A Ton of Japanese Animation News Arrived During the Holidays

The Christmas holidays provide a multitude of pursuits far superior than catching up on the updates: opening presents, getting stuffed on delicious food, and harnessing deep breathing to refrain from yelling at relatives. I hope you were able to do all these things and more. Nevertheless, the world of entertainment doesn't take a break, and this is notably true for the realm of anime. Numerous noteworthy developments emerged over the break, and should you didn't see any, here is a roundup of the biggest bits.

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

Truly the most surprising revelation, the notorious controversial season that was season 3 of One-Punch Man failed to stop more episodes. Season 3 will return with a subsequent part in 2027—so far away they might as well have labeled it season 4. Even more shocking, animation studio J.C. Staff will continue to be in charge. On a positive note this time, helmer Shinpei Nagai is set to direct from the outset, which might be a hopeful indicator. However, the main art for the continuation is identical to the one used for season 3, just with protagonists Saitama and Garou oriented differently. This suggests that, at this point, they are probably mocking the fans.

Ruri Dragon Is Set to Be the Premiere Shonen Jump Anime By 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 output but for the ethical practices of its employees—a rarity in the industry. Unexpectedly, until now, it had never worked on an anime adapted from a manga published in Shonen Jump, arguably the most famous magazine in the business. Ruri Dragon will end that streak, and what a superb choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo became widespread acclaim when it first appeared in 2022 after just a small number of issues, but then went into a lengthy break due to the creator's health issues. When it returned with a lighter schedule, the series demonstrated it still retained the fans' appreciation and enthusiasm, and now fans are thrilled about the impending KyoAni adaptation.

The Kingdom Series Season 6 Has a Sequel Now in the Works

Kingdom is the highly popular, decades-spanning Shueisha manga that is aside from One Piece. If you've are unfamiliar with it before, it's because it only just received an English release, but the anime has been running for years, and season 6 was yet another outstanding entry. As it happens that was just the first cour, because a "sequel" has been revealed as in production, and it will probably air in 2026.

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

One more studio famous for the artistic merit of its work, Science Saru has delivered 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, based on the true story of Fatima, an powerful woman and intellectual 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 reminds me a bit of Ranking of Kings. Debuting in July 2026, this one will absolutely be on my list of anticipated shows.

Tougen Anki Will Continue With a Second Season

Immediately following the conclusion of episode 24, it was revealed that Tougen Anki will be securing a follow-up. Adapted from 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 firm air date has not been disclosed yet.