A Heap of Japanese Animation News Arrived During the Holidays

The Yuletide season provide a plethora of activities considerably more enjoyable than scanning the latest news: opening presents, feasting on holiday treats, and harnessing deep breathing to not snapping at loved ones. I hope you succeeded in accomplish all these things and more. That said, the showbiz industry doesn't go on vacation, and this is especially true for the realm of anime. Many exciting developments came out over the break, and if you didn't see some of them, here is a summary of the juiciest bits.

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

Truly the most surprising revelation, the much-discussed disaster that was the third season of One-Punch Man wasn't enough to deter the series' continuation. Season 3 will return with a follow-up batch of episodes in 2027—so far away they could have called it season 4. More surprisingly, animation studio J.C. Staff will still be at the helm. At least this time, helmer Shinpei Nagai is on board to direct from the start, which is seen as a good sign. However, the key visual for the second cour is a mirror of the one used for season 3, just with characters Saitama and Garou looking opposite ways. This leads one to believe that, by now, they must be mocking the fans.

The Ruri Dragon Series Will Be the Premiere Shonen Jump Anime Produced By Kyoto Animation

Kyoto Animation has established a reputation for being an prestigious animation studio, setting itself apart not just for the exceptional quality of its output but for the ethical practices of its employees—a uncommon practice in the industry. Unexpectedly, until now, it had not adapted an anime adapted from a manga from Shonen Jump, perhaps the most famous magazine in the business. Ruri Dragon will break that tradition, and what a great choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo gained massive popularity when it launched in 2022 after just a few chapters, but then went into a extended pause due to the author's health issues. When it returned with a lighter schedule, the series proved it hadn't lost the fans' affection and enthusiasm, and now fans are ecstatic about the upcoming KyoAni adaptation.

Kingdom Season 6 Will Get a Sequel Now in the Works

Kingdom is the top-selling, epic Shueisha manga that is not 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 airing for some time, and season 6 was another outstanding entry. As it happens that was just the first cour, 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 Into an Anime Series

A further studio known for the artistic merit of its productions, Science Saru has given us hit shows of the ilk of Space Dandy, Devilman Crybaby, and, more recently, Dandadan. This time, the studio will be producing the adaptation of Tomato Soup's manga A Witch's Life in Mongol, inspired by the true story of Fatima, an powerful woman and intellectual in the Mongol Empire in the 13th century. From the trailer, the anime named Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia will have a truly original and intriguing visual style, which is somewhat reminiscent of Ranking of Kings. Debuting in July 2026, this one will absolutely be on my watchlist.

Tougen Anki Will Continue With a Season Two

Right after the release of its twenty-fourth episode, it was announced that Tougen Anki will be getting a second season. Inspired by the Japanese legend of Momotaro, Tougen Anki adapts 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 yet been announced.