A Mountain of Anime Updates Landed Over the Holidays
The Christmas holidays present a plethora of pursuits considerably more enjoyable than catching up on the latest news: unwrapping gifts, getting stuffed on festive fare, and harnessing meditation skills to not arguing with family members. I hope you managed to do all these things and more. That said, the entertainment world never sleeps, and this is especially true for the realm of anime. Many exciting news items surfaced during the festive period, and should you didn't see any, here is a summary of the most exciting bits.
One-Punch Man Its Third Season Is Set to Continue (Come 2027)
Truly the most surprising revelation, the widely-criticized controversial season that was season 3 of One-Punch Man wasn't enough to stop further production. The show will come back with a subsequent part in 2027—such a distant date they easily could have dubbed it season 4. More surprisingly, the studio J.C. Staff will remain in charge. Thankfully this time, director Shinpei Nagai is set to direct from the beginning, which is seen as a good sign. However, the main art for the continuation is identical to the one used for season 3, just with protagonists Saitama and Garou looking opposite ways. This suggests that, by now, they are probably mocking the fans.
Ruri Dragon Will Be the Premiere Shonen Jump Anime From Kyoto Animation
Kyoto Animation has forged a standing for being an prestigious animation studio, distinguishing itself not just for the high caliber of its productions but for the good working conditions of its employees—a rarity in the industry. Unexpectedly, until now, it had not produced an anime stemming from a manga published in Shonen Jump, arguably the most iconic magazine in the industry. Ruri Dragon will break that tradition, and what a excellent choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo achieved a huge following when it debuted in 2022 after just a handful of installments, but then went into a lengthy break due to the creator's health issues. When it came back with a lighter schedule, the series demonstrated it still retained the fans' appreciation and positive sentiment, and now everyone is ecstatic about the forthcoming KyoAni adaptation.
The Kingdom Series Its Sixth Season Is Getting a Follow-Up Currently in Production
Kingdom is the highly popular, decades-spanning Shueisha manga that is aside from 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 going on for years, and its sixth season was a further excellent entry. Apparently that was just the first half, because a "sequel" has been announced as in production, and it will very likely premiere in 2026.
Science Saru Is Bringing A Witch in Mongolia Into an Anime Series
One more studio known for the superior craftsmanship of its projects, Science Saru has given us hit shows of the ilk 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 real historical figure of Fatima, an influential woman and scholar in the Mongol Empire in the 13th century. Based on the trailer, the anime titled Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia will have a truly original and intriguing visual style, which reminds me a bit of Ranking of Kings. Scheduled to launch in July 2026, this one will definitely be on my must-watch list.
Tougen Anki Will Return With a Second Season
Right after the airing of its twenty-fourth episode, it was revealed that Tougen Anki will be getting a sequel. Inspired by the Japanese legend of Momotaro, Tougen Anki adapts the manga by Yura Urushibara. The upcoming season of the anime will delve into the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a specific air date has not been disclosed yet.
