A Heap of Anime Updates Dropped Over the Festive Season
The Christmas holidays provide a multitude of pastimes much better than scanning the latest news: opening presents, getting stuffed on holiday treats, and using deep breathing to not arguing with family members. Hopefully you succeeded in do all these things and more. That said, the entertainment world doesn't go on vacation, and this is especially true for the realm of anime. A slew of noteworthy news items emerged during the holidays, and if you overlooked any, here is a summary of the biggest bits.
The One-Punch Man Series Its Third Season Will Continue (By 2027)
Perhaps the most shocking revelation, the much-discussed disaster that was season 3 of One-Punch Man wasn't enough to deter further production. The show will be back with a subsequent part in 2027—such a distant date they might as well have called it season 4. More surprisingly, the studio J.C. Staff will remain leading the project. Thankfully this time, helmer Shinpei Nagai is set to direct from the outset, which is seen as a positive development. Yet, the promotional image for the new episodes is the same image the one used for season 3, just with characters Saitama and Garou facing different directions. This suggests that, by now, they could be teasing the fans.
The Ruri Dragon Series Is Set to Be the First Shonen Jump Anime Produced By Kyoto Animation
Kyoto Animation has established a reputation for being an elite animation studio, setting itself apart not just for the high caliber of its work but for the good working conditions of its employees—a sadly unusual standard in the industry. Surprisingly, until now, it had never worked on an anime adapted from a manga from Shonen Jump, possibly the best-known magazine in the industry. Ruri Dragon will change that, and what a excellent choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo gained widespread acclaim when it launched in 2022 after just a small number of issues, but then went into a lengthy break due to the author's health issues. When it came back with a lighter schedule, the series demonstrated it hadn't lost the fans' appreciation and positive sentiment, and now the community is overjoyed about the upcoming KyoAni adaptation.
Kingdom Season 6 Is Getting a Follow-Up In Production
Kingdom is the highly popular, long-running Shueisha manga that is not One Piece. If you've are unfamiliar with it before, it's because it only just received an English localization, but the anime has been running for years, and season 6 was yet another excellent entry. As it happens that was just the first half, because a "sequel" has been announced as in development, and it will probably debut in 2026.
Science Saru Will Adapt A Witch in Mongolia To Anime
One more studio known for the excellent quality of its work, Science Saru has brought us masterpieces of the quality of Space Dandy, Devilman Crybaby, and, most recently, Dandadan. This time, the studio will be handling the adaptation of Tomato Soup's manga A Witch's Life in Mongol, inspired by 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 highly unique and intriguing visual style, which reminds me a bit of Ranking of Kings. Scheduled to launch in July 2026, this one will without a doubt be on my watchlist.
The Tougen Anki Series Is Set to Continue With a Second Season
Immediately following the release of the final episode of the first season, it was announced that Tougen Anki will be getting a second season. Inspired by the Japanese legend of Momotaro, Tougen Anki adapts the manga by Yura Urushibara. The second season of the anime will adapt the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a firm premiere date has not been disclosed yet.
