A Ton of Japanese Animation News Landed During the Holidays

The winter break provide a wealth of pursuits considerably more enjoyable than catching up on the latest news: unwrapping gifts, indulging in holiday treats, and harnessing patience techniques to not snapping at relatives. I hope you managed to accomplish all these things and more. However, the showbiz industry doesn't take a break, and this is particularly true for the realm of anime. A slew of noteworthy developments surfaced over the holidays, and should you missed any, here is a summary of the most exciting bits.

The One-Punch Man Series Its Third Season Is Moving Forward (In 2027)

Perhaps the biggest announcement, the notorious disaster that was the third season of One-Punch Man wasn't enough to halt further production. The show will come back with a second cour in 2027—so far away they easily could have labeled it season 4. More surprisingly, animation studio J.C. Staff will remain leading the project. Thankfully this time, helmer Shinpei Nagai is attached to direct from the start, which could be taken as a hopeful indicator. Yet, the key visual for the continuation is the same image the one used for season 3, just with characters Saitama and Garou oriented differently. This suggests 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 built a standing for being an prestigious animation studio, distinguishing itself not just for the high caliber of its output but for the good working conditions of its employees—a sadly unusual standard in the industry. Curiously, until now, it had not adapted an anime adapted from a manga published in Shonen Jump, perhaps the most iconic magazine in the business. Ruri Dragon will end that streak, and what a excellent choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo gained massive popularity when it debuted in 2022 after just a handful of installments, but then went into a two-year hiatus due to the creator's health issues. When it came back with a lighter schedule, the series demonstrated it hadn't lost the fans' appreciation and goodwill, and now everyone is overjoyed about the upcoming KyoAni adaptation.

The Kingdom Series Its Sixth Season Has a Sequel In Production

Kingdom is the highly popular, decades-spanning Shueisha manga that is not One Piece. If you've are unfamiliar with it before, it's because it only fairly recently obtained an English localization, but the anime has been airing for years, and its sixth season was a further outstanding entry. It turns out that was just the initial batch, because a "sequel" has been confirmed as in production, and it will probably air in 2026.

Science Saru Is Adapting A Witch in Mongolia To Anime

Another studio renowned for the excellent quality of its projects, Science Saru has brought us 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, inspired by the true story of Fatima, an prominent woman and scholar in the Mongol Empire in the 13th century. Judging from the trailer, the anime named Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia will have a highly unique and captivating 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 Will Continue With a Second Season

Right after the airing of episode 24, it was confirmed that Tougen Anki will be getting a second season. Adapted from the Japanese legend of Momotaro, Tougen Anki brings to life the manga by Yura Urushibara. The new season of the anime will delve into the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a firm release date has yet to be revealed.