A Mountain of Japanese Animation News Dropped During the Holidays

The Yuletide season offer a wealth of pursuits considerably more enjoyable than checking the latest news: discovering surprises, feasting on delicious food, and using deep breathing to not yelling at loved ones. It is wished you managed to enjoy all these things and more. However, the entertainment world doesn't take a break, and this is particularly true for the realm of anime. A slew of thrilling developments surfaced during the festive period, and should you overlooked some of them, here is a summary of the most exciting bits.

One-Punch Man Season 3 Will Continue (In 2027)

Without a doubt the most shocking piece of news, the much-discussed controversial season that was season 3 of One-Punch Man failed to stop more episodes. Season 3 will come back with a follow-up batch of episodes in 2027—such a distant date they easily could have dubbed it season 4. Adding to the surprise, the studio J.C. Staff will remain at the helm. At least this time, helmer Shinpei Nagai is on board to direct from the beginning, which is seen as a hopeful indicator. But, the promotional image for the second cour is identical to the one used for season 3, just with protagonists Saitama and Garou facing different directions. This makes me think that, nowadays, they are probably mocking the fans.

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

Kyoto Animation has established a reputation for being an elite animation studio, distinguishing itself not just for the superb artistry of its output but for the fair treatment of its employees—a rarity in the industry. Surprisingly, until now, it had never worked on an anime adapted from a manga from Shonen Jump, perhaps the most iconic magazine in the industry. Ruri Dragon will break that tradition, and what a superb choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo achieved widespread acclaim when it launched in 2022 after just a few chapters, but then went into a extended pause due to the creator's health issues. When it resumed publication with a lighter schedule, the series proved it hadn't lost the fans' support and enthusiasm, and now fans are overjoyed about the impending KyoAni adaptation.

The Kingdom Series Its Sixth Season Has a Sequel In Production

Kingdom is the highly popular, long-running Shueisha manga that is not One Piece. If you've are unfamiliar with it before, it's because it only just received an English localization, but the anime has been running for some time, and its sixth season was another excellent entry. Apparently that was just the first half, because a "sequel" has been confirmed as in production, and it will probably premiere in 2026.

Science Saru Is Adapting A Witch in Mongolia To Anime

One more studio renowned for the excellent quality of its projects, Science Saru has brought us hit shows of the caliber of Space Dandy, Devilman Crybaby, and, more recently, Dandadan. This time, the studio will be handling the adaptation of Tomato Soup's manga A Witch's Life in Mongol, based on the actual historical person of Fatima, an influential woman and thinker in the Mongol Empire in the 13th century. Based on the trailer, the anime called Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia will have a distinctly fresh and intriguing visual style, which is somewhat reminiscent of Ranking of Kings. Debuting in July 2026, this one will without a doubt be on my list of anticipated shows.

The Tougen Anki Series Will Continue With a Second Season

Shortly after the conclusion of the final episode of the first season, it was announced that Tougen Anki will be securing a sequel. Inspired by the Japanese legend of Momotaro, Tougen Anki is based on the manga by Yura Urushibara. The upcoming season of the anime will delve into the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a firm premiere date has not been disclosed yet.