A Ton of Japanese Animation Updates Landed During the Holidays

The winter break present a wealth of pastimes far superior than catching up on the latest news: discovering surprises, indulging in delicious food, and using deep breathing to not yelling at relatives. I hope you were able to do all these things and more. That said, the entertainment world doesn't go on vacation, and this is particularly true for the realm of anime. Numerous noteworthy news items came out over the holidays, and should you didn't see a few, here is a roundup of the biggest bits.

The One-Punch Man Series Season 3 Is Moving Forward (Come 2027)

Without a doubt the most surprising piece of news, the much-discussed controversial season that was the third season of One-Punch Man wasn't enough to stop the series' continuation. Season 3 will come back with a subsequent part in 2027—such a distant date they might as well have dubbed it season 4. Even more shocking, the studio J.C. Staff will still be at the helm. At least this time, director Shinpei Nagai is on board to direct from the beginning, which might be a hopeful indicator. However, the key visual for the new episodes is identical to the one used for season 3, just with characters Saitama and Garou oriented differently. This suggests that, by now, they could be mocking the fans.

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

Kyoto Animation has forged a reputation for being an elite animation studio, distinguishing itself not just for the superb artistry of its work but for the fair treatment of its employees—a rarity in the industry. Surprisingly, until now, it had not adapted an anime based on a manga from Shonen Jump, perhaps the most iconic magazine in the industry. Ruri Dragon will break that tradition, and what a great choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo became widespread acclaim when it debuted in 2022 after just a handful of installments, but then went into a lengthy break due to the mangaka's health issues. When it resumed publication with a reduced workload, the series proved it still retained the fans' appreciation and enthusiasm, and now everyone is thrilled about the impending KyoAni adaptation.

Kingdom Season 6 Has a Sequel In Production

Kingdom is the best-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 recently got an English translation, but the anime has been going on for some time, and its sixth season was yet another stellar entry. It turns out that was just the first cour, because a "sequel" has been revealed as in production, and it will almost certainly premiere in 2026.

Science Saru Will Adapt A Witch in Mongolia To Anime

Another studio renowned for the artistic merit of its projects, Science Saru has delivered critically acclaimed works of the caliber 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, which is based on the true story of Fatima, an powerful woman and scholar in the Mongol Empire in the 13th century. From the trailer, the anime titled Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia will have a highly unique and intriguing visual style, which is somewhat reminiscent of Ranking of Kings. Set to premiere in July 2026, this one will absolutely be on my watchlist.

Tougen Anki Is Set to Continue With a Season Two

Right after the airing of episode 24, it was revealed that Tougen Anki will be securing a follow-up. Adapted from 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 concrete air date has yet to be revealed.