A Ton of Japanese Animation News Landed Over the Holidays

The Christmas holidays provide a multitude of pastimes much better than scanning the latest news: discovering surprises, indulging in festive fare, and employing patience techniques to not snapping at relatives. It is wished you managed to accomplish all these things and more. Nevertheless, the world of entertainment doesn't go on vacation, and this is notably true for the realm of anime. Numerous thrilling news items surfaced over the festive period, and should you missed a few, here is a summary of the biggest bits.

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

Without a doubt the biggest revelation, the notorious controversial season that was the third season of One-Punch Man proved insufficient to deter the series' continuation. The show will return with a second cour in 2027—a date so remote they might as well have dubbed it season 4. Even more shocking, animation studio J.C. Staff will remain in charge. At least this time, director Shinpei Nagai is set to direct from the outset, which could be taken as a hopeful indicator. But, the key visual for the continuation is the same image the one used for season 3, just with characters Saitama and Garou facing different directions. This leads one to believe that, by now, they are probably trolling the fans.

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

Kyoto Animation has forged a name for being an prestigious animation studio, making its mark not just for the high caliber of its output but for the ethical practices of its employees—a uncommon practice in the industry. Surprisingly, until now, it had not produced an anime based on a manga from Shonen Jump, arguably the most famous magazine in the business. Ruri Dragon will change that, and what a great choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo became a huge following when it launched 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 came back with a more relaxed pace, the series showed it hadn't lost the fans' appreciation and goodwill, and now fans are overjoyed about the impending KyoAni adaptation.

Kingdom Season 6 Will Get a Sequel In Production

Kingdom is the highly popular, long-running Shueisha manga that is not One Piece. If you've are unfamiliar with it before, it's because it only just received an English translation, but the anime has been running for years, and its sixth season was another stellar entry. It turns out that was just the first half, because a "sequel" has been confirmed as in development, and it will probably debut in 2026.

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

Another studio known for the excellent quality of its work, Science Saru has delivered critically acclaimed works of the quality of Space Dandy, Devilman Crybaby, and, more recently, Dandadan. This time, the studio will be producing the adaptation of Tomato Soup's manga A Witch's Life in Mongol, which is based on the true story of Fatima, an powerful woman and intellectual in the Mongol Empire in the 13th century. Judging from the trailer, the anime named Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia will have a highly unique and captivating visual style, which reminds me a bit of Ranking of Kings. Scheduled to launch in July 2026, this one will without a doubt be on my must-watch list.

The Tougen Anki Series Will Return With a Season Two

Right after the conclusion of episode 24, it was confirmed that Tougen Anki will be securing a sequel. Adapted from the Japanese legend of Momotaro, Tougen Anki brings to life the manga by Yura Urushibara. The new season of the anime will adapt the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a concrete air date has not been disclosed yet.