A Mountain of Anime Updates Arrived During the Holidays
The Yuletide season provide a wealth of activities far superior than catching up on the headlines: discovering surprises, getting stuffed on delicious food, and using patience techniques to refrain from snapping at loved ones. I hope you succeeded in accomplish all these things and more. However, the showbiz industry never sleeps, and this is particularly true for the realm of anime. Numerous noteworthy developments emerged during the festive period, and if you overlooked any, here is a compilation of the biggest bits.
The One-Punch Man Series Season 3 Is Moving Forward (By 2027)
Truly the most surprising piece of news, the widely-criticized troubled production that was the third season of One-Punch Man wasn't enough to stop more episodes. Season 3 will return with a subsequent part in 2027—such a distant date they could have called it season 4. More surprisingly, the studio J.C. Staff will continue to be at the helm. On a positive note this time, helmer Shinpei Nagai is set to direct from the outset, which is seen as a good sign. However, the key visual for the continuation is identical to the one used for season 3, just with protagonists Saitama and Garou looking opposite ways. This makes me think that, nowadays, they are probably mocking the fans.
Ruri Dragon Will Be the First Shonen Jump Anime Produced By Kyoto Animation
Kyoto Animation has established a name for being an prestigious animation studio, setting itself apart not just for the high caliber of its productions but for the fair treatment of its employees—a rarity in the industry. Surprisingly, until now, it had not adapted an anime based on a manga from Shonen Jump, arguably the most iconic magazine in the field. Ruri Dragon will end that streak, and what a superb choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo achieved widespread acclaim when it debuted in 2022 after just a small number of issues, but then went into a two-year hiatus due to the mangaka's health issues. When it came back with a more relaxed pace, the series proved it maintained the fans' affection and positive sentiment, and now the community is ecstatic about the forthcoming KyoAni adaptation.
Kingdom Season 6 Will Get a Sequel In Production
Kingdom is the best-selling, long-running Shueisha manga that is other than 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 running for a while, and season 6 was yet another stellar entry. It turns out that was just the initial batch, because a "sequel" has been confirmed as in development, and it will almost certainly air in 2026.
Science Saru Will Adapt A Witch in Mongolia Into an Anime Series
One more studio famous for the excellent quality of its projects, Science Saru has given us masterpieces of the quality of Space Dandy, Devilman Crybaby, and, most recently, Dandadan. This time, the studio will be producing 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 thinker 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 fascinating visual style, which reminds me a bit of Ranking of Kings. Debuting in July 2026, this one will without a doubt be on my list of anticipated shows.
Tougen Anki Is Set to Continue With a Second Season
Shortly after the conclusion of the final episode of the first season, it was confirmed that Tougen Anki will be securing a sequel. Based on the Japanese legend of Momotaro, Tougen Anki adapts the manga by Yura Urushibara. The new season of the anime will cover the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a concrete premiere date has not yet been announced.
