A Mountain of Anime News Dropped Over the Festive Season
The Christmas holidays offer a multitude of activities considerably more enjoyable than checking the headlines: unwrapping gifts, feasting on delicious food, and harnessing meditation skills to avoid yelling at loved ones. I hope you managed to do all these things and more. That said, the entertainment world doesn't take a break, and this is especially true for the realm of anime. Many thrilling announcements surfaced over the festive period, and should you missed some of them, here is a roundup of the most exciting bits.
One-Punch Man Its Third Season Is Moving Forward (By 2027)
Without a doubt the most surprising announcement, the much-discussed troubled production that was season 3 of One-Punch Man wasn't enough to stop the series' continuation. The show will return with a follow-up batch of episodes in 2027—so far away they might as well have dubbed it season 4. Even more shocking, the studio J.C. Staff will remain at the helm. Thankfully this time, helmer Shinpei Nagai is on board to direct from the outset, which might be a hopeful indicator. However, the key visual for the new episodes is the same image the one used for season 3, just with characters Saitama and Garou oriented differently. This leads one to believe that, nowadays, they could be trolling the fans.
Ruri Dragon Will Be the First Shonen Jump Anime Produced By Kyoto Animation
Kyoto Animation has built a reputation for being an prestigious animation studio, distinguishing itself not just for the superb artistry of its productions but for the good working conditions of its employees—a rarity in the industry. Curiously, until now, it had never worked on an anime stemming from a manga published in Shonen Jump, possibly the most famous magazine in the field. Ruri Dragon will change that, and what a great choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo gained widespread acclaim when it first appeared in 2022 after just a small number of issues, but then went into a two-year hiatus due to the mangaka's health issues. When it resumed publication with a more relaxed pace, the series proved it hadn't lost the fans' appreciation and goodwill, and now everyone is overjoyed about the impending KyoAni adaptation.
The Kingdom Series Its Sixth Season Will Get a Sequel Now in the Works
Kingdom is the highly popular, long-running Shueisha manga that is other than 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 season 6 was a further stellar entry. It turns out that was just the first half, because a "sequel" has been confirmed as in production, and it will almost certainly premiere in 2026.
Science Saru Is Adapting A Witch in Mongolia To Anime
One more studio famous for the excellent quality of its work, Science Saru has given us critically acclaimed works of the caliber of Space Dandy, Devilman Crybaby, and, lastly, Dandadan. This time, the studio will be producing the adaptation of Tomato Soup's manga A Witch's Life in Mongol, based on the actual historical person of Fatima, an prominent woman and scholar 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 fascinating visual style, which is somewhat reminiscent of Ranking of Kings. Debuting in July 2026, this one will absolutely be on my watchlist.
Tougen Anki Will Continue With a Season Two
Immediately following the conclusion of episode 24, it was revealed that Tougen Anki will be securing a follow-up. Inspired by the Japanese legend of Momotaro, Tougen Anki adapts the manga by Yura Urushibara. The new season of the anime will adapt the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a concrete air date has not been disclosed yet.
