A Heap of Japanese Animation News Arrived During the Holidays

The Christmas holidays present a multitude of pursuits far superior than checking the headlines: discovering surprises, indulging in delicious food, and employing patience techniques to not arguing with family members. It is wished you were able to enjoy all these things and more. That said, the world of entertainment doesn't take a break, and this is notably true for the realm of anime. A slew of thrilling developments emerged over the festive period, and if you didn't see some of them, here is a roundup of the biggest bits.

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

Without a doubt the most shocking piece of news, the widely-criticized controversial season that was season 3 of One-Punch Man failed to halt more episodes. The show will be back with a second cour in 2027—so far away they could have called it season 4. Even more shocking, animation studio J.C. Staff will still be at the helm. Thankfully this time, director Shinpei Nagai is set to direct from the beginning, which is seen as a hopeful indicator. Yet, the promotional image for the continuation is the same image the one used for season 3, just with protagonists Saitama and Garou looking opposite ways. This leads one to believe that, at this point, they could be mocking the fans.

The Ruri Dragon Series Is Poised to Be the Premiere Shonen Jump Anime Produced By Kyoto Animation

Kyoto Animation has established a reputation for being an prestigious animation studio, distinguishing itself not just for the superb artistry of its work but for the fair treatment of its employees—a rarity in the industry. Surprisingly, until now, it had not adapted an anime based on a manga published in Shonen Jump, possibly the most famous magazine in the industry. Ruri Dragon will end that streak, and what a great choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo became widespread acclaim when it debuted in 2022 after just a handful of installments, but then went into a lengthy break due to the author's health issues. When it came back with a lighter schedule, the series demonstrated it hadn't lost the fans' affection and enthusiasm, and now fans are ecstatic about the impending KyoAni adaptation.

The Kingdom Series Its Sixth Season Has a Sequel Now in the Works

Kingdom is the top-selling, long-running Shueisha manga that is aside from One Piece. If you've haven't come across it before, it's because it only just received an English localization, but the anime has been airing for a while, and its sixth season was another excellent entry. Apparently that was just the first half, because a "sequel" has been revealed as in development, and it will almost certainly air in 2026.

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

Another studio known for the artistic merit of its projects, Science Saru has delivered hit shows of the caliber of Space Dandy, Devilman Crybaby, and, more recently, 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 prominent woman and intellectual 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 fascinating visual style, which evokes Ranking of Kings. Scheduled to launch in July 2026, this one will without a doubt be on my list of anticipated shows.

Tougen Anki Will Continue With a Season Two

Shortly after the release of the final episode of the first season, it was confirmed that Tougen Anki will be receiving a second season. Based on the Japanese legend of Momotaro, Tougen Anki brings to life the manga by Yura Urushibara. The new season of the anime will delve into the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a specific premiere date has not been disclosed yet.