A Mountain of Anime News Dropped During the Holidays
The Christmas holidays provide a multitude of activities much better than scanning the latest news: discovering surprises, feasting on holiday treats, and harnessing patience techniques to avoid arguing with loved ones. Hopefully you were able to accomplish all these things and more. That said, the showbiz industry never sleeps, and this is particularly true for the realm of anime. A slew of thrilling news items emerged during the holidays, and should you missed some of them, here is a summary of the juiciest bits.
The One-Punch Man Series Its Third Season Is Set to Continue (By 2027)
Without a doubt the most surprising revelation, the notorious troubled production that was season 3 of One-Punch Man proved insufficient to stop further production. The show will come back with a second cour in 2027—such a distant date they might as well have dubbed it season 4. More surprisingly, animation studio J.C. Staff will remain at the helm. At least this time, helmer Shinpei Nagai is attached to direct from the start, which might be a good sign. But, the promotional image for the continuation is a mirror of the one used for season 3, just with protagonists Saitama and Garou facing different directions. This leads one to believe that, at this point, they are probably teasing the fans.
Ruri Dragon Will Be the First Shonen Jump Anime By Kyoto Animation
Kyoto Animation has built a reputation for being an top-tier animation studio, setting itself apart not just for the superb artistry of its output but for the good working conditions of its employees—a sadly unusual standard in the industry. Surprisingly, until now, it had not adapted an anime based on a manga serialized in Shonen Jump, arguably the best-known magazine in the industry. Ruri Dragon will end that streak, and what a excellent choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo became a huge following when it first appeared in 2022 after just a few chapters, but then went into a extended pause due to the mangaka's health issues. When it resumed publication with a more relaxed pace, the series demonstrated it still retained the fans' support and goodwill, and now everyone is overjoyed about the impending KyoAni adaptation.
Kingdom Its Sixth Season Is Getting a Follow-Up Now in the Works
Kingdom is the top-selling, epic Shueisha manga that is aside from One Piece. If you've haven't come across it before, it's because it only fairly recently obtained an English release, but the anime has been running for some time, and season 6 was yet another outstanding entry. Apparently that was just the initial batch, because a "sequel" has been confirmed as in production, and it will almost certainly premiere in 2026.
Science Saru Is Bringing A Witch in Mongolia To Anime
Another studio known for the artistic merit of its productions, Science Saru has given us masterpieces of the caliber 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, inspired by the actual historical person of Fatima, an influential woman and scholar in the Mongol Empire in the 13th century. From the trailer, the anime titled Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia will have a distinctly fresh and captivating visual style, which reminds me a bit of Ranking of Kings. Set to premiere in July 2026, this one will absolutely be on my must-watch list.
Tougen Anki Will Return With a Second Season
Shortly after the airing of the final episode of the first season, it was revealed that Tougen Anki will be securing a follow-up. Adapted from the Japanese legend of Momotaro, Tougen Anki adapts the manga by Yura Urushibara. The upcoming season of the anime will delve into the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a firm release date has not yet been announced.
