A Mountain of Anime News Landed Over the Holidays
The Yuletide season offer a wealth of pursuits far superior than catching up on the updates: discovering surprises, getting stuffed on delicious food, and harnessing deep breathing to not yelling at relatives. I hope you succeeded in do all these things and more. However, the showbiz industry never sleeps, and this is notably true for the realm of anime. A slew of thrilling developments emerged over the break, and should you missed some of them, here is a summary of the biggest bits.
The One-Punch Man Series Season 3 Will Continue (In 2027)
Without a doubt the most shocking announcement, the notorious controversial season that was season 3 of One-Punch Man failed to halt more episodes. The show will come back with a second cour in 2027—such a distant date they easily could have labeled it season 4. Adding to the surprise, animation studio J.C. Staff will remain leading the project. Thankfully this time, director Shinpei Nagai is set to direct from the start, which might be a hopeful indicator. But, the main art for the new episodes is the same image 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.
Ruri Dragon Is Poised to Be the Premiere Shonen Jump Anime By Kyoto Animation
Kyoto Animation has built a reputation for being an top-tier animation studio, making its mark not just for the high caliber of its productions but for the ethical practices of its employees—a uncommon practice in the industry. Unexpectedly, until now, it had not produced an anime adapted from a manga serialized in Shonen Jump, perhaps the most iconic magazine in the industry. Ruri Dragon will break that tradition, and what a superb choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo achieved widespread acclaim when it first appeared in 2022 after just a handful of installments, but then went into a lengthy break due to the creator's health issues. When it returned with a lighter schedule, the series showed it maintained the fans' support and goodwill, and now the community is overjoyed about the upcoming KyoAni adaptation.
Kingdom Season 6 Has a Sequel Now in the Works
Kingdom is the best-selling, long-running Shueisha manga that is other than One Piece. If you've are unfamiliar with it before, it's because it only fairly recently obtained an English release, but the anime has been airing for a while, and its sixth season was yet another excellent entry. Apparently that was just the first half, because a "sequel" has been announced as in production, and it will very likely air in 2026.
Science Saru Is Adapting A Witch in Mongolia Into an Anime Series
Another studio famous for the excellent quality of its projects, Science Saru has brought us critically acclaimed works 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, which is based on the true story of Fatima, an powerful 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 captivating visual style, which reminds me a bit of Ranking of Kings. Debuting in July 2026, this one will absolutely be on my must-watch list.
Tougen Anki Is Set to Continue With a Season Two
Immediately following the airing of episode 24, it was confirmed that Tougen Anki will be receiving a sequel. Inspired by the Japanese legend of Momotaro, Tougen Anki brings to life the manga by Yura Urushibara. The upcoming season of the anime will delve into the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a concrete air date has not been disclosed yet.
