A Ton of Japanese Animation News Dropped Over the Holidays

The Christmas holidays present a wealth of activities far superior than scanning the updates: unwrapping gifts, feasting on delicious food, and using patience techniques to refrain from yelling at family members. It is wished you managed to do all these things and more. However, the entertainment world doesn't go on vacation, and this is particularly true for the realm of anime. Many thrilling developments emerged during the break, and just in case you didn't see any, here is a summary of the juiciest bits.

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

Without a doubt the most shocking revelation, the notorious controversial season that was season 3 of One-Punch Man wasn't enough to halt the series' continuation. The show will be back with a subsequent part in 2027—a date so remote they easily could have labeled it season 4. More surprisingly, the studio J.C. Staff will continue to be in charge. At least this time, helmer Shinpei Nagai is attached to direct from the outset, which is seen as a hopeful indicator. But, the main art for the second cour is the same image the one used for season 3, just with protagonists Saitama and Garou facing different directions. This makes me think that, at this point, they could be teasing the fans.

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

Kyoto Animation has established a reputation for being an top-tier animation studio, distinguishing itself not just for the superb artistry of its work but for the fair treatment of its employees—a sadly unusual standard in the industry. Curiously, until now, it had not produced an anime based on a manga from Shonen Jump, perhaps the best-known magazine in the field. Ruri Dragon will end that streak, and what a excellent choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo gained massive popularity when it first appeared in 2022 after just a few chapters, but then went into a extended pause due to the mangaka's health issues. When it came back with a more relaxed pace, the series proved it still retained the fans' appreciation and enthusiasm, and now fans are overjoyed about the upcoming KyoAni adaptation.

The Kingdom Series Its Sixth Season Will Get a Sequel In Production

Kingdom is the best-selling, decades-spanning Shueisha manga that is other than 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 going on for years, and season 6 was a further stellar entry. Apparently that was just the initial batch, because a "sequel" has been announced as in development, and it will almost certainly premiere in 2026.

Science Saru Will Adapt A Witch in Mongolia To Anime

One more studio known for the superior craftsmanship of its productions, Science Saru has given us critically acclaimed works of the ilk of Space Dandy, Devilman Crybaby, and, more recently, Dandadan. This time, the studio will be taking on 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. Based on the trailer, the anime named Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia will have a distinctly fresh and captivating visual style, which is somewhat reminiscent of 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 Season Two

Shortly after the release of the final episode of the first season, it was confirmed that Tougen Anki will be getting a follow-up. Adapted from the Japanese legend of Momotaro, Tougen Anki adapts the manga by Yura Urushibara. The second season of the anime will cover the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a specific release date has not been disclosed yet.