more. That said, the showbiz industry doesn't take a break, and this is notably true for the realm of anime. Numerous noteworthy developments surfaced over the break, and just in case you overlooked a few, here is a compilation of the biggest bits.

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

Perhaps the most shocking revelation, the much-discussed troubled production that was season 3 of One-Punch Man wasn't enough to deter more episodes. Season 3 will come back with a subsequent part in 2027—so far away they could have labeled it season 4. More surprisingly, animation studio J.C. Staff will still be leading the project. On a positive note this time, helmer Shinpei Nagai is set to direct from the outset, which might be a good sign. Yet, the main art for the continuation is identical to the one used for season 3, just with characters Saitama and Garou facing different directions. This makes me think that, at this point, they could be teasing the fans.

The Ruri Dragon Series Is Set to Be the Premiere Shonen Jump Anime Produced By Kyoto Animation

Kyoto Animation has established a reputation for being an top-tier animation studio, making its mark not just for the high caliber of its productions but for the fair treatment of its employees—a sadly unusual standard in the industry. Unexpectedly, until now, it had not adapted an anime stemming from a manga published in Shonen Jump, arguably the best-known magazine in the field. Ruri Dragon will end that streak, 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 extended pause due to the creator's health issues. When it resumed publication with a reduced workload, the series proved it hadn't lost the fans' affection and goodwill, and now everyone is ecstatic about the upcoming KyoAni adaptation.

The Kingdom Series Its Sixth Season Will Get a Sequel In Production

Kingdom is the best-selling, long-running Shueisha manga that is other than One Piece. If you've haven't come across it before, it's because it only just received an English localization, but the anime has been running for years, and season 6 was yet another outstanding entry. Apparently that was just the first cour, because a "sequel" has been announced as currently being made, and it will probably air in 2026.

Science Saru Will Adapt A Witch in Mongolia To Anime

One more studio famous for the artistic merit of its projects, Science Saru has brought us hit shows of the caliber of Space Dandy, Devilman Crybaby, and, most recently, Dandadan. This time, the studio will be producing the adaptation of Tomato Soup's manga A Witch's Life in Mongol, which is based on the true story of Fatima, an influential woman and intellectual 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. Scheduled to launch in July 2026, this one will definitely be on my list of anticipated shows.

Tougen Anki Will Continue With a Second Season

Shortly after the airing of its twenty-fourth episode, it was announced that Tougen Anki will be getting a sequel. Based on 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 specific release date has yet to be revealed.