A Mountain of Japanese Animation News Landed During the Holidays

The winter break provide a multitude of pursuits considerably more enjoyable than catching up on the updates: opening presents, getting stuffed on festive fare, and employing deep breathing to refrain from arguing with loved ones. Hopefully you managed to accomplish all these things and more. Nevertheless, the world of entertainment doesn't take a break, and this is especially true for the realm of anime. Many exciting developments surfaced during the break, and should you overlooked a few, here is a compilation of the most exciting bits.

The One-Punch Man Series Season 3 Will Continue (By 2027)

Without a doubt the most shocking revelation, the much-discussed troubled production that was season 3 of One-Punch Man failed to deter further production. Season 3 will come back with a subsequent part in 2027—such a distant date they could have labeled it season 4. More surprisingly, the studio J.C. Staff will still be at the helm. Thankfully this time, helmer Shinpei Nagai is attached to direct from the outset, which could be taken as a positive development. Yet, the key visual for the new episodes is identical to the one used for season 3, just with characters Saitama and Garou oriented differently. This leads one to believe that, at this point, they could be teasing the fans.

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

Kyoto Animation has forged a reputation for being an top-tier animation studio, making its mark not just for the exceptional quality of its productions but for the good working conditions of its employees—a rarity in the industry. Surprisingly, until now, it had not adapted an anime based on a manga published in Shonen Jump, perhaps the best-known magazine in the industry. Ruri Dragon will end that streak, and what a excellent choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo gained widespread acclaim when it debuted in 2022 after just a handful of installments, but then went into a extended pause due to the mangaka's health issues. When it returned with a more relaxed pace, the series showed it hadn't lost the fans' affection and enthusiasm, and now fans are thrilled about the forthcoming KyoAni adaptation.

Kingdom Season 6 Has a Sequel Currently in Production

Kingdom is the highly popular, decades-spanning Shueisha manga that is not One Piece. If you've never heard of it before, it's because it only just received an English translation, but the anime has been running for years, and season 6 was yet another excellent entry. As it happens that was just the first half, because a "sequel" has been announced as in development, and it will almost certainly premiere in 2026.

Science Saru Will Adapt A Witch in Mongolia To Anime

Another studio famous for the artistic merit of its work, Science Saru has delivered critically acclaimed works of the caliber of Space Dandy, Devilman Crybaby, and, most recently, Dandadan. This time, the studio will be handling the adaptation of Tomato Soup's manga A Witch's Life in Mongol, inspired by the true story of Fatima, an prominent woman and intellectual in the Mongol Empire in the 13th century. From the trailer, the anime named Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia will have a distinctly fresh 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.

Tougen Anki Will Continue With a Season Two

Right after the airing of its twenty-fourth episode, it was confirmed that Tougen Anki will be receiving a follow-up. Based on the Japanese legend of Momotaro, Tougen Anki is based on the manga by Yura Urushibara. The second season of the anime will delve into the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a firm air date has not been disclosed yet.