A Mountain of Anime News Landed During the Festive Season
The Yuletide season provide a wealth of pastimes considerably more enjoyable than checking the headlines: discovering surprises, indulging in holiday treats, and employing deep breathing to not arguing with relatives. Hopefully you managed to do all these things and more. However, the world of entertainment doesn't take a break, and this is notably true for the realm of anime. A slew of exciting developments came out over the holidays, and should you overlooked a few, here is a roundup of the biggest bits.
One-Punch Man Season 3 Is Set to Continue (By 2027)
Truly the most shocking announcement, the widely-criticized troubled production that was the third season of One-Punch Man wasn't enough to deter the series' continuation. Season 3 will return with a subsequent part in 2027—such a distant date they easily could have dubbed it season 4. Adding to the surprise, animation studio J.C. Staff will remain leading the project. Thankfully this time, director Shinpei Nagai is on board to direct from the start, which is seen as a positive development. But, the main art for the continuation is a mirror of the one used for season 3, just with characters Saitama and Garou oriented differently. This makes me think that, by now, they are probably mocking the fans.
The Ruri Dragon Series Is Poised to Be the First Shonen Jump Anime From Kyoto Animation
Kyoto Animation has forged a reputation for being an top-tier animation studio, setting itself apart not just for the exceptional quality of its output but for the good working conditions of its employees—a uncommon practice in the industry. Unexpectedly, until now, it had never worked on an anime adapted from a manga from Shonen Jump, possibly the most iconic magazine in the industry. Ruri Dragon will change that, and what a excellent choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo gained massive popularity when it debuted in 2022 after just a handful of installments, but then went into a lengthy break due to the author's health issues. When it returned with a reduced workload, the series proved it hadn't lost the fans' support and positive sentiment, and now fans are overjoyed about the forthcoming KyoAni adaptation.
The Kingdom Series Its Sixth Season Will Get a Sequel Currently in Production
Kingdom is the best-selling, decades-spanning Shueisha manga that is aside from One Piece. If you've never heard of it before, it's because it only fairly recently obtained an English translation, but the anime has been going on for years, and its sixth season was yet another stellar entry. It turns out that was just the first half, because a "sequel" has been confirmed as currently being made, and it will almost certainly premiere 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 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, which is based on the actual historical person of Fatima, an prominent woman and intellectual in the Mongol Empire in the 13th century. Judging from the trailer, the anime called Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia will have a highly unique and captivating visual style, which is somewhat reminiscent of Ranking of Kings. Debuting in July 2026, this one will without a doubt be on my list of anticipated shows.
Tougen Anki Will Return With a Season Two
Immediately following the conclusion of episode 24, it was revealed that Tougen Anki will be getting a second season. Based on 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 firm premiere date has not yet been announced.
