A Ton of Anime News Landed Over the Holidays
The Christmas holidays offer a multitude of pastimes much better than checking the updates: opening presents, indulging in festive fare, and harnessing meditation skills to refrain from yelling at relatives. I hope you succeeded in enjoy all these things and more. However, the world of entertainment doesn't go on vacation, and this is notably true for the realm of anime. A slew of thrilling announcements came out over the break, and should you didn't see any, here is a compilation of the juiciest bits.
The One-Punch Man Series Its Third Season Is Set to Continue (In 2027)
Perhaps the most surprising revelation, the notorious troubled production that was season 3 of One-Punch Man proved insufficient to stop more episodes. Season 3 will return with a subsequent part in 2027—such a distant date they could have dubbed it season 4. More surprisingly, animation studio J.C. Staff will remain in charge. Thankfully this time, director Shinpei Nagai is attached to direct from the start, which could be taken as a positive development. However, the key visual for the second cour 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 could be mocking the fans.
Ruri Dragon Will Be the First Shonen Jump Anime Produced By Kyoto Animation
Kyoto Animation has forged a name for being an elite animation studio, making its mark not just for the superb artistry of its work but for the ethical practices of its employees—a sadly unusual standard in the industry. Surprisingly, until now, it had not produced an anime stemming from a manga serialized in Shonen Jump, perhaps the most iconic magazine in the field. Ruri Dragon will end that streak, and what a great choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo achieved widespread acclaim when it launched in 2022 after just a few chapters, but then went into a two-year hiatus due to the mangaka's health issues. When it came back with a reduced workload, the series demonstrated it still retained the fans' support and positive sentiment, and now fans are thrilled about the forthcoming KyoAni adaptation.
Kingdom Season 6 Has a Sequel In Production
Kingdom is the best-selling, decades-spanning Shueisha manga that is not One Piece. If you've never heard of it before, it's because it only recently got an English localization, but the anime has been going on for a while, and season 6 was a further stellar entry. Apparently that was just the first half, because a "sequel" has been revealed as in production, and it will probably 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 work, Science Saru has brought us critically acclaimed works of the quality of Space Dandy, Devilman Crybaby, and, more 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 real historical figure of Fatima, an powerful woman and scholar in the Mongol Empire in the 13th century. From the trailer, the anime called Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia will have a truly original and fascinating visual style, which reminds me a bit of Ranking of Kings. Scheduled to launch in July 2026, this one will definitely be on my watchlist.
The Tougen Anki Series Will Continue With a Second Season
Immediately following the conclusion of its twenty-fourth episode, it was announced that Tougen Anki will be getting a sequel. Inspired by the Japanese legend of Momotaro, Tougen Anki adapts the manga by Yura Urushibara. The second season of the anime will cover the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a firm release date has not yet been announced.
