A Mountain of Anime Updates Arrived During the Holidays
The Christmas holidays present a plethora of pastimes considerably more enjoyable than catching up on the updates: discovering surprises, feasting on holiday treats, and using deep breathing to refrain from yelling at relatives. I hope you succeeded in do all these things and more. However, the showbiz industry doesn't go on vacation, and this is particularly true for the realm of anime. A slew of exciting news items came out over the break, and if you missed some of them, here is a roundup of the most exciting bits.
The One-Punch Man Series Its Third Season Will Continue (Come 2027)
Truly the biggest revelation, the notorious troubled production that was the third season of One-Punch Man wasn't enough to stop further production. The show will return with a follow-up batch of episodes in 2027—so far away they might as well have called it season 4. More surprisingly, the studio J.C. Staff will still be leading the project. On a positive note this time, helmer Shinpei Nagai is attached to direct from the start, which might be a positive development. However, the key visual for the continuation is identical to the one used for season 3, just with characters Saitama and Garou looking opposite ways. This makes me think that, at this point, they must be trolling the fans.
Ruri Dragon Will Be the First Shonen Jump Anime From Kyoto Animation
Kyoto Animation has established a reputation for being an top-tier animation studio, distinguishing itself 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 serialized in Shonen Jump, perhaps the most iconic magazine in the field. Ruri Dragon will end that streak, and what a great choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo achieved widespread acclaim 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 came back with a lighter schedule, the series showed it hadn't lost the fans' support and enthusiasm, and now the community is ecstatic about the upcoming KyoAni adaptation.
Kingdom Its Sixth Season Will Get a Sequel Now in the Works
Kingdom is the top-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 airing for some time, and its sixth season was another excellent entry. Apparently that was just the first cour, because a "sequel" has been confirmed as currently being made, and it will almost certainly premiere in 2026.
Science Saru Is Bringing A Witch in Mongolia To Anime
One more studio renowned for the artistic merit of its projects, Science Saru has given us masterpieces of the ilk 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, which is based on the true story of Fatima, an influential woman and intellectual in the Mongol Empire in the 13th century. From the trailer, the anime named Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia will have a truly original and captivating visual style, which evokes Ranking of Kings. Debuting in July 2026, this one will definitely be on my watchlist.
Tougen Anki Is Set to Continue With a Season Two
Shortly after the release of the final episode of the first season, it was confirmed 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 upcoming season of the anime will delve into the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a specific premiere date has not yet been announced.
