A Heap of Japanese Animation News Arrived Over the Festive Season

The Christmas holidays present a multitude of pursuits far superior than checking the latest news: unwrapping gifts, indulging in delicious food, and employing meditation skills to avoid arguing with loved ones. It is wished you managed to do all these things and more. However, the showbiz industry never sleeps, and this is especially true for the realm of anime. Numerous noteworthy news items surfaced during the holidays, and should you missed some of them, here is a compilation of the most exciting bits.

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

Perhaps the most shocking revelation, the much-discussed disaster that was the third season of One-Punch Man failed to deter further production. Season 3 will come back with a subsequent part in 2027—so far away they could have called it season 4. Even more shocking, the studio J.C. Staff will continue to be at the helm. Thankfully this time, director Shinpei Nagai is set to direct from the start, which might be a hopeful indicator. However, the main art for the new episodes is the same image the one used for season 3, just with protagonists Saitama and Garou looking opposite ways. This suggests that, nowadays, they must be mocking the fans.

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

Kyoto Animation has forged a standing for being an top-tier animation studio, distinguishing itself not just for the high caliber of its output but for the good working conditions of its employees—a rarity in the industry. Curiously, until now, it had not adapted an anime stemming from a manga published in Shonen Jump, arguably the best-known magazine in the field. Ruri Dragon will change that, and what a excellent choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo achieved a huge following when it launched in 2022 after just a few chapters, but then went into a two-year hiatus due to the creator's health issues. When it resumed publication with a reduced workload, the series showed it hadn't lost the fans' support and enthusiasm, and now everyone is overjoyed about the upcoming KyoAni adaptation.

Kingdom Its Sixth Season Will Get a Sequel Currently in Production

Kingdom is the best-selling, epic Shueisha manga that is other than One Piece. If you've never heard of it before, it's because it only recently got an English release, but the anime has been airing for some time, and its sixth season was a further excellent entry. Apparently that was just the initial batch, because a "sequel" has been revealed as in development, and it will almost certainly air in 2026.

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

Another studio renowned for the superior craftsmanship of its work, Science Saru has brought us hit shows of the ilk of Space Dandy, Devilman Crybaby, and, most 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 powerful woman and thinker in the Mongol Empire in the 13th century. From the trailer, the anime called Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia will have a highly unique and captivating visual style, which reminds me a bit of Ranking of Kings. Set to premiere in July 2026, this one will definitely be on my must-watch list.

Tougen Anki Will Continue With a Season Two

Immediately following the release of the final episode of the first season, it was confirmed that Tougen Anki will be getting a second season. Based on the Japanese legend of Momotaro, Tougen Anki is based on 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 been disclosed yet.