A Mountain of Japanese Animation News Arrived Over the Holidays

The winter break provide a wealth of activities far superior than catching up on the updates: unwrapping gifts, feasting on festive fare, and using meditation skills to refrain from snapping at relatives. I hope you managed to accomplish all these things and more. That said, the world of entertainment doesn't go on vacation, and this is particularly true for the realm of anime. A slew of thrilling announcements came out during the break, and should you didn't see some of them, here is a summary of the biggest bits.

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

Without a doubt the most shocking announcement, the much-discussed troubled production that was the third season of One-Punch Man failed to stop the series' continuation. Season 3 will return with a follow-up batch of episodes in 2027—so far away they could have called it season 4. Even more shocking, animation studio J.C. Staff will continue to be leading the project. Thankfully this time, director Shinpei Nagai is attached to direct from the outset, which is seen as a good sign. But, the main art for the continuation is the same image the one used for season 3, just with protagonists Saitama and Garou looking opposite ways. This leads one to believe that, by now, they must be trolling the fans.

Ruri Dragon Is Set to Be the Premiere Shonen Jump Anime From Kyoto Animation

Kyoto Animation has forged a reputation for being an elite animation studio, setting itself apart not just for the exceptional quality of its work but for the good working conditions of its employees—a uncommon practice in the industry. Curiously, until now, it had not produced an anime stemming from a manga serialized in Shonen Jump, arguably the most famous magazine in the field. Ruri Dragon will break that tradition, and what a superb choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo gained a huge following when it launched in 2022 after just a small number of issues, but then went into a two-year hiatus due to the author's health issues. When it returned with a more relaxed pace, the series demonstrated it still retained the fans' support and goodwill, and now everyone is thrilled about the upcoming KyoAni adaptation.

The Kingdom Series Its Sixth Season Has a Sequel Now in the Works

Kingdom is the top-selling, long-running Shueisha manga that is aside from One Piece. If you've haven't come across it before, it's because it only just received an English release, but the anime has been running for a while, and season 6 was another outstanding entry. It turns out that was just the first cour, because a "sequel" has been announced as currently being made, and it will almost certainly debut in 2026.

Science Saru Will Adapt A Witch in Mongolia To Anime

One more studio renowned for the superior craftsmanship of its projects, Science Saru has brought us critically acclaimed works of the caliber of Space Dandy, Devilman Crybaby, and, lastly, Dandadan. This time, the studio will be handling 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. Based on the trailer, the anime called Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia will have a truly original and captivating visual style, which is somewhat reminiscent of Ranking of Kings. Debuting in July 2026, this one will absolutely be on my watchlist.

Tougen Anki Is Set to Continue With a Season Two

Immediately following the airing of the final episode of the first season, it was revealed that Tougen Anki will be securing a sequel. Inspired by the Japanese legend of Momotaro, Tougen Anki is based on the manga by Yura Urushibara. The second season of the anime will delve into the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a concrete premiere date has not yet been announced.

Rebecca Harris
Rebecca Harris

A seasoned traveler and writer with a passion for uncovering hidden gems and sharing transformative journeys across continents.