A Heap of Japanese Animation News Arrived During the Festive Season

The Christmas holidays provide a wealth of pursuits considerably more enjoyable than scanning the updates: discovering surprises, indulging in festive fare, and employing meditation skills to not arguing with relatives. It is wished you managed to enjoy all these things and more. Nevertheless, the showbiz industry doesn't go on vacation, and this is particularly true for the realm of anime. A slew of noteworthy announcements emerged during the holidays, and if you missed some of them, here is a roundup of the most exciting bits.

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

Without a doubt the biggest announcement, the notorious disaster that was season 3 of One-Punch Man proved insufficient to halt further production. The show will return with a follow-up batch of episodes in 2027—so far away they might as well have labeled it season 4. Even more shocking, animation studio J.C. Staff will still be in charge. On a positive note this time, director Shinpei Nagai is attached to direct from the start, which might be a hopeful indicator. However, the promotional image for the second cour is identical to 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.

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

Kyoto Animation has forged 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 uncommon practice in the industry. Curiously, until now, it had not adapted an anime based on a manga published in Shonen Jump, arguably the most iconic magazine in the field. Ruri Dragon will break that tradition, and what a superb choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo became massive popularity when it first appeared in 2022 after just a handful of installments, but then went into a lengthy break due to the creator's health issues. When it returned with a more relaxed pace, the series demonstrated it still retained the fans' affection and positive sentiment, and now the community is thrilled about the impending KyoAni adaptation.

Kingdom Season 6 Has a Sequel Now in the Works

Kingdom is the highly popular, epic Shueisha manga that is not One Piece. If you've haven't come across it before, it's because it only recently got an English release, but the anime has been going on for some time, and its sixth season was yet another outstanding entry. It turns out that was just the first cour, because a "sequel" has been revealed as in development, and it will very likely debut in 2026.

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

One more studio renowned for the superior craftsmanship of its work, Science Saru has delivered hit shows of the caliber 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, based on the real historical figure of Fatima, an powerful woman and scholar in the Mongol Empire in the 13th century. Judging from the trailer, the anime titled Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia will have a highly unique and intriguing visual style, which is somewhat reminiscent of Ranking of Kings. Scheduled to launch in July 2026, this one will absolutely be on my list of anticipated shows.

Tougen Anki Will Continue With a Second Season

Immediately following the conclusion of episode 24, it was announced that Tougen Anki will be receiving a follow-up. Adapted from the Japanese legend of Momotaro, Tougen Anki adapts the manga by Yura Urushibara. The new season of the anime will cover the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a concrete premiere date has not yet been announced.