A Heap of Japanese Animation News Arrived During the Holidays

The Christmas holidays present a plethora of activities much better than scanning the headlines: opening presents, indulging in festive fare, and employing patience techniques to refrain from snapping at family members. It is wished you succeeded in accomplish all these things and more. However, the showbiz industry doesn't go on vacation, and this is notably true for the realm of anime. Numerous noteworthy news items emerged over the festive period, and if you didn't see any, here is a compilation of the biggest bits.

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

Without a doubt the most surprising revelation, the much-discussed troubled production that was the third season of One-Punch Man failed to stop the series' continuation. The show will return with a subsequent part in 2027—such a distant date they could have called it season 4. More surprisingly, animation studio J.C. Staff will still be leading the project. On a positive note this time, helmer Shinpei Nagai is attached to direct from the beginning, which is seen as a good sign. However, the main art for the continuation is a mirror of the one used for season 3, just with characters Saitama and Garou looking opposite ways. This suggests that, nowadays, they could be teasing the fans.

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

Kyoto Animation has established a name for being an elite animation studio, setting itself apart not just for the exceptional quality of its productions but for the ethical practices of its employees—a rarity in the industry. Surprisingly, until now, it had not produced an anime based on a manga published in Shonen Jump, perhaps the most iconic magazine in the industry. Ruri Dragon will break that tradition, and what a superb choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo gained massive popularity when it first appeared 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 returned with a lighter schedule, the series showed it maintained the fans' support and goodwill, and now fans are thrilled about the upcoming KyoAni adaptation.

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

Kingdom is the best-selling, epic 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 translation, but the anime has been running for a while, and season 6 was a further stellar entry. As it happens that was just the first half, because a "sequel" has been revealed as currently being made, and it will probably debut in 2026.

Science Saru Will Adapt A Witch in Mongolia Into an Anime Series

One more studio renowned for the artistic merit of its work, Science Saru has brought us masterpieces of the quality of Space Dandy, Devilman Crybaby, and, most 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 actual historical person of Fatima, an prominent woman and scholar 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 captivating visual style, which reminds me a bit of Ranking of Kings. Set to premiere in July 2026, this one will without a doubt be on my list of anticipated shows.

Tougen Anki Will Return With a Second Season

Immediately following the release of the final episode of the first season, it was announced that Tougen Anki will be receiving a follow-up. Adapted from the Japanese legend of Momotaro, Tougen Anki is based on the manga by Yura Urushibara. The new season of the anime will adapt the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a firm premiere date has yet to be revealed.