A Mountain of Japanese Animation Updates Dropped During the Festive Season

The winter break present a multitude of pursuits far superior than checking the headlines: opening presents, indulging in festive fare, and using meditation skills to avoid arguing with family members. Hopefully you succeeded in do all these things and more. That said, the world of entertainment doesn't go on vacation, and this is particularly true for the realm of anime. A slew of thrilling news items surfaced during the break, and if you missed a few, here is a summary of the most exciting bits.

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

Truly the biggest announcement, the notorious controversial season that was season 3 of One-Punch Man proved insufficient to deter more episodes. The show will be back with a subsequent part in 2027—such a distant date they could have labeled it season 4. Adding to the surprise, animation studio J.C. Staff will continue to be leading the project. On a positive note this time, director Shinpei Nagai is attached to direct from the start, which might be a hopeful indicator. But, the promotional image for the new episodes is the same image the one used for season 3, just with characters Saitama and Garou oriented differently. This makes me think that, at this point, they could be mocking the fans.

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

Kyoto Animation has built a reputation for being an elite animation studio, setting itself apart not just for the high caliber of its work but for the ethical practices of its employees—a rarity in the industry. Unexpectedly, until now, it had not adapted an anime adapted from a manga serialized in Shonen Jump, perhaps the best-known magazine in the industry. Ruri Dragon will end that streak, and what a excellent choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo gained a huge following when it debuted 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 reduced workload, the series proved it hadn't lost the fans' support and positive sentiment, and now the community is ecstatic about the impending KyoAni adaptation.

Kingdom Its Sixth Season Will Get a Sequel In Production

Kingdom is the top-selling, long-running Shueisha manga that is aside from One Piece. If you've haven't come across it before, it's because it only just received an English translation, but the anime has been running for years, and its sixth season was another excellent entry. Apparently that was just the first half, because a "sequel" has been confirmed as in development, and it will very likely air in 2026.

Science Saru Is Adapting A Witch in Mongolia To Anime

Another studio famous for the artistic merit of its projects, Science Saru has given us critically acclaimed works 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, inspired by the true story of Fatima, an powerful woman and scholar in the Mongol Empire in the 13th century. Based on the trailer, the anime called Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia will have a truly original and fascinating visual style, which is somewhat reminiscent of Ranking of Kings. Scheduled to launch in July 2026, this one will without a doubt be on my must-watch list.

Tougen Anki Is Set to Continue With a Second Season

Shortly after the conclusion of its twenty-fourth episode, it was confirmed that Tougen Anki will be getting a sequel. Inspired by the Japanese legend of Momotaro, Tougen Anki brings to life the manga by Yura Urushibara. The second season of the anime will adapt the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a firm premiere date has yet to be revealed.