A Ton of Japanese Animation News Arrived Over the Festive Season

The Christmas holidays offer a wealth of activities much better than scanning the headlines: unwrapping gifts, indulging in holiday treats, and using deep breathing to avoid snapping at relatives. It is wished you succeeded in enjoy all these things and more. Nevertheless, the showbiz industry doesn't go on vacation, and this is especially true for the realm of anime. Many noteworthy developments surfaced during the festive period, and just in case you didn't see some of them, here is a compilation of the biggest bits.

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

Without a doubt the most surprising piece of news, the widely-criticized disaster that was season 3 of One-Punch Man wasn't enough to deter the series' continuation. The show will be back with a second cour in 2027—such a distant date they easily could have dubbed it season 4. Adding to the surprise, animation studio J.C. Staff will still be in charge. Thankfully this time, helmer Shinpei Nagai is set to direct from the beginning, which is seen as a hopeful indicator. However, the promotional image for the second cour is the same image the one used for season 3, just with characters Saitama and Garou facing different directions. This makes me think that, at this point, they are probably mocking the fans.

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

Kyoto Animation has forged a standing for being an elite animation studio, setting itself apart not just for the superb artistry of its output but for the ethical practices of its employees—a sadly unusual standard in the industry. Unexpectedly, until now, it had not produced an anime based on a manga serialized in Shonen Jump, possibly the most famous magazine in the industry. Ruri Dragon will change that, and what a superb choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo gained massive popularity when it launched in 2022 after just a few chapters, but then went into a two-year hiatus due to the mangaka's health issues. When it came back with a lighter schedule, the series proved it maintained the fans' appreciation and enthusiasm, and now fans are thrilled about the impending KyoAni adaptation.

Kingdom Its Sixth Season Is Getting a Follow-Up Currently in Production

Kingdom is the best-selling, 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 translation, but the anime has been airing for a while, and its sixth season was a further stellar entry. Apparently that was just the first half, because a "sequel" has been confirmed as in development, and it will probably debut in 2026.

Science Saru Is Bringing A Witch in Mongolia To Anime

Another studio known for the excellent quality of its projects, Science Saru has given us masterpieces of the ilk of Space Dandy, Devilman Crybaby, and, more recently, Dandadan. This time, the studio will be handling the adaptation of Tomato Soup's manga A Witch's Life in Mongol, based on the actual historical person of Fatima, an prominent woman and thinker in the Mongol Empire in the 13th century. Based on the trailer, the anime titled Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia will have a truly original and captivating visual style, which evokes Ranking of Kings. Debuting in July 2026, this one will without a doubt be on my list of anticipated shows.

Tougen Anki Is Set to Continue With a Second Season

Shortly after the airing of its twenty-fourth episode, it was confirmed that Tougen Anki will be securing a second season. Adapted from the Japanese legend of Momotaro, Tougen Anki adapts the manga by Yura Urushibara. The second season of the anime will cover the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a firm release date has not yet been announced.