A Heap of Japanese Animation Updates Landed Over the Festive Season

The Christmas holidays provide a wealth of pursuits far superior than checking the updates: opening presents, feasting on holiday treats, and employing patience techniques to not yelling at relatives. Hopefully you managed to accomplish all these things and more. However, the world of entertainment doesn't go on vacation, and this is particularly true for the realm of anime. A slew of thrilling announcements surfaced over the festive period, and if you missed any, here is a roundup of the biggest bits.

The One-Punch Man Series Its Third Season Is Set to Continue (In 2027)

Perhaps the biggest announcement, the notorious controversial season that was the third season of One-Punch Man proved insufficient to stop more episodes. The show will return with a follow-up batch of episodes in 2027—such a distant date they might as well have labeled it season 4. Adding to the surprise, the studio J.C. Staff will continue to be leading the project. On a positive note this time, director Shinpei Nagai is on board to direct from the beginning, which might be a good sign. However, the main art for the new episodes is identical to the one used for season 3, just with protagonists Saitama and Garou oriented differently. This leads one to believe that, nowadays, they must be mocking the fans.

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

Kyoto Animation has established a name for being an elite animation studio, making its mark not just for the superb artistry of its productions but for the good working conditions of its employees—a sadly unusual standard in the industry. Curiously, until now, it had never worked on an anime adapted from a manga from Shonen Jump, arguably the most iconic magazine in the business. Ruri Dragon will end that streak, and what a great choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo achieved widespread acclaim when it first appeared in 2022 after just a handful of installments, but then went into a extended pause due to the mangaka's health issues. When it resumed publication with a lighter schedule, the series showed it hadn't lost the fans' appreciation and positive sentiment, and now the community is ecstatic about the impending KyoAni adaptation.

The Kingdom Series Season 6 Will Get a Sequel Currently in Production

Kingdom is the highly popular, epic Shueisha manga that is not One Piece. If you've haven't come across it before, it's because it only recently got an English release, but the anime has been airing for years, and its sixth season was yet another excellent entry. Apparently that was just the first cour, because a "sequel" has been revealed as in production, and it will almost certainly air in 2026.

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

A further studio renowned for the artistic merit of its projects, Science Saru has brought us masterpieces of the quality 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 intellectual in the Mongol Empire in the 13th century. From the trailer, the anime named Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia will have a highly unique and intriguing visual style, which evokes Ranking of Kings. Set to premiere in July 2026, this one will without a doubt be on my list of anticipated shows.

Tougen Anki Is Set to Continue With a Season Two

Right after the release of episode 24, it was confirmed that Tougen Anki will be receiving a sequel. Inspired by the Japanese legend of Momotaro, Tougen Anki brings to life the manga by Yura Urushibara. The upcoming season of the anime will delve into the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a specific premiere date has yet to be revealed.