A Mountain of Anime Updates Dropped Over the Festive Season
The Christmas holidays offer a plethora of pastimes considerably more enjoyable than scanning the headlines: unwrapping gifts, getting stuffed on festive fare, and employing patience techniques to refrain from snapping at loved ones. Hopefully you managed to do all these things and more. That said, the entertainment world doesn't take a break, and this is notably true for the realm of anime. A slew of exciting news items surfaced during the holidays, and just in case you missed some of them, here is a roundup of the biggest bits.
One-Punch Man Season 3 Is Moving Forward (By 2027)
Without a doubt the biggest announcement, the widely-criticized controversial season that was season 3 of One-Punch Man wasn't enough to halt more episodes. Season 3 will come back with a follow-up batch of episodes in 2027—a date so remote they could have labeled it season 4. Adding to the surprise, the studio J.C. Staff will remain in charge. Thankfully this time, director Shinpei Nagai is on board to direct from the beginning, which might be a hopeful indicator. However, the key visual for the continuation is identical to the one used for season 3, just with characters Saitama and Garou oriented differently. This makes me think that, at this point, they could be mocking the fans.
Ruri Dragon Is Poised to Be the Premiere Shonen Jump Anime From Kyoto Animation
Kyoto Animation has built a name for being an prestigious animation studio, distinguishing itself not just for the high caliber of its productions but for the ethical practices of its employees—a rarity in the industry. Unexpectedly, until now, it had never worked on an anime stemming from a manga published in Shonen Jump, perhaps the most iconic magazine in the field. Ruri Dragon will end that streak, and what a excellent choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo achieved a huge following 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 resumed publication with a more relaxed pace, the series demonstrated it maintained the fans' support and positive sentiment, and now the community is thrilled about the upcoming KyoAni adaptation.
Kingdom Its Sixth Season Will Get a Sequel Now in the Works
Kingdom is the highly popular, epic Shueisha manga that is other than One Piece. If you've haven't come across it before, it's because it only recently got an English localization, but the anime has been going on for some time, and season 6 was another outstanding entry. It turns out that was just the initial batch, because a "sequel" has been announced as in production, and it will almost certainly premiere in 2026.
Science Saru Is Adapting A Witch in Mongolia To Anime
A further studio famous for the superior craftsmanship of its work, Science Saru has delivered hit shows of the caliber of Space Dandy, Devilman Crybaby, and, more recently, Dandadan. This time, the studio will be producing the adaptation of Tomato Soup's manga A Witch's Life in Mongol, based on the true story of Fatima, an prominent woman and intellectual in the Mongol Empire in the 13th century. Judging from the trailer, the anime titled Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia will have a distinctly fresh and intriguing visual style, which evokes Ranking of Kings. Set to premiere in July 2026, this one will definitely be on my list of anticipated shows.
Tougen Anki Will Continue With a Season Two
Right after the release of the final episode of the first season, it was announced that Tougen Anki will be receiving a follow-up. Based on the Japanese legend of Momotaro, Tougen Anki brings to life the manga by Yura Urushibara. The upcoming season of the anime will delve into the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a concrete premiere date has yet to be revealed.
