A Heap of Japanese Animation News Dropped Over the Holidays

The Christmas holidays provide a multitude of pursuits far superior than catching up on the latest news: opening presents, feasting on festive fare, and using deep breathing to refrain from snapping at family members. It is wished you were able to accomplish all these things and more. However, the entertainment world never sleeps, and this is notably true for the realm of anime. Many noteworthy announcements emerged during the festive period, and should you didn't see a few, here is a summary of the juiciest bits.

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

Truly the most surprising revelation, the notorious troubled production that was season 3 of One-Punch Man proved insufficient to deter the series' continuation. Season 3 will come back with a follow-up batch of episodes in 2027—such a distant date they might as well have dubbed it season 4. Adding to the surprise, animation studio J.C. Staff will remain leading the project. On a positive note this time, director Shinpei Nagai is set to direct from the beginning, which is seen as a positive development. But, the promotional image for the continuation is a mirror of the one used for season 3, just with characters Saitama and Garou looking opposite ways. This makes me think that, nowadays, they could be teasing the fans.

Ruri Dragon Is Set to Be the Premiere Shonen Jump Anime By Kyoto Animation

Kyoto Animation has forged a reputation for being an prestigious animation studio, making its mark not just for the high caliber of its work but for the good working conditions of its employees—a sadly unusual standard in the industry. Unexpectedly, until now, it had never worked on an anime based on a manga serialized in Shonen Jump, perhaps the most iconic magazine in the business. Ruri Dragon will break that tradition, and what a excellent choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo gained widespread acclaim when it launched in 2022 after just a small number of issues, but then went into a two-year hiatus due to the mangaka's health issues. When it resumed publication with a lighter schedule, the series demonstrated it maintained the fans' support and goodwill, and now fans are overjoyed about the upcoming KyoAni adaptation.

The Kingdom Series Season 6 Has a Sequel Currently in Production

Kingdom is the top-selling, decades-spanning Shueisha manga that is aside from One Piece. If you've never heard of it before, it's because it only recently got an English translation, but the anime has been airing for a while, and season 6 was a further stellar entry. Apparently that was just the initial batch, because a "sequel" has been confirmed as in development, and it will very likely debut in 2026.

Science Saru Is Bringing A Witch in Mongolia To Anime

A further studio known for the superior craftsmanship of its projects, Science Saru has given us critically acclaimed works of the caliber of Space Dandy, Devilman Crybaby, and, most recently, Dandadan. This time, the studio will be handling the adaptation of Tomato Soup's manga A Witch's Life in Mongol, inspired by the actual historical person of Fatima, an influential woman and scholar in the Mongol Empire in the 13th century. Based on the trailer, the anime named 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 definitely be on my must-watch list.

Tougen Anki Will Return With a Second Season

Shortly after the conclusion of its twenty-fourth episode, it was announced that Tougen Anki will be securing a second season. Based on the Japanese legend of Momotaro, Tougen Anki is based on the manga by Yura Urushibara. The upcoming season of the anime will cover the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a concrete premiere date has not been disclosed yet.