A Heap of Anime Updates Landed During the Festive Season
The Christmas holidays provide a plethora of pastimes far superior than scanning the headlines: opening presents, feasting on delicious food, and using deep breathing to avoid snapping at loved ones. I hope you were able to accomplish all these things and more. Nevertheless, the world of entertainment doesn't go on vacation, and this is particularly true for the realm of anime. A slew of thrilling developments emerged over the holidays, and just in case you overlooked any, here is a compilation of the biggest bits.
One-Punch Man Its Third Season Is Set to Continue (In 2027)
Perhaps the most shocking piece of news, the notorious troubled production that was the third season of One-Punch Man proved insufficient to stop further production. Season 3 will be back with a follow-up batch of episodes in 2027—a date so remote they might as well have dubbed it season 4. Even more shocking, the studio J.C. Staff will continue to be at the helm. Thankfully this time, helmer Shinpei Nagai is attached to direct from the beginning, which is seen as a positive development. But, the promotional image for the new episodes is identical to the one used for season 3, just with protagonists Saitama and Garou facing different directions. This suggests that, at this point, they are probably teasing the fans.
Ruri Dragon Is Set to Be the First Shonen Jump Anime By Kyoto Animation
Kyoto Animation has established a standing for being an prestigious animation studio, setting itself apart not just for the exceptional quality of its output but for the fair treatment of its employees—a rarity in the industry. Curiously, until now, it had not produced an anime based on a manga serialized in Shonen Jump, arguably the most iconic magazine in the business. Ruri Dragon will end that streak, and what a great choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo became a huge following when it launched in 2022 after just a handful of installments, but then went into a lengthy break due to the mangaka's health issues. When it returned with a reduced workload, the series proved it hadn't lost the fans' support and goodwill, and now the community is ecstatic about the impending KyoAni adaptation.
The Kingdom Series Season 6 Is Getting a Follow-Up Now in the Works
Kingdom is the highly popular, epic Shueisha manga that is aside from One Piece. If you've never heard of it before, it's because it only just received an English localization, but the anime has been airing for a while, and its sixth season was yet another excellent entry. Apparently that was just the first half, because a "sequel" has been revealed as in production, and it will probably air in 2026.
Science Saru Is Adapting A Witch in Mongolia Into an Anime Series
One more studio known for the excellent quality 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 taking on the adaptation of Tomato Soup's manga A Witch's Life in Mongol, which is based on the true story of Fatima, an powerful woman and intellectual in the Mongol Empire in the 13th century. Judging from the trailer, the anime called Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia will have a truly original and captivating visual style, which evokes Ranking of Kings. Set to premiere in July 2026, this one will definitely be on my must-watch list.
Tougen Anki Will Return With a Second Season
Right after the release of its twenty-fourth episode, it was revealed that Tougen Anki will be receiving a sequel. Adapted from the Japanese legend of Momotaro, Tougen Anki is based on the manga by Yura Urushibara. The upcoming season of the anime will cover the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a concrete premiere date has not been disclosed yet.
