A Ton of Anime Updates Arrived Over the Holidays
The Christmas holidays provide a multitude of pursuits far superior than catching up on the updates: discovering surprises, feasting on holiday treats, and employing deep breathing to avoid arguing with relatives. Hopefully you succeeded in enjoy all these things and more. That said, the showbiz industry never sleeps, and this is especially true for the realm of anime. Many noteworthy news items emerged during the holidays, and if you overlooked any, here is a roundup of the juiciest bits.
The One-Punch Man Series Its Third Season Is Moving Forward (Come 2027)
Perhaps the most shocking revelation, the notorious disaster that was season 3 of One-Punch Man failed to halt further production. The show will be back with a subsequent part in 2027—such a distant date they could have called it season 4. Adding to the surprise, the studio J.C. Staff will remain in charge. On a positive note this time, helmer Shinpei Nagai is on board to direct from the start, which might be a good sign. But, the key visual for the second cour is identical to the one used for season 3, just with characters Saitama and Garou facing different directions. This suggests that, at this point, they could be teasing the fans.
Ruri Dragon Will Be the Premiere Shonen Jump Anime Produced By Kyoto Animation
Kyoto Animation has built a standing for being an elite animation studio, making its mark not just for the high caliber of its productions but for the good working conditions of its employees—a rarity 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 business. Ruri Dragon will break that tradition, and what a great choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo achieved massive popularity when it launched in 2022 after just a few chapters, but then went into a extended pause due to the author's health issues. When it came back with a lighter schedule, the series demonstrated it hadn't lost the fans' support and goodwill, and now fans are ecstatic about the upcoming KyoAni adaptation.
The Kingdom Series Season 6 Will Get a Sequel Currently in Production
Kingdom is the best-selling, decades-spanning Shueisha manga that is aside from One Piece. If you've haven't come across it before, it's because it only just received an English translation, but the anime has been running for some time, and its sixth season was yet another stellar entry. As it happens that was just the initial batch, because a "sequel" has been confirmed as in development, and it will very likely premiere in 2026.
Science Saru Is Adapting A Witch in Mongolia To Anime
Another studio famous for the superior craftsmanship of its work, Science Saru has brought us critically acclaimed works of the ilk 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, inspired by the real historical figure of Fatima, an influential woman and scholar in the Mongol Empire in the 13th century. Judging from the trailer, the anime titled Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia will have a truly original and intriguing visual style, which is somewhat reminiscent 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 Season Two
Immediately following the release of the final episode of the first season, it was revealed that Tougen Anki will be securing a sequel. Adapted from the Japanese legend of Momotaro, Tougen Anki adapts the manga by Yura Urushibara. The second season of the anime will adapt the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a concrete premiere date has not been disclosed yet.
