A Heap of Anime News Dropped Over the Holidays
The Christmas holidays present a wealth of pastimes far superior than checking the latest news: discovering surprises, getting stuffed on delicious food, and employing meditation skills to avoid arguing with family members. Hopefully you succeeded in do all these things and more. However, the showbiz industry doesn't take a break, and this is especially true for the realm of anime. Numerous exciting news items came out over the festive period, and should you overlooked a few, here is a summary of the juiciest bits.
The One-Punch Man Series Its Third Season Will Continue (In 2027)
Without a doubt the biggest announcement, the widely-criticized troubled production that was season 3 of One-Punch Man proved insufficient to halt more episodes. Season 3 will be back with a second cour in 2027—such a distant date they easily could have dubbed it season 4. Adding to the surprise, the studio J.C. Staff will remain leading the project. Thankfully this time, helmer Shinpei Nagai is attached to direct from the outset, which is seen as a hopeful indicator. Yet, the main art for the continuation is identical to the one used for season 3, just with characters Saitama and Garou facing different directions. This makes me think that, by now, they could be mocking the fans.
Ruri Dragon Is Poised to Be the First Shonen Jump Anime From Kyoto Animation
Kyoto Animation has built a name for being an top-tier animation studio, distinguishing itself not just for the exceptional quality of its work but for the fair treatment of its employees—a sadly unusual standard in the industry. Curiously, until now, it had never worked on an anime adapted from a manga published in Shonen Jump, possibly the most famous magazine in the industry. Ruri Dragon will break that tradition, and what a superb choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo achieved a huge following when it first appeared in 2022 after just a few chapters, but then went into a two-year hiatus due to the author's health issues. When it resumed publication with a lighter schedule, the series proved it still retained the fans' appreciation and goodwill, and now the community is thrilled about the upcoming KyoAni adaptation.
Kingdom Its Sixth Season Is Getting a Follow-Up In Production
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 recently got an English localization, but the anime has been running for a while, and season 6 was yet another excellent entry. Apparently that was just the initial batch, because a "sequel" has been announced as in production, and it will almost certainly air in 2026.
Science Saru Is Adapting A Witch in Mongolia Into an Anime Series
One more studio famous for the excellent quality of its productions, Science Saru has brought us critically acclaimed works of the caliber of Space Dandy, Devilman Crybaby, and, most 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 true story of Fatima, an powerful woman and thinker 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 intriguing visual style, which reminds me a bit of Ranking of Kings. Scheduled to launch in July 2026, this one will absolutely be on my must-watch list.
Tougen Anki Will Return With a Season Two
Right after the conclusion of episode 24, it was confirmed that Tougen Anki will be getting a follow-up. Adapted from 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 concrete air date has yet to be revealed.
