A Heap of Anime Updates Arrived Over the Festive Season
The Christmas holidays present a wealth of pursuits considerably more enjoyable than scanning the latest news: opening presents, getting stuffed on festive fare, and harnessing deep breathing to avoid snapping at loved ones. I hope you succeeded in enjoy all these things and more. However, the world of entertainment never sleeps, and this is notably true for the realm of anime. Many thrilling announcements surfaced during the holidays, and should you overlooked any, here is a compilation of the biggest bits.
The One-Punch Man Series Its Third Season Is Moving Forward (In 2027)
Perhaps the biggest piece of news, the notorious troubled production that was season 3 of One-Punch Man proved insufficient to stop the series' continuation. The show will come back with a subsequent part in 2027—a date so remote they could have labeled it season 4. More surprisingly, the studio J.C. Staff will remain leading the project. On a positive note this time, director Shinpei Nagai is set to direct from the beginning, which could be taken as a positive development. Yet, the promotional image for the new episodes is a mirror of the one used for season 3, just with protagonists Saitama and Garou looking opposite ways. This makes me think that, at this point, they are probably 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 standing for being an prestigious animation studio, setting itself apart not just for the superb artistry of its productions but for the fair treatment of its employees—a uncommon practice in the industry. Curiously, until now, it had never worked on an anime based on a manga serialized in Shonen Jump, perhaps the most iconic magazine in the business. Ruri Dragon will change that, and what a superb choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo achieved a huge following when it launched in 2022 after just a few chapters, 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 showed it still retained the fans' support and goodwill, and now everyone is thrilled about the impending KyoAni adaptation.
The Kingdom Series Its Sixth Season Will Get a Sequel Currently in Production
Kingdom is the top-selling, long-running Shueisha manga that is not One Piece. If you've haven't come across it before, it's because it only just received an English localization, but the anime has been airing for a while, and season 6 was a further stellar entry. As it happens that was just the first cour, because a "sequel" has been revealed as in development, and it will very likely air in 2026.
Science Saru Will Adapt A Witch in Mongolia Into an Anime Series
A further studio renowned for the excellent quality of its projects, Science Saru has given us critically acclaimed works of the quality of Space Dandy, Devilman Crybaby, and, most recently, Dandadan. This time, the studio will be taking on the adaptation of Tomato Soup's manga A Witch's Life in Mongol, inspired by the actual historical person of Fatima, an prominent woman and scholar in the Mongol Empire in the 13th century. Judging from the trailer, the anime named Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia will have a truly original and fascinating visual style, which is somewhat reminiscent of Ranking of Kings. Debuting in July 2026, this one will definitely be on my must-watch list.
Tougen Anki Is Set to Continue With a Second Season
Immediately following the airing of its twenty-fourth episode, it was announced that Tougen Anki will be securing a second season. Adapted from the Japanese legend of Momotaro, Tougen Anki brings to life the manga by Yura Urushibara. The upcoming season of the anime will adapt the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a concrete release date has not been disclosed yet.
