A Mountain of Japanese Animation News Landed During the Holidays

The winter break present a wealth of activities far superior than checking the latest news: unwrapping gifts, feasting on delicious food, and harnessing deep breathing to refrain from yelling at loved ones. I hope you managed to enjoy all these things and more. However, the entertainment world doesn't go on vacation, and this is especially true for the realm of anime. A slew of thrilling news items came out over the break, and should you overlooked any, here is a summary of the biggest bits.

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

Perhaps the biggest revelation, the widely-criticized disaster that was the third season of One-Punch Man wasn't enough to halt more episodes. The show will come back with a second cour in 2027—a date so remote they easily could have dubbed it season 4. Even more shocking, animation studio J.C. Staff will remain at the helm. At least this time, helmer Shinpei Nagai is on board to direct from the outset, which could be taken as a good sign. Yet, the main art for the new episodes is identical to the one used for season 3, just with characters Saitama and Garou facing different directions. This suggests that, at this point, they could be trolling the fans.

The Ruri Dragon Series Is Set to Be the First Shonen Jump Anime By Kyoto Animation

Kyoto Animation has built a standing for being an top-tier animation studio, making its mark not just for the high caliber of its output but for the ethical practices of its employees—a rarity in the industry. Unexpectedly, until now, it had never worked on an anime adapted from a manga serialized in 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 achieved widespread acclaim when it debuted in 2022 after just a small number of issues, but then went into a lengthy break due to the creator's health issues. When it returned with a lighter schedule, the series proved it hadn't lost the fans' appreciation and goodwill, and now the community is overjoyed about the upcoming KyoAni adaptation.

Kingdom Season 6 Has a Sequel Now in the Works

Kingdom is the top-selling, decades-spanning Shueisha manga that is not One Piece. If you've are unfamiliar with it before, it's because it only recently got an English release, but the anime has been running for years, and season 6 was another excellent entry. Apparently that was just the initial batch, because a "sequel" has been revealed as currently being made, and it will almost certainly debut in 2026.

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

One more studio famous for the artistic merit of its work, Science Saru has brought us hit shows of the ilk 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, which is based on the true story of Fatima, an influential 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 distinctly fresh and fascinating visual style, which is somewhat reminiscent 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

Right after the conclusion of episode 24, it was revealed that Tougen Anki will be receiving a follow-up. Based on the Japanese legend of Momotaro, Tougen Anki is based on the manga by Yura Urushibara. The upcoming season of the anime will cover the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a concrete release date has not been disclosed yet.