A Ton of Japanese Animation Updates Dropped Over the Holidays
The Christmas holidays offer a wealth of pursuits much better than catching up on the latest news: opening presents, getting stuffed on festive fare, and using patience techniques to refrain from yelling at family members. Hopefully you were able to accomplish all these things and more. However, the entertainment world doesn't go on vacation, and this is notably true for the realm of anime. Many noteworthy announcements emerged during the holidays, and should you didn't see a few, here is a compilation of the biggest bits.
One-Punch Man Season 3 Is Moving Forward (In 2027)
Perhaps the most shocking revelation, the widely-criticized disaster that was season 3 of One-Punch Man failed to deter the series' continuation. Season 3 will be back with a second cour in 2027—such a distant date they easily could have called it season 4. Even more shocking, animation studio J.C. Staff will remain in charge. Thankfully 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 a mirror of the one used for season 3, just with protagonists Saitama and Garou facing different directions. This leads one to believe that, at this point, they could be teasing the fans.
The Ruri Dragon Series Will Be the Premiere Shonen Jump Anime From Kyoto Animation
Kyoto Animation has built a standing for being an prestigious animation studio, setting itself apart not just for the exceptional quality of its output but for the ethical practices of its employees—a sadly unusual standard in the industry. Curiously, until now, it had not adapted an anime stemming from a manga from Shonen Jump, possibly the most iconic magazine in the industry. Ruri Dragon will end that streak, and what a great choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo achieved massive popularity when it first appeared in 2022 after just a few chapters, but then went into a lengthy break due to the creator's health issues. When it came back with a lighter schedule, the series showed it still retained the fans' appreciation and goodwill, and now the community is ecstatic about the impending KyoAni adaptation.
Kingdom Season 6 Has a Sequel Now in the Works
Kingdom is the best-selling, long-running Shueisha manga that is not One Piece. If you've haven't come across it before, it's because it only fairly recently obtained an English localization, but the anime has been going on for a while, and its sixth season was another excellent entry. Apparently that was just the first cour, because a "sequel" has been announced as in production, and it will probably debut in 2026.
Science Saru Is Bringing A Witch in Mongolia Into an Anime Series
Another studio renowned for the excellent quality of its projects, Science Saru has given us hit shows of the quality of Space Dandy, Devilman Crybaby, and, lastly, 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 prominent woman and scholar in the Mongol Empire in the 13th century. From the trailer, the anime called Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia will have a truly original and captivating 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 Is Set to Continue With a Second Season
Immediately following the conclusion of episode 24, it was confirmed that Tougen Anki will be getting a follow-up. Based on the Japanese legend of Momotaro, Tougen Anki brings to life the manga by Yura Urushibara. The new season of the anime will adapt the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a firm release date has not been disclosed yet.
