A Heap of Anime Updates Dropped Over the Festive Season

The Yuletide season present a plethora of pastimes considerably more enjoyable than catching up on the latest news: unwrapping gifts, indulging in holiday treats, and using meditation skills to not yelling at loved ones. I hope you managed to accomplish all these things and more. That said, the showbiz industry doesn't go on vacation, and this is especially true for the realm of anime. Many exciting news items came out over the break, and if you missed a few, here is a compilation of the biggest bits.

One-Punch Man Season 3 Is Moving Forward (By 2027)

Without a doubt the biggest announcement, the notorious controversial season that was season 3 of One-Punch Man proved insufficient to deter the series' continuation. Season 3 will come back with a follow-up batch of episodes in 2027—such a distant date they could have called it season 4. More surprisingly, animation studio J.C. Staff will continue to be leading the project. At least this time, director Shinpei Nagai is attached to direct from the start, which might be a hopeful indicator. Yet, the key visual for the continuation is a mirror of the one used for season 3, just with characters Saitama and Garou looking opposite ways. This suggests that, by now, they are probably trolling the fans.

The Ruri Dragon Series Is Poised to Be the Premiere Shonen Jump Anime By Kyoto Animation

Kyoto Animation has forged a standing for being an elite animation studio, making its mark not just for the superb artistry of its output but for the good working conditions of its employees—a rarity in the industry. Curiously, until now, it had not produced an anime based on a manga published in Shonen Jump, perhaps the best-known magazine in the business. Ruri Dragon will end that streak, and what a excellent choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo achieved widespread acclaim when it first appeared 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 more relaxed pace, the series proved it still retained the fans' affection and positive sentiment, and now fans are thrilled about the impending KyoAni adaptation.

Kingdom Season 6 Has a Sequel Currently in Production

Kingdom is the best-selling, epic Shueisha manga that is not One Piece. If you've haven't come across it before, it's because it only recently got an English release, but the anime has been going on for some time, and season 6 was yet another excellent entry. Apparently that was just the first half, because a "sequel" has been announced as in development, and it will very likely air in 2026.

Science Saru Will Adapt A Witch in Mongolia To Anime

Another studio known for the artistic merit of its work, Science Saru has brought us critically acclaimed works of the quality 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, which is based on the actual historical person of Fatima, an powerful woman and scholar in the Mongol Empire in the 13th century. From the trailer, the anime titled Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia will have a truly original and intriguing visual style, which reminds me a bit of Ranking of Kings. Set to premiere in July 2026, this one will absolutely be on my list of anticipated shows.

The Tougen Anki Series Will Return With a Second Season

Right after the airing of the final episode of the first season, it was confirmed that Tougen Anki will be getting a second season. Inspired by the Japanese legend of Momotaro, Tougen Anki adapts the manga by Yura Urushibara. The new season of the anime will cover the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a specific release date has not been disclosed yet.