A Ton of Anime Updates Dropped Over the Festive Season
The Christmas holidays offer a multitude of activities much better than catching up on the latest news: unwrapping gifts, indulging in delicious food, and using meditation skills to refrain from snapping at relatives. I hope you managed to accomplish all these things and more. That said, the world of entertainment doesn't take a break, and this is particularly true for the realm of anime. Numerous noteworthy developments emerged over the holidays, and just in case you missed a few, here is a summary of the biggest bits.
One-Punch Man Its Third Season Will Continue (Come 2027)
Without a doubt the most surprising revelation, the notorious disaster that was the third season of One-Punch Man proved insufficient to deter more episodes. The show will come back with a second cour in 2027—a date so remote they easily could have dubbed it season 4. Adding to the surprise, animation studio J.C. Staff will continue to be at the helm. On a positive note this time, director Shinpei Nagai is set to direct from the beginning, which is seen as a hopeful indicator. Yet, the main art for the second cour is a mirror of the one used for season 3, just with characters Saitama and Garou oriented differently. This leads one to believe that, at this point, they are probably mocking the fans.
Ruri Dragon Will Be the First Shonen Jump Anime From Kyoto Animation
Kyoto Animation has established a reputation for being an prestigious animation studio, distinguishing itself not just for the exceptional quality of its productions but for the good working conditions of its employees—a uncommon practice in the industry. Unexpectedly, until now, it had never worked on an anime adapted from a manga serialized in Shonen Jump, perhaps the best-known magazine in the field. Ruri Dragon will break that tradition, and what a superb choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo achieved a huge following when it launched in 2022 after just a small number of issues, but then went into a lengthy break due to the mangaka's health issues. When it came back with a reduced workload, the series showed it still retained the fans' affection and goodwill, and now fans are thrilled about the forthcoming KyoAni adaptation.
The Kingdom Series Season 6 Has a Sequel In Production
Kingdom is the highly popular, long-running Shueisha manga that is not One Piece. If you've haven't come across it before, it's because it only fairly recently obtained an English translation, but the anime has been running for years, and its sixth season was a further stellar entry. Apparently that was just the initial batch, because a "sequel" has been revealed as in development, and it will almost certainly air in 2026.
Science Saru Is Adapting A Witch in Mongolia To Anime
Another studio known for the excellent quality of its productions, Science Saru has delivered masterpieces of the ilk 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, which is based on the actual historical person of Fatima, an influential woman and thinker in the Mongol Empire in the 13th century. Based on the trailer, the anime called Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia will have a distinctly fresh and fascinating visual style, which is somewhat reminiscent of Ranking of Kings. Set to premiere in July 2026, this one will without a doubt be on my list of anticipated shows.
The Tougen Anki Series Will Return With a Second Season
Immediately following the conclusion of its twenty-fourth episode, it was announced that Tougen Anki will be securing a follow-up. Based on 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 specific release date has not yet been announced.
