A Mountain of Anime Updates Landed During the Holidays
The Yuletide season present a multitude of pursuits far superior than scanning the headlines: discovering surprises, indulging in delicious food, and employing meditation skills to not yelling at loved ones. I hope you managed to accomplish all these things and more. However, the world of entertainment doesn't take a break, and this is especially true for the realm of anime. Numerous thrilling announcements came out over the holidays, and if you overlooked a few, here is a summary of the biggest bits.
The One-Punch Man Series Season 3 Is Set to Continue (In 2027)
Perhaps the most surprising revelation, the much-discussed disaster that was season 3 of One-Punch Man proved insufficient to halt the series' continuation. Season 3 will return with a subsequent part in 2027—a date so remote they might as well have dubbed it season 4. Even more shocking, animation studio J.C. Staff will still be at the helm. At least this time, helmer Shinpei Nagai is set to direct from the start, which is seen as a hopeful indicator. But, the key visual for the new episodes is identical to the one used for season 3, just with characters Saitama and Garou looking opposite ways. This leads one to believe that, by now, they are probably trolling the fans.
Ruri Dragon Is Poised to Be the First Shonen Jump Anime Produced By Kyoto Animation
Kyoto Animation has forged a name for being an elite animation studio, setting itself apart not just for the high caliber of its work but for the ethical practices of its employees—a sadly unusual standard in the industry. Curiously, until now, it had never worked on an anime based on a manga published in Shonen Jump, perhaps the most famous magazine in the field. Ruri Dragon will change that, 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 two-year hiatus due to the mangaka's health issues. When it resumed publication with a reduced workload, the series proved it hadn't lost the fans' appreciation and enthusiasm, and now everyone is overjoyed about the upcoming KyoAni adaptation.
The Kingdom Series Its Sixth Season Is Getting a Follow-Up Now in the Works
Kingdom is the top-selling, epic Shueisha manga that is not One Piece. If you've are unfamiliar with it before, it's because it only just received an English localization, but the anime has been airing for years, and season 6 was yet another excellent entry. As it happens that was just the initial batch, because a "sequel" has been announced as in development, and it will very likely debut in 2026.
Science Saru Is Bringing A Witch in Mongolia Into an Anime Series
Another studio famous for the excellent quality of its productions, Science Saru has given us critically acclaimed works of the quality of Space Dandy, Devilman Crybaby, and, most 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 thinker in the Mongol Empire in the 13th century. Based on the trailer, the anime named Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia will have a distinctly fresh and intriguing visual style, which reminds me a bit of Ranking of Kings. Scheduled to launch in July 2026, this one will without a doubt be on my watchlist.
Tougen Anki Is Set to Continue With a Second Season
Shortly after the release of episode 24, it was announced that Tougen Anki will be receiving 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 premiere date has yet to be revealed.
