A Mountain of Anime News Dropped Over the Holidays
The Christmas holidays provide a plethora of activities far superior than checking the headlines: opening presents, indulging in holiday treats, and using deep breathing to refrain from arguing with family members. Hopefully you managed to do all these things and more. However, the world of entertainment never sleeps, and this is particularly true for the realm of anime. A slew of exciting announcements came out over the festive period, and if you overlooked a few, here is a summary of the most exciting bits.
One-Punch Man Its Third Season Is Set to Continue (By 2027)
Without a doubt the most shocking announcement, the notorious disaster that was the third season of One-Punch Man proved insufficient to deter further production. The show will return with a second cour in 2027—such a distant date they might as well have labeled it season 4. More surprisingly, animation studio J.C. Staff will remain in charge. At least this time, director Shinpei Nagai is set 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 protagonists Saitama and Garou looking opposite ways. This makes me think that, at this point, they are probably mocking the fans.
The Ruri Dragon Series Will Be the First Shonen Jump Anime Produced By Kyoto Animation
Kyoto Animation has built a standing for being an elite animation studio, distinguishing itself not just for the exceptional quality of its productions 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 published in Shonen Jump, possibly the most iconic magazine in the industry. Ruri Dragon will break that tradition, and what a superb choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo gained widespread acclaim when it launched 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 still retained the fans' support and enthusiasm, and now the community is overjoyed about the impending KyoAni adaptation.
The Kingdom Series Its Sixth Season Has a Sequel Currently in Production
Kingdom is the top-selling, decades-spanning Shueisha manga that is aside from One Piece. If you've are unfamiliar with it before, it's because it only recently got an English localization, but the anime has been airing for some time, and season 6 was a further stellar entry. As it happens that was just the first half, because a "sequel" has been confirmed as in production, and it will very likely debut in 2026.
Science Saru Will Adapt A Witch in Mongolia To Anime
Another studio known for the superior craftsmanship of its projects, Science Saru has delivered hit shows 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 true story of Fatima, an powerful woman and intellectual in the Mongol Empire in the 13th century. Judging from the trailer, the anime named Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia will have a highly unique and captivating visual style, which reminds me a bit of Ranking of Kings. Debuting in July 2026, this one will without a doubt be on my must-watch list.
The Tougen Anki Series Will Return With a Season Two
Shortly after the conclusion of the final episode of the first season, it was announced that Tougen Anki will be securing a follow-up. Based on the Japanese legend of Momotaro, Tougen Anki is based on the manga by Yura Urushibara. The upcoming season of the anime will cover the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a specific release date has yet to be revealed.
