A Ton of Japanese Animation News Arrived Over the Holidays

The Yuletide season present a multitude of pastimes considerably more enjoyable than checking the updates: opening presents, feasting on holiday treats, and using meditation skills to not snapping at relatives. I hope you were able to do all these things and more. However, the world of entertainment doesn't go on vacation, and this is particularly true for the realm of anime. A slew of noteworthy developments emerged during the festive period, and should you overlooked a few, here is a compilation of the juiciest bits.

The One-Punch Man Series Season 3 Is Set to Continue (In 2027)

Truly the biggest piece of news, the notorious controversial season that was season 3 of One-Punch Man proved insufficient to deter more episodes. The show will come back with a second cour in 2027—such a distant date they could have labeled it season 4. Even more shocking, the studio J.C. Staff will remain leading the project. At least this time, helmer Shinpei Nagai is attached to direct from the beginning, which is seen as a good sign. However, the main art 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, nowadays, they are probably trolling the fans.

Ruri Dragon Will Be the First Shonen Jump Anime Produced By Kyoto Animation

Kyoto Animation has forged a reputation for being an elite animation studio, making its mark not just for the high caliber of its output but for the ethical practices of its employees—a sadly unusual standard in the industry. Unexpectedly, until now, it had not produced an anime adapted from a manga serialized in Shonen Jump, perhaps the most iconic magazine in the field. Ruri Dragon will break that tradition, and what a great choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo achieved 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 came back with a lighter schedule, the series demonstrated it hadn't lost the fans' affection and positive sentiment, and now everyone is overjoyed about the upcoming KyoAni adaptation.

The Kingdom Series Its Sixth Season Has a Sequel Currently in Production

Kingdom is the best-selling, epic Shueisha manga that is other than One Piece. If you've never heard of it before, it's because it only fairly recently obtained an English translation, but the anime has been running for some time, and its sixth season was another outstanding entry. Apparently that was just the first cour, because a "sequel" has been announced as currently being made, and it will probably debut in 2026.

Science Saru Is Bringing A Witch in Mongolia To Anime

Another studio famous for the excellent quality of its projects, Science Saru has delivered hit shows of the quality 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, inspired by the actual historical person of Fatima, an influential woman and scholar in the Mongol Empire in the 13th century. Judging from the trailer, the anime called Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia will have a distinctly fresh and captivating visual style, which evokes Ranking of Kings. Set to premiere in July 2026, this one will without a doubt be on my list of anticipated shows.

Tougen Anki Will Return With a Season Two

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