A Heap of Japanese Animation News Arrived During the Holidays

The Yuletide season offer a multitude of pursuits much better than checking the updates: opening presents, indulging in festive fare, and harnessing deep breathing to avoid yelling at loved ones. It is wished you were able to accomplish all these things and more. That said, the showbiz industry never sleeps, and this is notably true for the realm of anime. A slew of noteworthy announcements surfaced over the break, and should you missed any, here is a summary of the juiciest bits.

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

Perhaps the most shocking revelation, the much-discussed disaster that was the third season of One-Punch Man failed to stop the series' continuation. Season 3 will return with a follow-up batch of episodes in 2027—a date so remote they could have labeled it season 4. More surprisingly, animation studio J.C. Staff will still be at the helm. Thankfully this time, helmer Shinpei Nagai is set to direct from the start, which is seen as a hopeful indicator. But, the promotional image for the continuation is a mirror of the one used for season 3, just with characters Saitama and Garou oriented differently. This makes me think that, nowadays, they must be teasing the fans.

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

Kyoto Animation has built a name for being an prestigious animation studio, making its mark not just for the exceptional quality of its productions but for the fair treatment of its employees—a rarity in the industry. Curiously, until now, it had not produced an anime stemming from a manga published 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 achieved widespread acclaim when it debuted in 2022 after just a small number of issues, but then went into a extended pause due to the creator's health issues. When it resumed publication with a more relaxed pace, the series demonstrated it maintained the fans' affection and enthusiasm, and now the community is ecstatic about the forthcoming KyoAni adaptation.

The Kingdom Series Its Sixth Season Is Getting a Follow-Up Now in the Works

Kingdom is the highly popular, epic Shueisha manga that is aside from One Piece. If you've are unfamiliar with it before, it's because it only fairly recently obtained an English localization, but the anime has been running for years, and its sixth season was another stellar entry. It turns out that was just the first cour, because a "sequel" has been revealed as in production, and it will almost certainly premiere in 2026.

Science Saru Is Adapting A Witch in Mongolia To Anime

Another studio famous for the artistic merit of its work, Science Saru has brought us hit shows of the ilk 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, which is based on the true story of Fatima, an powerful woman and thinker in the Mongol Empire in the 13th century. Judging from the trailer, the anime named Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia will have a truly original and fascinating visual style, which evokes Ranking of Kings. Debuting in July 2026, this one will without a doubt be on my must-watch list.

Tougen Anki Will Continue With a Second Season

Right after the release of its twenty-fourth episode, it was announced that Tougen Anki will be getting a sequel. Adapted from the Japanese legend of Momotaro, Tougen Anki adapts the manga by Yura Urushibara. The second season of the anime will delve into the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a concrete premiere date has not been disclosed yet.