A Heap of Japanese Animation Updates Landed During the Festive Season

The winter break offer a wealth of activities considerably more enjoyable than catching up on the updates: unwrapping gifts, feasting on festive fare, and employing patience techniques to not snapping at family members. It is wished you succeeded in do all these things and more. That said, the entertainment world doesn't take a break, and this is especially true for the realm of anime. A slew of exciting developments emerged over the break, and just in case you missed a few, here is a compilation of the biggest bits.

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

Truly the biggest announcement, the notorious troubled production that was the third season of One-Punch Man failed to deter more episodes. Season 3 will come back with a second cour 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 set to direct from the start, which might be a hopeful indicator. However, the promotional image for the second cour is the same image the one used for season 3, just with protagonists Saitama and Garou looking opposite ways. This makes me think that, nowadays, they must be teasing the fans.

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

Kyoto Animation has established a standing for being an top-tier animation studio, distinguishing itself not just for the exceptional quality of its output but for the ethical practices of its employees—a rarity in the industry. Curiously, until now, it had never worked on an anime based on a manga serialized in Shonen Jump, perhaps the most famous magazine in the industry. Ruri Dragon will break that tradition, and what a great choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo achieved widespread acclaim when it launched in 2022 after just a handful of installments, but then went into a two-year hiatus due to the author's health issues. When it resumed publication with a reduced workload, the series demonstrated it maintained the fans' support and positive sentiment, and now the community is overjoyed about the forthcoming KyoAni adaptation.

Kingdom Its Sixth Season Will Get a Sequel In Production

Kingdom is the best-selling, long-running Shueisha manga that is aside from One Piece. If you've are unfamiliar with it before, it's because it only fairly recently obtained an English translation, but the anime has been running for some time, and its sixth season was another excellent entry. Apparently that was just the first half, because a "sequel" has been revealed as currently being made, and it will probably premiere in 2026.

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

A further studio famous for the artistic merit of its productions, Science Saru has brought us hit shows of the quality 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 captivating visual style, which reminds me a bit of Ranking of Kings. Set to premiere in July 2026, this one will absolutely be on my list of anticipated shows.

The Tougen Anki Series Will Return With a Second Season

Right after the airing of the final episode of the first season, it was announced that Tougen Anki will be receiving a second season. Inspired by the Japanese legend of Momotaro, Tougen Anki adapts the manga by Yura Urushibara. The second season of the anime will cover the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a firm release date has yet to be revealed.