A Heap of Japanese Animation News Landed Over the Holidays

The winter break offer a wealth of pursuits much better than catching up on the headlines: opening presents, indulging in holiday treats, and harnessing patience techniques to refrain from yelling at family members. I hope you were able to accomplish all these things and more. However, the entertainment world doesn't go on vacation, and this is notably true for the realm of anime. Many noteworthy news items came out during the break, and just in case you didn't see a few, here is a summary of the most exciting bits.

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

Truly the most shocking announcement, the much-discussed disaster that was the third season of One-Punch Man failed to stop further production. Season 3 will be back with a second cour in 2027—such a distant date they could have dubbed it season 4. Even more shocking, animation studio J.C. Staff will remain leading the project. On a positive note this time, helmer Shinpei Nagai is on board to direct from the start, which could be taken as a positive development. However, the main art for the second cour is identical to the one used for season 3, just with characters Saitama and Garou oriented differently. This makes me think that, at this point, they are probably trolling the fans.

The Ruri Dragon Series Is Poised to Be the Premiere Shonen Jump Anime By Kyoto Animation

Kyoto Animation has established a standing for being an prestigious animation studio, making its mark not just for the high caliber of its productions but for the good working conditions of its employees—a rarity in the industry. Curiously, until now, it had never worked on an anime adapted from a manga serialized in Shonen Jump, perhaps the most iconic magazine in the field. Ruri Dragon will change that, and what a superb choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo achieved a huge following when it debuted in 2022 after just a small number of issues, but then went into a extended pause due to the creator's health issues. When it came back with a reduced workload, the series proved it maintained the fans' support and positive sentiment, and now the community is thrilled about the upcoming KyoAni adaptation.

Kingdom Season 6 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 recently got an English release, but the anime has been going on for a while, and season 6 was yet another outstanding entry. As it happens that was just the initial batch, because a "sequel" has been announced as in development, and it will very likely premiere in 2026.

Science Saru Is Adapting A Witch in Mongolia To Anime

A further studio renowned for the excellent quality of its productions, Science Saru has given us critically acclaimed works of the caliber 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, based on the true story of Fatima, an prominent woman and scholar in the Mongol Empire in the 13th century. From the trailer, the anime called Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia will have a distinctly fresh and fascinating visual style, which is somewhat reminiscent of Ranking of Kings. Debuting in July 2026, this one will absolutely be on my list of anticipated shows.

Tougen Anki Will Continue With a Second Season

Immediately following the airing of episode 24, it was revealed that Tougen Anki will be securing a follow-up. Adapted from the Japanese legend of Momotaro, Tougen Anki is based on the manga by Yura Urushibara. The new season of the anime will delve into the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a firm air date has yet to be revealed.