A Ton of Japanese Animation News Landed Over the Holidays

The Yuletide season offer a wealth of pursuits far superior than checking the updates: unwrapping gifts, indulging in festive fare, and employing deep breathing to refrain from arguing with family members. Hopefully you were able to do 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 exciting announcements came out during the holidays, and just in case you overlooked any, here is a roundup of the biggest bits.

One-Punch Man Its Third Season Will Continue (In 2027)

Perhaps the most surprising revelation, the much-discussed troubled production that was the third season of One-Punch Man wasn't enough to stop more episodes. The show will be back with a follow-up batch of episodes in 2027—so far away they might as well have dubbed it season 4. Even more shocking, animation studio J.C. Staff will continue to be in charge. On a positive note this time, helmer Shinpei Nagai is set to direct from the outset, which might be a good sign. However, the main art for the continuation is a mirror of the one used for season 3, just with protagonists Saitama and Garou oriented differently. This leads one to believe that, by now, they are probably trolling the fans.

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

Kyoto Animation has established a reputation for being an top-tier animation studio, making its mark not just for the high caliber of its productions but for the ethical practices of its employees—a sadly unusual standard in the industry. Surprisingly, until now, it had not produced an anime based on a manga published in Shonen Jump, possibly the most famous magazine in the business. Ruri Dragon will end that streak, 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 author's health issues. When it returned with a lighter schedule, the series proved it maintained the fans' support and enthusiasm, and now fans are thrilled about the upcoming KyoAni adaptation.

The Kingdom Series Its Sixth Season Is Getting a Follow-Up Now in the Works

Kingdom is the highly popular, decades-spanning 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 translation, but the anime has been running for years, and its sixth season was another excellent entry. As it happens that was just the initial batch, because a "sequel" has been announced as currently being made, and it will almost certainly air in 2026.

Science Saru Will Adapt A Witch in Mongolia To Anime

A further studio renowned for the excellent quality of its projects, Science Saru has given us masterpieces of the caliber 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, inspired by the true story of Fatima, an powerful woman and intellectual 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 reminds me a bit of Ranking of Kings. Set to premiere in July 2026, this one will without a doubt be on my watchlist.

Tougen Anki Will Continue With a Season Two

Right after the conclusion of the final episode of the first season, it was announced that Tougen Anki will be getting a sequel. Inspired by the Japanese legend of Momotaro, Tougen Anki is based on the manga by Yura Urushibara. The new season of the anime will delve into the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a firm air date has yet to be revealed.