A Ton of Anime Updates Landed During the Festive Season
The winter break provide a wealth of pastimes far superior than scanning the latest news: unwrapping gifts, feasting on holiday treats, and using deep breathing to refrain from snapping at relatives. Hopefully you succeeded in accomplish all these things and more. Nevertheless, the world of entertainment doesn't take a break, and this is especially true for the realm of anime. Many exciting announcements came out during the break, and should you overlooked some of them, here is a roundup of the biggest bits.
One-Punch Man Its Third Season Is Moving Forward (Come 2027)
Perhaps the biggest piece of news, the widely-criticized disaster that was season 3 of One-Punch Man failed to deter the series' continuation. The show will return with a follow-up batch of episodes in 2027—such a distant date they might as well have dubbed it season 4. Even more shocking, animation studio J.C. Staff will continue to be leading the project. On a positive note this time, helmer Shinpei Nagai is attached to direct from the outset, which might be a good sign. Yet, the promotional image for the continuation 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 are probably trolling the fans.
Ruri Dragon Will Be the Premiere Shonen Jump Anime From Kyoto Animation
Kyoto Animation has forged a reputation for being an elite animation studio, setting itself apart not just for the high caliber of its output but for the good working conditions of its employees—a uncommon practice in the industry. Curiously, until now, it had not produced an anime stemming from a manga serialized in Shonen Jump, possibly the best-known magazine in the business. Ruri Dragon will end that streak, and what a superb choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo achieved widespread acclaim when it debuted in 2022 after just a small number of issues, but then went into a lengthy break due to the creator's health issues. When it returned with a lighter schedule, the series showed it hadn't lost the fans' support and goodwill, and now fans are ecstatic about the impending KyoAni adaptation.
The Kingdom Series Its Sixth Season Is Getting a Follow-Up In Production
Kingdom is the best-selling, long-running 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 running for a while, and its sixth season was another outstanding entry. Apparently that was just the initial batch, because a "sequel" has been confirmed as in development, and it will very likely debut in 2026.
Science Saru Will Adapt A Witch in Mongolia Into an Anime Series
Another studio renowned for the superior craftsmanship of its productions, Science Saru has given us masterpieces of the ilk 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, inspired by the true story of Fatima, an influential woman and intellectual 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 evokes Ranking of Kings. Debuting in July 2026, this one will absolutely be on my must-watch list.
The Tougen Anki Series Is Set to Continue With a Season Two
Shortly after the conclusion of episode 24, it was confirmed that Tougen Anki will be receiving a follow-up. Based on the Japanese legend of Momotaro, Tougen Anki is based on the manga by Yura Urushibara. The new season of the anime will cover the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a specific release date has yet to be revealed.
