A Mountain of Anime Updates Arrived Over the Holidays
The Yuletide season offer a multitude of activities far superior than scanning the latest news: discovering surprises, indulging in delicious food, and using deep breathing to refrain from arguing with relatives. I hope you were able to enjoy all these things and more. Nevertheless, the showbiz industry doesn't take a break, and this is especially true for the realm of anime. A slew of noteworthy developments surfaced during the break, and should you didn't see a few, here is a summary of the biggest bits.
The One-Punch Man Series Season 3 Is Moving Forward (Come 2027)
Without a doubt the biggest piece of news, the widely-criticized troubled production that was the third season of One-Punch Man proved insufficient to stop further production. Season 3 will come back with a second cour in 2027—a date so remote they easily could have labeled it season 4. Even more shocking, animation studio J.C. Staff will continue to be in charge. On a positive note this time, director Shinpei Nagai is on board to direct from the outset, which might be a positive development. But, the key visual for the new episodes is the same image the one used for season 3, just with protagonists Saitama and Garou facing different directions. This suggests that, nowadays, they are probably teasing the fans.
The Ruri Dragon Series Is Poised to Be the Premiere Shonen Jump Anime From Kyoto Animation
Kyoto Animation has built a reputation for being an elite animation studio, making its mark not just for the superb artistry of its productions but for the fair treatment of its employees—a uncommon practice in the industry. Surprisingly, until now, it had not produced an anime based on a manga from Shonen Jump, possibly the most famous magazine in the business. Ruri Dragon will change that, and what a great choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo gained massive popularity when it debuted in 2022 after just a few chapters, but then went into a lengthy break due to the creator's health issues. When it came back with a more relaxed pace, the series demonstrated it maintained the fans' affection and positive sentiment, and now fans are ecstatic about the forthcoming KyoAni adaptation.
Kingdom Its Sixth Season Has a Sequel Now in the Works
Kingdom is the best-selling, epic Shueisha manga that is aside from One Piece. If you've haven't come across it before, it's because it only fairly recently obtained an English translation, but the anime has been airing for a while, and its sixth season was another excellent entry. Apparently that was just the first half, because a "sequel" has been confirmed as in development, and it will probably debut in 2026.
Science Saru Will Adapt A Witch in Mongolia Into an Anime Series
Another studio famous for the excellent quality of its work, Science Saru has delivered hit shows of the caliber 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, inspired by the actual historical person of Fatima, an influential woman and scholar in the Mongol Empire in the 13th century. From the trailer, the anime titled Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia will have a truly original and intriguing visual style, which evokes Ranking of Kings. Set to premiere 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 airing of episode 24, it was revealed that Tougen Anki will be securing 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 air date has not yet been announced.
