A Ton of Japanese Animation Updates Arrived During the Festive Season

The Yuletide season offer a plethora of pastimes considerably more enjoyable than scanning the updates: opening presents, feasting on holiday treats, and using deep breathing to refrain from snapping at loved ones. It is wished you were able to accomplish all these things and more. That said, the showbiz industry doesn't go on vacation, and this is especially true for the realm of anime. A slew of exciting announcements surfaced over the festive period, and just in case you missed any, here is a compilation of the biggest bits.

One-Punch Man Season 3 Is Set to Continue (In 2027)

Truly the most surprising announcement, the much-discussed controversial season that was the third season of One-Punch Man proved insufficient to halt the series' continuation. The show will come back with a subsequent part in 2027—so far away they might as well have labeled it season 4. More surprisingly, the studio J.C. Staff will continue to be in charge. Thankfully this time, director Shinpei Nagai is on board to direct from the start, which might be a hopeful indicator. Yet, the promotional image for the continuation is a mirror of the one used for season 3, just with characters Saitama and Garou oriented differently. This makes me think that, by now, they must be trolling the fans.

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

Kyoto Animation has built a standing for being an elite animation studio, making its mark not just for the high caliber of its output but for the fair treatment of its employees—a sadly unusual standard in the industry. Unexpectedly, until now, it had never worked on an anime based on a manga serialized in Shonen Jump, arguably the most iconic magazine in the industry. Ruri Dragon will break that tradition, and what a excellent choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo gained a huge following when it first appeared in 2022 after just a few chapters, but then went into a extended pause due to the author's health issues. When it came back with a lighter schedule, the series demonstrated it still retained the fans' affection and enthusiasm, and now everyone is ecstatic about the upcoming KyoAni adaptation.

Kingdom Its Sixth Season Has a Sequel In Production

Kingdom is the top-selling, decades-spanning Shueisha manga that is aside from One Piece. If you've are unfamiliar with it before, it's because it only recently got an English localization, but the anime has been airing for some time, and season 6 was another outstanding entry. It turns out that was just the initial batch, because a "sequel" has been confirmed as in development, and it will very likely premiere in 2026.

Science Saru Is Adapting A Witch in Mongolia Into an Anime Series

One more studio famous for the excellent quality of its projects, Science Saru has delivered hit shows of the caliber of Space Dandy, Devilman Crybaby, and, more recently, Dandadan. This time, the studio will be taking on the adaptation of Tomato Soup's manga A Witch's Life in Mongol, based on the actual historical person of Fatima, an influential woman and thinker in the Mongol Empire in the 13th century. Based on the trailer, the anime titled Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia will have a truly original and intriguing visual style, which is somewhat reminiscent of Ranking of Kings. Debuting in July 2026, this one will without a doubt be on my must-watch list.

The Tougen Anki Series Will Return With a Season Two

Right after the airing of episode 24, it was confirmed that Tougen Anki will be receiving a sequel. Inspired by the Japanese legend of Momotaro, Tougen Anki adapts the manga by Yura Urushibara. The new season of the anime will cover the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a firm release date has not yet been announced.