A Heap of Anime Updates Dropped During the Holidays
The Christmas holidays present a wealth of activities considerably more enjoyable than checking the latest news: discovering surprises, feasting on festive fare, and employing patience techniques to refrain from snapping at loved ones. Hopefully you were able to accomplish all these things and more. Nevertheless, the world of entertainment doesn't take a break, and this is particularly true for the realm of anime. Numerous exciting news items surfaced over the holidays, and should you missed a few, here is a summary of the biggest bits.
One-Punch Man Its Third Season Is Set to Continue (By 2027)
Perhaps the most surprising announcement, the much-discussed disaster that was season 3 of One-Punch Man wasn't enough to deter further production. The show will return with a follow-up batch of episodes in 2027—such a distant date they easily could have dubbed it season 4. More surprisingly, the studio J.C. Staff will still be at the helm. At least this time, director Shinpei Nagai is set to direct from the beginning, which could be taken as a positive development. But, the main art for the second cour is the same image the one used for season 3, just with characters Saitama and Garou looking opposite ways. This leads one to believe that, at this point, they must be mocking the fans.
Ruri Dragon Is Set to Be the First Shonen Jump Anime From Kyoto Animation
Kyoto Animation has built a standing for being an elite animation studio, setting itself apart not just for the high caliber of its output but for the ethical practices of its employees—a rarity in the industry. Surprisingly, until now, it had not produced an anime stemming from a manga from Shonen Jump, perhaps the most famous magazine in the business. Ruri Dragon will end that streak, and what a great choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo achieved massive popularity when it debuted in 2022 after just a handful of installments, but then went into a two-year hiatus due to the mangaka's health issues. When it came back with a lighter schedule, the series showed it hadn't lost the fans' appreciation and goodwill, and now everyone is thrilled about the forthcoming KyoAni adaptation.
Kingdom Its Sixth Season Will Get a Sequel Currently in Production
Kingdom is the best-selling, epic Shueisha manga that is other than 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 years, and season 6 was another outstanding entry. As it happens that was just the first cour, because a "sequel" has been revealed as currently being made, and it will almost certainly debut in 2026.
Science Saru Is Adapting A Witch in Mongolia To Anime
Another studio renowned for the artistic merit of its projects, Science Saru has brought us hit shows of the caliber 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 real historical figure of Fatima, an powerful woman and thinker 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 captivating visual style, which reminds me a bit of Ranking of Kings. Set to premiere in July 2026, this one will definitely be on my list of anticipated shows.
The Tougen Anki Series Will Return With a Season Two
Immediately following the conclusion of episode 24, it was confirmed that Tougen Anki will be getting a sequel. Inspired by the Japanese legend of Momotaro, Tougen Anki is based on the manga by Yura Urushibara. The new season of the anime will adapt the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a firm air date has not been disclosed yet.
