A Ton of Anime Updates Landed During the Festive Season
The Christmas holidays offer a wealth of activities considerably more enjoyable than catching up on the headlines: opening presents, indulging in delicious food, and using deep breathing to not snapping at relatives. It is wished you managed to enjoy all these things and more. That said, the entertainment world doesn't take a break, and this is notably true for the realm of anime. A slew of noteworthy developments surfaced during the break, and if you didn't see a few, here is a compilation of the biggest bits.
The One-Punch Man Series Its Third Season Is Set to Continue (By 2027)
Without a doubt the biggest piece of news, the widely-criticized troubled production that was season 3 of One-Punch Man proved insufficient to halt further production. Season 3 will return with a second cour in 2027—a date so remote they might as well have labeled it season 4. More surprisingly, animation studio J.C. Staff will still be in charge. Thankfully this time, helmer Shinpei Nagai is on board to direct from the outset, which is seen as a hopeful indicator. Yet, the main art for the new episodes is the same image the one used for season 3, just with characters Saitama and Garou oriented differently. This makes me think that, by now, they must be teasing the fans.
The Ruri Dragon Series Is Poised to Be the Premiere Shonen Jump Anime From Kyoto Animation
Kyoto Animation has forged a standing for being an elite animation studio, setting itself apart not just for the high caliber of its productions but for the good working conditions of its employees—a uncommon practice in the industry. Curiously, until now, it had not produced an anime based on a manga published in Shonen Jump, possibly the most iconic magazine in the industry. Ruri Dragon will end that streak, and what a superb choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo became massive popularity when it launched in 2022 after just a handful of installments, but then went into a extended pause due to the creator's health issues. When it returned with a reduced workload, the series showed it maintained the fans' support and goodwill, and now everyone is ecstatic about the forthcoming KyoAni adaptation.
Kingdom Its Sixth Season Has a Sequel Now in the Works
Kingdom is the top-selling, epic Shueisha manga that is other than One Piece. If you've are unfamiliar with it before, it's because it only recently got an English translation, but the anime has been going on for a while, and season 6 was yet another excellent entry. As it happens that was just the initial batch, because a "sequel" has been revealed as in production, and it will almost certainly debut in 2026.
Science Saru Is Adapting A Witch in Mongolia Into an Anime Series
A further studio famous for the artistic merit of its projects, Science Saru has given us hit shows of the quality of Space Dandy, Devilman Crybaby, and, more recently, Dandadan. This time, the studio will be handling the adaptation of Tomato Soup's manga A Witch's Life in Mongol, inspired by the true story of Fatima, an prominent woman and intellectual in the Mongol Empire in the 13th century. Judging from the trailer, the anime titled Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia will have a distinctly fresh and intriguing visual style, which is somewhat reminiscent of Ranking of Kings. Set to premiere in July 2026, this one will definitely be on my watchlist.
Tougen Anki Will Return With a Second Season
Right after the conclusion of episode 24, it was announced that Tougen Anki will be receiving a sequel. Adapted from the Japanese legend of Momotaro, Tougen Anki is based on the manga by Yura Urushibara. The upcoming season of the anime will cover the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a firm release date has yet to be revealed.
