A Ton of Japanese Animation News Arrived During the Festive Season

The winter break present a wealth of activities much better than catching up on the latest news: opening presents, feasting on festive fare, and using deep breathing to refrain from arguing with loved ones. I hope you were able to accomplish all these things and more. That said, the showbiz industry doesn't take a break, and this is notably true for the realm of anime. A slew of thrilling news items emerged during the festive period, and should you missed some of them, here is a compilation of the biggest bits.

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

Truly the most surprising announcement, the widely-criticized controversial season that was the third season of One-Punch Man wasn't enough to stop the series' continuation. The show will be back with a second cour in 2027—so far away they could have dubbed it season 4. Even more shocking, the studio J.C. Staff will continue to be leading the project. On a positive note this time, director Shinpei Nagai is attached to direct from the outset, which is seen as a hopeful indicator. But, the main art for the continuation is a mirror of the one used for season 3, just with characters Saitama and Garou looking opposite ways. This suggests that, nowadays, they must be trolling the fans.

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

Kyoto Animation has built a standing for being an elite animation studio, setting itself apart not just for the superb artistry of its output but for the good working conditions of its employees—a sadly unusual standard in the industry. Surprisingly, until now, it had never worked on an anime adapted from a manga serialized in Shonen Jump, arguably the most iconic magazine in the field. Ruri Dragon will end that streak, and what a great choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo became a huge following when it launched in 2022 after just a handful of installments, but then went into a extended pause due to the author's health issues. When it returned with a more relaxed pace, the series showed it maintained the fans' support and enthusiasm, and now everyone is thrilled about the forthcoming KyoAni adaptation.

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

Kingdom is the best-selling, epic Shueisha manga that is other than One Piece. If you've are unfamiliar with it before, it's because it only recently got an English localization, but the anime has been airing for a while, and season 6 was a further outstanding entry. As it happens that was just the first cour, 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

One more studio famous for the artistic merit of its productions, Science Saru has delivered hit shows of the ilk of Space Dandy, Devilman Crybaby, and, more recently, Dandadan. This time, the studio will be taking on the adaptation of Tomato Soup's manga A Witch's Life in Mongol, inspired by the actual historical person 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 truly original and intriguing visual style, which is somewhat reminiscent of Ranking of Kings. Scheduled to launch in July 2026, this one will absolutely be on my list of anticipated shows.

The Tougen Anki Series Will Return With a Second Season

Shortly after the airing of episode 24, it was revealed that Tougen Anki will be getting a follow-up. Inspired by the Japanese legend of Momotaro, Tougen Anki brings to life the manga by Yura Urushibara. The second season of the anime will adapt the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a concrete premiere date has not yet been announced.