A Mountain of Japanese Animation News Arrived During the Holidays

The Yuletide season provide a wealth of activities much better than checking the latest news: discovering surprises, indulging in delicious food, and using deep breathing to not snapping at family members. 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 particularly true for the realm of anime. Numerous exciting news items emerged over the break, and just in case you missed a few, here is a summary of the juiciest bits.

One-Punch Man Season 3 Is Set to Continue (In 2027)

Perhaps the biggest revelation, the widely-criticized troubled production that was season 3 of One-Punch Man failed to deter further production. The show will return with a second cour in 2027—so far away they could have labeled it season 4. Adding to the surprise, animation studio J.C. Staff will continue to be in charge. Thankfully this time, director Shinpei Nagai is attached to direct from the beginning, which is seen as a good sign. Yet, the main art for the new episodes is the same image the one used for season 3, just with characters Saitama and Garou oriented differently. This suggests that, at this point, they could be trolling the fans.

The Ruri Dragon Series Is Poised to Be the Premiere Shonen Jump Anime From Kyoto Animation

Kyoto Animation has established a name for being an elite animation studio, making its mark not just for the exceptional quality of its output but for the good working conditions of its employees—a rarity in the industry. Curiously, until now, it had never worked on an anime based on a manga published in Shonen Jump, arguably the most famous magazine in the field. Ruri Dragon will change that, and what a excellent choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo gained a huge following when it launched in 2022 after just a handful of installments, but then went into a lengthy break due to the author's health issues. When it resumed publication with a lighter schedule, the series proved it hadn't lost the fans' affection and goodwill, and now everyone is thrilled about the forthcoming KyoAni adaptation.

The Kingdom Series Season 6 Has a Sequel Currently in Production

Kingdom is the top-selling, long-running Shueisha manga that is not 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 years, and season 6 was another stellar entry. As it happens that was just the first half, because a "sequel" has been confirmed as in production, and it will very likely air in 2026.

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

Another studio famous for the excellent quality of its productions, Science Saru has brought us masterpieces of the caliber 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 real historical figure of Fatima, an prominent woman and thinker in the Mongol Empire in the 13th century. Based on the trailer, the anime called Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia will have a distinctly fresh and intriguing visual style, which is somewhat reminiscent of Ranking of Kings. Debuting in July 2026, this one will without a doubt be on my must-watch list.

The Tougen Anki Series Is Set to Continue With a Season Two

Right after 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 brings to life the manga by Yura Urushibara. The new season of the anime will cover the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a concrete release date has not yet been announced.