A Ton of Anime Updates Landed During the Festive Season
The Christmas holidays present a multitude of activities much better than scanning the latest news: discovering surprises, feasting on delicious food, and harnessing meditation skills to avoid yelling at family members. I hope you were able to enjoy all these things and more. That said, the entertainment world doesn't go on vacation, and this is particularly true for the realm of anime. Numerous exciting announcements emerged during the break, and if you missed any, here is a compilation of the biggest bits.
One-Punch Man Season 3 Will Continue (By 2027)
Without a doubt the most shocking revelation, the much-discussed troubled production that was season 3 of One-Punch Man wasn't enough to deter the series' continuation. The show will return with a follow-up batch of episodes in 2027—a date so remote they could have labeled it season 4. Even more shocking, the studio J.C. Staff will remain at the helm. Thankfully this time, director Shinpei Nagai is set to direct from the start, which could be taken as a hopeful indicator. Yet, the main art 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 must be trolling the fans.
The Ruri Dragon Series Will Be the First Shonen Jump Anime By Kyoto Animation
Kyoto Animation has established a standing for being an elite animation studio, setting itself apart not just for the superb artistry of its work but for the ethical practices of its employees—a sadly unusual standard in the industry. Curiously, until now, it had never worked on an anime stemming from a manga serialized in Shonen Jump, perhaps the most iconic magazine in the business. Ruri Dragon will end that streak, and what a superb choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo gained widespread acclaim when it first appeared 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 returned with a lighter schedule, the series showed it maintained the fans' appreciation and goodwill, and now the community is thrilled about the upcoming KyoAni adaptation.
The Kingdom Series Season 6 Is Getting a Follow-Up In Production
Kingdom is the top-selling, epic Shueisha manga that is other than One Piece. If you've are unfamiliar with it before, it's because it only recently got an English translation, but the anime has been running for years, and season 6 was another stellar entry. Apparently that was just the first half, because a "sequel" has been confirmed as in production, and it will probably 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 projects, Science Saru has brought us masterpieces of the quality of Space Dandy, Devilman Crybaby, and, lastly, Dandadan. This time, the studio will be producing 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 thinker in the Mongol Empire in the 13th century. Judging from the trailer, the anime called Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia will have a truly original and intriguing visual style, which reminds me a bit of Ranking of Kings. Set to premiere in July 2026, this one will definitely be on my list of anticipated shows.
The Tougen Anki Series Is Set to Continue With a Season Two
Shortly after the airing of its twenty-fourth episode, it was confirmed that Tougen Anki will be receiving a sequel. Inspired by the Japanese legend of Momotaro, Tougen Anki is based on the manga by Yura Urushibara. The new season of the anime will cover the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a firm release date has not yet been announced.
