A Heap of Japanese Animation News Arrived Over the Holidays

The Yuletide season provide a multitude of activities considerably more enjoyable than checking the latest news: discovering surprises, getting stuffed on delicious food, and harnessing meditation skills to avoid arguing with family members. I hope you were able to accomplish all these things and more. Nevertheless, the world of entertainment doesn't go on vacation, and this is especially true for the realm of anime. Numerous exciting developments emerged during the holidays, and just in case you overlooked some of them, here is a roundup of the most exciting bits.

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

Perhaps the most shocking piece of news, the notorious troubled production that was the third season of One-Punch Man failed to halt the series' continuation. The show will return with a second cour in 2027—a date so remote they might as well have labeled it season 4. Even more shocking, the studio J.C. Staff will still be leading the project. On a positive note this time, director Shinpei Nagai is set to direct from the outset, which is seen as a good sign. However, the key visual for the second cour is a mirror of the one used for season 3, just with characters Saitama and Garou looking opposite ways. This leads one to believe that, nowadays, they must be trolling the fans.

The Ruri Dragon Series Will Be the First Shonen Jump Anime From Kyoto Animation

Kyoto Animation has built a standing for being an prestigious animation studio, setting itself apart not just for the superb artistry of its productions but for the fair treatment of its employees—a rarity in the industry. Curiously, until now, it had not adapted an anime adapted from a manga published in Shonen Jump, arguably the most iconic magazine in the business. Ruri Dragon will end that streak, and what a great choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo became widespread acclaim when it launched in 2022 after just a small number of issues, but then went into a extended pause due to the creator's health issues. When it resumed publication with a lighter schedule, the series showed it hadn't lost the fans' support and enthusiasm, and now everyone is thrilled about the upcoming KyoAni adaptation.

The Kingdom Series Its Sixth Season Is Getting a Follow-Up In Production

Kingdom is the highly popular, epic Shueisha manga that is not One Piece. If you've are unfamiliar with it before, it's because it only recently got an English release, but the anime has been running for some time, and its sixth season was another excellent entry. It turns out 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 Is Adapting A Witch in Mongolia To Anime

A further studio famous for the excellent quality of its productions, Science Saru has delivered masterpieces of the quality 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 prominent woman and scholar in the Mongol Empire in the 13th century. Judging from the trailer, the anime called Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia will have a distinctly fresh and fascinating visual style, which is somewhat reminiscent of Ranking of Kings. Set to premiere in July 2026, this one will without a doubt be on my must-watch list.

Tougen Anki Will Return With a Second Season

Shortly after the airing of episode 24, it was confirmed that Tougen Anki will be receiving a follow-up. Adapted from the Japanese legend of Momotaro, Tougen Anki is based on the manga by Yura Urushibara. The upcoming season of the anime will adapt the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a specific release date has not been disclosed yet.