A Heap of Anime News Landed During the Holidays

The Christmas holidays present a plethora of pursuits considerably more enjoyable than checking the latest news: unwrapping gifts, feasting on delicious food, and harnessing patience techniques to refrain from arguing with loved ones. I hope you succeeded in do all these things and more. Nevertheless, the world of entertainment doesn't go on vacation, and this is particularly true for the realm of anime. Many noteworthy developments emerged over the break, and just in case you didn't see any, here is a summary of the biggest bits.

One-Punch Man Season 3 Will Continue (In 2027)

Truly the most surprising revelation, the much-discussed troubled production that was the third season of One-Punch Man wasn't enough to halt the series' continuation. Season 3 will be back with a follow-up batch of episodes in 2027—such a distant date they might as well have labeled it season 4. Even more shocking, the studio J.C. Staff will continue to be leading the project. Thankfully this time, helmer Shinpei Nagai is on board to direct from the beginning, which could be taken as a good sign. However, the promotional image for the second cour is identical to the one used for season 3, just with characters Saitama and Garou looking opposite ways. This suggests that, by now, they could be mocking the fans.

The Ruri Dragon Series Is Set to Be the First Shonen Jump Anime By 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 rarity in the industry. Surprisingly, until now, it had never worked on an anime based on a manga published in Shonen Jump, arguably the most iconic magazine in the business. Ruri Dragon will break that tradition, and what a superb 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 two-year hiatus due to the mangaka's health issues. When it came back with a lighter schedule, the series demonstrated it hadn't lost the fans' appreciation and goodwill, and now fans are thrilled about the upcoming KyoAni adaptation.

Kingdom Its Sixth Season Will Get a Sequel In Production

Kingdom is the best-selling, decades-spanning 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 going on for some time, and season 6 was a further outstanding entry. It turns out that was just the first half, because a "sequel" has been revealed as currently being made, and it will very likely debut in 2026.

Science Saru Will Adapt A Witch in Mongolia Into an Anime Series

Another studio known for the excellent quality of its projects, Science Saru has brought us masterpieces of the caliber of Space Dandy, Devilman Crybaby, and, most recently, Dandadan. This time, the studio will be producing the adaptation of Tomato Soup's manga A Witch's Life in Mongol, inspired by the real historical figure of Fatima, an prominent woman and intellectual 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 evokes Ranking of Kings. Scheduled to launch in July 2026, this one will absolutely be on my must-watch list.

Tougen Anki Will Continue With a Second Season

Shortly after the airing of the final episode of the first season, it was announced 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 new season of the anime will adapt the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a concrete premiere date has not yet been announced.