A Ton of Japanese Animation Updates Dropped Over the Holidays

The winter break present a wealth of activities much better than catching up on the headlines: unwrapping gifts, indulging in delicious food, and harnessing meditation skills to not arguing with family members. It is wished you managed to enjoy all these things and more. Nevertheless, the world of entertainment doesn't take a break, and this is particularly true for the realm of anime. Numerous exciting announcements emerged over the holidays, and just in case you missed some of them, here is a roundup of the biggest bits.

The One-Punch Man Series Its Third Season Will Continue (Come 2027)

Without a doubt the most surprising revelation, the notorious controversial season that was the third season of One-Punch Man proved insufficient to deter the series' continuation. The show will return with a second cour in 2027—so far away they easily could have labeled it season 4. Adding to the surprise, the studio J.C. Staff will remain in charge. At least this time, helmer Shinpei Nagai is attached to direct from the outset, which could be taken as a positive development. Yet, the key visual for the second cour is identical to the one used for season 3, just with protagonists Saitama and Garou looking opposite ways. This leads one to believe that, at this point, they must be mocking the fans.

Ruri Dragon Will Be the Premiere Shonen Jump Anime From Kyoto Animation

Kyoto Animation has established a name for being an top-tier animation studio, making its mark not just for the superb artistry of its output but for the ethical practices of its employees—a sadly unusual standard in the industry. Unexpectedly, until now, it had never worked on an anime stemming from a manga published in Shonen Jump, arguably the most iconic magazine in the industry. Ruri Dragon will end that streak, and what a superb choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo gained massive popularity when it first appeared in 2022 after just a small number of issues, but then went into a lengthy break due to the author's health issues. When it returned with a reduced workload, the series proved it maintained the fans' appreciation and enthusiasm, and now fans are ecstatic about the upcoming KyoAni adaptation.

Kingdom Season 6 Is Getting a Follow-Up In Production

Kingdom is the top-selling, epic 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 release, but the anime has been running for a while, and its sixth season was a further outstanding entry. It turns out that was just the first cour, because a "sequel" has been revealed as in production, and it will probably debut in 2026.

Science Saru Will Adapt A Witch in Mongolia To Anime

A further studio renowned for the artistic merit of its projects, Science Saru has delivered masterpieces of the quality of Space Dandy, Devilman Crybaby, and, lastly, 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 called Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia will have a highly unique and captivating visual style, which reminds me a bit of Ranking of Kings. Scheduled to launch in July 2026, this one will absolutely be on my must-watch list.

Tougen Anki Will Continue With a Season Two

Immediately following the airing of the final episode of the first season, it was revealed 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 delve into the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a firm premiere date has not yet been announced.