A Ton of Japanese Animation News Landed Over the Holidays

The winter break offer a plethora of pursuits considerably more enjoyable than catching up on the latest news: unwrapping gifts, indulging in delicious food, and employing patience techniques to avoid arguing with relatives. It is wished you were able to enjoy 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 exciting announcements came out during the holidays, and should you missed a few, here is a roundup of the biggest bits.

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

Truly the most surprising piece of news, the notorious disaster that was season 3 of One-Punch Man proved insufficient to stop further production. The show will return with a follow-up batch of episodes in 2027—so far away they easily could have dubbed it season 4. Adding to the surprise, animation studio J.C. Staff will still be at the helm. On a positive note this time, director Shinpei Nagai is set to direct from the beginning, which might be a hopeful indicator. But, the main art for the continuation is identical to the one used for season 3, just with protagonists Saitama and Garou oriented differently. This leads one to believe that, nowadays, they are probably mocking the fans.

Ruri Dragon Is Set to Be the First Shonen Jump Anime By Kyoto Animation

Kyoto Animation has built a standing for being an prestigious animation studio, making its mark not just for the exceptional quality of its work but for the fair treatment of its employees—a uncommon practice in the industry. Surprisingly, until now, it had never worked on an anime stemming from a manga from Shonen Jump, arguably the most iconic magazine in the industry. Ruri Dragon will end that streak, and what a superb choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo achieved a huge following when it launched in 2022 after just a handful of installments, but then went into a lengthy break due to the author's health issues. When it returned with a more relaxed pace, the series demonstrated it hadn't lost the fans' appreciation and enthusiasm, and now the community is overjoyed about the forthcoming KyoAni adaptation.

The Kingdom Series Season 6 Is Getting a Follow-Up Now in the Works

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 going on for some time, and its sixth season was another excellent entry. Apparently that was just the initial batch, because a "sequel" has been revealed as currently being made, and it will almost certainly air in 2026.

Science Saru Is Adapting A Witch in Mongolia Into an Anime Series

One more studio known for the artistic merit of its work, Science Saru has delivered critically acclaimed works of the ilk of Space Dandy, Devilman Crybaby, and, lastly, 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. Based on the trailer, the anime called Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia will have a distinctly fresh and fascinating visual style, which reminds me a bit of Ranking of Kings. Set to premiere in July 2026, this one will absolutely be on my list of anticipated shows.

The Tougen Anki Series Is Set to Continue With a Second Season

Right after the release of episode 24, it was announced that Tougen Anki will be securing a sequel. Inspired by the Japanese legend of Momotaro, Tougen Anki adapts the manga by Yura Urushibara. The new season of the anime will delve into the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a firm premiere date has yet to be revealed.