A Mountain of Anime Updates Dropped Over the Holidays

The Yuletide season present a plethora of pastimes considerably more enjoyable than scanning the headlines: unwrapping gifts, getting stuffed on festive fare, and harnessing deep breathing to not arguing with relatives. Hopefully you succeeded in accomplish all these things and more. That said, the showbiz industry never sleeps, and this is especially true for the realm of anime. Numerous noteworthy news items came out over the break, and if you missed some of them, here is a summary of the most exciting bits.

One-Punch Man Season 3 Is Set to Continue (By 2027)

Truly the most shocking revelation, the notorious disaster that was season 3 of One-Punch Man failed to halt the series' continuation. Season 3 will be back with a subsequent part in 2027—so far away they easily could have called it season 4. Even more shocking, the 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 start, which is seen as a positive development. But, the key visual for the second cour is identical to the one used for season 3, just with protagonists Saitama and Garou facing different directions. This leads one to believe that, by now, they must be trolling the fans.

Ruri Dragon Is Poised to Be the First Shonen Jump Anime By Kyoto Animation

Kyoto Animation has built a name for being an prestigious animation studio, setting itself apart not just for the exceptional quality of its output but for the ethical practices of its employees—a sadly unusual standard in the industry. Unexpectedly, until now, it had never worked on an anime based on a manga from Shonen Jump, arguably 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 gained massive popularity when it launched in 2022 after just a handful of installments, but then went into a two-year hiatus due to the author's health issues. When it resumed publication with a lighter schedule, the series proved it maintained the fans' appreciation and positive sentiment, and now the community is overjoyed about the impending KyoAni adaptation.

The Kingdom Series Season 6 Is Getting a Follow-Up Currently in Production

Kingdom is the best-selling, epic Shueisha manga that is other than One Piece. If you've never heard of it before, it's because it only just received an English release, but the anime has been going on for some time, and season 6 was another stellar entry. Apparently that was just the first half, because a "sequel" has been revealed as in production, and it will very likely debut in 2026.

Science Saru Will Adapt A Witch in Mongolia Into an Anime Series

One more studio famous for the artistic merit 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 handling the adaptation of Tomato Soup's manga A Witch's Life in Mongol, inspired by the real historical figure of Fatima, an prominent 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 highly unique and fascinating visual style, which reminds me a bit of Ranking of Kings. Debuting in July 2026, this one will without a doubt be on my list of anticipated shows.

Tougen Anki Will Return With a Season Two

Shortly after the conclusion of episode 24, it was confirmed that Tougen Anki will be receiving a second season. Adapted from the Japanese legend of Momotaro, Tougen Anki brings to life the manga by Yura Urushibara. The new season of the anime will delve into the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a firm release date has not been disclosed yet.