A Ton of Anime News Landed During the Festive Season
The Christmas holidays provide a wealth of pursuits much better than checking the latest news: discovering surprises, feasting on delicious food, and using patience techniques to refrain from yelling at relatives. It is wished you managed to do all these things and more. Nevertheless, the world of entertainment never sleeps, and this is particularly true for the realm of anime. Many noteworthy announcements came out during the break, and if you overlooked some of them, here is a roundup of the juiciest bits.
The One-Punch Man Series Season 3 Is Moving Forward (Come 2027)
Perhaps the most shocking piece of news, the widely-criticized troubled production that was the third season of One-Punch Man wasn't enough to deter the series' continuation. The show will return with a subsequent part in 2027—so far away they could have dubbed it season 4. More surprisingly, animation studio J.C. Staff will remain at the helm. At least this time, director Shinpei Nagai is on board to direct from the start, which might be a positive development. Yet, the promotional image for the new episodes is a mirror of the one used for season 3, just with protagonists Saitama and Garou facing different directions. This makes me think that, nowadays, they must be trolling the fans.
Ruri Dragon Is Poised to Be the First Shonen Jump Anime Produced By Kyoto Animation
Kyoto Animation has built a name for being an prestigious animation studio, distinguishing itself not just for the superb artistry of its output but for the ethical practices of its employees—a rarity in the industry. Curiously, until now, it had not produced an anime based on a manga serialized in Shonen Jump, perhaps the best-known magazine in the industry. Ruri Dragon will end that streak, and what a great choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo became massive popularity when it launched in 2022 after just a handful of installments, but then went into a two-year hiatus due to the mangaka's health issues. When it returned with a lighter schedule, the series proved it still retained the fans' appreciation and positive sentiment, and now the community is ecstatic about the upcoming KyoAni adaptation.
The Kingdom Series Its Sixth Season Has a Sequel Now in the Works
Kingdom is the top-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 its sixth season was another stellar entry. As it happens that was just the initial batch, because a "sequel" has been announced as in production, and it will probably premiere in 2026.
Science Saru Will Adapt A Witch in Mongolia Into an Anime Series
A further studio known for the excellent quality of its productions, Science Saru has delivered masterpieces of the quality of Space Dandy, Devilman Crybaby, and, lastly, Dandadan. This time, the studio will be handling the adaptation of Tomato Soup's manga A Witch's Life in Mongol, based on the true story 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 captivating visual style, which reminds me a bit of Ranking of Kings. Set to premiere in July 2026, this one will without a doubt be on my watchlist.
Tougen Anki Will Return With a Second Season
Right after the conclusion of episode 24, it was announced that Tougen Anki will be securing a follow-up. Inspired by the Japanese legend of Momotaro, Tougen Anki brings to life the manga by Yura Urushibara. The second season of the anime will delve into the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a concrete release date has not yet been announced.
