A Ton of Anime News Landed Over the Holidays
The Christmas holidays present a multitude of pursuits much better than scanning the latest news: opening presents, indulging in holiday treats, and harnessing deep breathing to not yelling at family members. I hope you succeeded in enjoy all these things and more. However, the showbiz industry never sleeps, and this is particularly true for the realm of anime. A slew of thrilling developments emerged during the festive period, and just in case you didn't see any, here is a summary of the most exciting bits.
One-Punch Man Season 3 Will Continue (By 2027)
Without a doubt the biggest revelation, the much-discussed disaster that was the third season of One-Punch Man wasn't enough to stop the series' continuation. Season 3 will come back with a follow-up batch of episodes in 2027—such a distant date they might as well have called it season 4. Adding to the surprise, animation studio J.C. Staff will still be in charge. Thankfully this time, director Shinpei Nagai is on board to direct from the outset, which is seen as a hopeful indicator. But, the key visual for the continuation is identical to the one used for season 3, just with characters Saitama and Garou looking opposite ways. This suggests that, at this point, they are probably teasing the fans.
The Ruri Dragon Series Is Poised to Be the Premiere Shonen Jump Anime From Kyoto Animation
Kyoto Animation has established a standing for being an top-tier animation studio, making its mark not just for the superb artistry of its productions but for the ethical practices of its employees—a uncommon practice in the industry. Surprisingly, until now, it had not produced an anime based on a manga serialized in Shonen Jump, arguably the best-known magazine in the field. Ruri Dragon will end that streak, and what a excellent choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo became a huge following when it first appeared in 2022 after just a few chapters, but then went into a extended pause due to the author's health issues. When it came back with a reduced workload, the series proved it hadn't lost the fans' appreciation and enthusiasm, and now the community is thrilled about the impending KyoAni adaptation.
Kingdom Its Sixth Season Has 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 fairly recently obtained an English translation, but the anime has been running for years, and its sixth season was another outstanding entry. As it happens that was just the first cour, because a "sequel" has been announced as in development, and it will almost certainly air in 2026.
Science Saru Will Adapt A Witch in Mongolia Into an Anime Series
A further studio famous for the excellent quality of its productions, Science Saru has given us masterpieces of the ilk 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, based on the actual historical person of Fatima, an influential woman and scholar in the Mongol Empire in the 13th century. Judging from the trailer, the anime titled Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia will have a highly unique and intriguing visual style, which evokes Ranking of Kings. Scheduled to launch in July 2026, this one will definitely be on my watchlist.
The Tougen Anki Series Will Return With a Second Season
Shortly after the conclusion 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 second season of the anime will delve into the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a concrete premiere date has not yet been announced.
