A Heap of Japanese Animation News Dropped During the Holidays

The Christmas holidays present a wealth of activities considerably more enjoyable than checking the updates: opening presents, getting stuffed on delicious food, and using meditation skills to avoid yelling at family members. I hope you were able to do all these things and more. Nevertheless, the showbiz industry doesn't go on vacation, and this is particularly true for the realm of anime. Numerous exciting news items came out over the holidays, and if you didn't see a few, here is a roundup of the most exciting bits.

One-Punch Man Season 3 Is Moving Forward (In 2027)

Perhaps the biggest revelation, the notorious disaster that was season 3 of One-Punch Man proved insufficient to deter the series' continuation. Season 3 will return with a follow-up batch of episodes in 2027—a date so remote they might as well have labeled it season 4. Adding to the surprise, animation studio J.C. Staff will remain leading the project. On a positive note this time, director Shinpei Nagai is set to direct from the start, which might be a hopeful indicator. But, the main art for the second cour is the same image the one used for season 3, just with characters Saitama and Garou looking opposite ways. This leads one to believe that, at this point, they must be mocking the fans.

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

Kyoto Animation has forged 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 uncommon practice in the industry. Unexpectedly, until now, it had never worked on an anime based on a manga from Shonen Jump, arguably the most iconic magazine in the business. Ruri Dragon will change that, and what a excellent choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo became a huge following when it debuted in 2022 after just a handful of installments, but then went into a lengthy break due to the creator's health issues. When it resumed publication with a reduced workload, the series demonstrated it still retained the fans' affection and enthusiasm, and now fans are ecstatic about the upcoming KyoAni adaptation.

Kingdom Season 6 Is Getting a Follow-Up In Production

Kingdom is the top-selling, long-running Shueisha manga that is other than One Piece. If you've are unfamiliar with it before, it's because it only recently got an English localization, but the anime has been running for a while, and its sixth season was a further stellar entry. Apparently that was just the first cour, because a "sequel" has been confirmed as currently being made, and it will probably debut in 2026.

Science Saru Will Adapt A Witch in Mongolia To Anime

Another studio famous for the artistic merit of its projects, Science Saru has delivered critically acclaimed works of the ilk 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, inspired by the true story of Fatima, an prominent woman and scholar in the Mongol Empire in the 13th century. Based on the trailer, the anime named Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia will have a distinctly fresh and intriguing visual style, which evokes Ranking of Kings. Debuting in July 2026, this one will without a doubt be on my list of anticipated shows.

Tougen Anki Is Set to Continue With a Season Two

Right after the airing of the final episode of the first season, it was revealed that Tougen Anki will be receiving a follow-up. Inspired by the Japanese legend of Momotaro, Tougen Anki adapts the manga by Yura Urushibara. The second season of the anime will adapt the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a firm premiere date has yet to be revealed.