A Heap of Japanese Animation Updates Landed Over the Holidays

The Yuletide season provide a wealth of activities far superior than checking the headlines: unwrapping gifts, indulging in holiday treats, and harnessing deep breathing to not arguing with loved ones. I hope you were able to do all these things and more. That said, the showbiz industry never sleeps, and this is particularly true for the realm of anime. A slew of noteworthy news items came out over the break, and if you missed any, here is a roundup of the biggest bits.

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

Without a doubt the most shocking announcement, the much-discussed controversial season that was the third season of One-Punch Man proved insufficient to halt further production. The show will come back with a second cour in 2027—a date so remote they could have called it season 4. Even more shocking, the studio J.C. Staff will still be in charge. Thankfully this time, helmer Shinpei Nagai is set to direct from the beginning, which might be a good sign. Yet, the key visual for the continuation is the same image the one used for season 3, just with characters Saitama and Garou looking opposite ways. This suggests that, at this point, they could be teasing the fans.

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

Kyoto Animation has built a reputation for being an top-tier animation studio, setting itself apart not just for the high caliber of its productions but for the ethical practices of its employees—a sadly unusual standard in the industry. Surprisingly, until now, it had never worked on an anime stemming from a manga serialized in Shonen Jump, arguably the best-known magazine in the industry. Ruri Dragon will change that, and what a superb choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo achieved a huge following when it launched in 2022 after just a few chapters, but then went into a lengthy break due to the mangaka's health issues. When it resumed publication with a lighter schedule, the series showed it maintained the fans' affection and positive sentiment, and now fans are overjoyed about the forthcoming KyoAni adaptation.

Kingdom Its Sixth Season Has a Sequel In Production

Kingdom is the best-selling, epic Shueisha manga that is not One Piece. If you've are unfamiliar with it before, it's because it only just received an English translation, but the anime has been airing for some time, and its sixth season was another excellent entry. It turns out that was just the initial batch, because a "sequel" has been revealed as in development, and it will almost certainly air in 2026.

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

A further studio known for the superior craftsmanship of its projects, Science Saru has brought us critically acclaimed works of the caliber of Space Dandy, Devilman Crybaby, and, lastly, Dandadan. This time, the studio will be handling the adaptation of Tomato Soup's manga A Witch's Life in Mongol, which is based on the real historical figure of Fatima, an influential woman and scholar in the Mongol Empire in the 13th century. Judging from the trailer, the anime named Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia will have a distinctly fresh and intriguing visual style, which is somewhat reminiscent of Ranking of Kings. Set to premiere in July 2026, this one will definitely be on my watchlist.

Tougen Anki Will Return With a Season Two

Immediately following the conclusion of episode 24, it was confirmed that Tougen Anki will be receiving a second season. Adapted from the Japanese legend of Momotaro, Tougen Anki adapts the manga by Yura Urushibara. The upcoming season of the anime will adapt the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a concrete premiere date has not been disclosed yet.