A Ton of Japanese Animation News Arrived During the Festive Season
The Christmas holidays present a plethora of activities much better than scanning the headlines: opening presents, feasting on holiday treats, and harnessing meditation skills to avoid snapping at relatives. It is wished you were able to accomplish all these things and more. Nevertheless, the world of entertainment never sleeps, and this is notably true for the realm of anime. Numerous noteworthy developments surfaced over the festive period, and should you didn't see some of them, here is a compilation of the most exciting bits.
One-Punch Man Season 3 Is Set to Continue (Come 2027)
Truly the most shocking announcement, the much-discussed disaster that was season 3 of One-Punch Man failed to halt more episodes. Season 3 will return with a follow-up batch of episodes in 2027—so far away they could have dubbed it season 4. Even more shocking, the studio J.C. Staff will still be at the helm. On a positive note this time, helmer Shinpei Nagai is on board to direct from the start, which is seen as a hopeful indicator. Yet, the promotional image for the continuation is the same image the one used for season 3, just with protagonists Saitama and Garou facing different directions. This makes me think that, nowadays, they could be teasing the fans.
Ruri Dragon Is Poised to Be the Premiere Shonen Jump Anime By Kyoto Animation
Kyoto Animation has forged a reputation for being an top-tier animation studio, setting itself apart not just for the exceptional quality of its output but for the fair treatment of its employees—a sadly unusual standard in the industry. Curiously, until now, it had not produced an anime stemming from a manga from Shonen Jump, arguably the most famous magazine in the industry. Ruri Dragon will change that, and what a great choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo achieved massive popularity when it launched in 2022 after just a small number of issues, but then went into a two-year hiatus due to the creator's health issues. When it returned with a lighter schedule, the series demonstrated it maintained the fans' appreciation and goodwill, and now everyone is overjoyed about the upcoming KyoAni adaptation.
Kingdom Its Sixth Season Has a Sequel Now in the Works
Kingdom is the top-selling, epic Shueisha manga that is not One Piece. If you've never heard of it before, it's because it only recently got an English translation, but the anime has been running for some time, and its sixth season was a further stellar entry. It turns out that was just the first half, because a "sequel" has been revealed as in development, and it will almost certainly debut in 2026.
Science Saru Is Adapting A Witch in Mongolia Into an Anime Series
Another studio renowned for the superior craftsmanship of its work, Science Saru has given us hit shows of the caliber 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, inspired by the actual historical person of Fatima, an prominent woman and thinker in the Mongol Empire in the 13th century. From the trailer, the anime named Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia will have a highly unique and captivating visual style, which reminds me a bit of Ranking of Kings. Debuting in July 2026, this one will without a doubt be on my list of anticipated shows.
Tougen Anki Will Return With a Season Two
Right after the conclusion of its twenty-fourth episode, it was announced that Tougen Anki will be receiving a second season. Inspired by the Japanese legend of Momotaro, Tougen Anki adapts the manga by Yura Urushibara. The new season of the anime will cover the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a concrete release date has not yet been announced.