A Heap of Anime News Landed Over the Festive Season
The Yuletide season provide a plethora of pursuits considerably more enjoyable than scanning the headlines: discovering surprises, getting stuffed on festive fare, and harnessing meditation skills to not yelling at relatives. I hope you were able to accomplish all these things and more. However, the entertainment world doesn't go on vacation, and this is especially true for the realm of anime. Numerous noteworthy developments surfaced during the holidays, and should you overlooked some of them, here is a compilation of the juiciest bits.
The One-Punch Man Series Its Third Season Will Continue (By 2027)
Without a doubt the most shocking piece of news, the much-discussed controversial season that was season 3 of One-Punch Man failed to halt the series' continuation. The show will be back with a second cour in 2027—a date so remote they could have labeled it season 4. More surprisingly, animation studio J.C. Staff will still be leading the project. Thankfully this time, helmer Shinpei Nagai is set to direct from the beginning, which is seen as a hopeful indicator. However, the main art for the second cour is a mirror of the one used for season 3, just with characters Saitama and Garou looking opposite ways. This makes me think that, at this point, they could be trolling the fans.
The Ruri Dragon Series Is Set to Be the First Shonen Jump Anime From Kyoto Animation
Kyoto Animation has established a reputation for being an prestigious animation studio, setting itself apart not just for the exceptional quality of its productions but for the ethical practices of its employees—a rarity in the industry. Unexpectedly, until now, it had not adapted an anime adapted from a manga published in Shonen Jump, perhaps the best-known magazine in the field. Ruri Dragon will break that tradition, and what a great choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo gained a huge following when it first appeared in 2022 after just a small number of issues, but then went into a extended pause due to the mangaka's health issues. When it resumed publication with a lighter schedule, the series showed it maintained the fans' affection and goodwill, and now the community is ecstatic about the upcoming KyoAni adaptation.
The Kingdom Series Its Sixth Season Has a Sequel Currently in Production
Kingdom is the top-selling, epic Shueisha manga that is not One Piece. If you've never heard of it before, it's because it only recently got an English release, but the anime has been airing for a while, and season 6 was yet another excellent entry. As it happens that was just the initial batch, because a "sequel" has been announced as currently being made, and it will probably debut in 2026.
Science Saru Will Adapt 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, more recently, Dandadan. This time, the studio will be handling the adaptation of Tomato Soup's manga A Witch's Life in Mongol, based on the actual historical person of Fatima, an powerful woman and intellectual in the Mongol Empire in the 13th century. Judging from the trailer, the anime titled Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia will have a highly unique and intriguing visual style, which evokes Ranking of Kings. Set to premiere in July 2026, this one will definitely be on my must-watch list.
The Tougen Anki Series Will Return With a Second Season
Immediately following the airing of the final episode of the first season, it was confirmed that Tougen Anki will be securing a follow-up. Based on the Japanese legend of Momotaro, Tougen Anki adapts the manga by Yura Urushibara. The second season of the anime will delve into the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a specific release date has not yet been announced.
