A Heap of Anime News Arrived During the Festive Season
The winter break present a plethora of activities far superior than scanning the headlines: opening presents, feasting on delicious food, and employing meditation skills to not arguing with family members. Hopefully you managed to do all these things and more. That said, the world of entertainment doesn't go on vacation, and this is particularly true for the realm of anime. Numerous noteworthy announcements came out during the break, and just in case you didn't see any, here is a compilation of the biggest bits.
One-Punch Man Season 3 Will Continue (Come 2027)
Truly the biggest piece of news, the widely-criticized troubled production that was season 3 of One-Punch Man failed to deter the series' continuation. The show will come back with a subsequent part in 2027—a date so remote they easily could have dubbed it season 4. More surprisingly, animation studio J.C. Staff will remain leading the project. On a positive note this time, helmer Shinpei Nagai is attached to direct from the beginning, which could be taken as a hopeful indicator. But, the main art for the new episodes is identical to the one used for season 3, just with characters Saitama and Garou facing different directions. This makes me think that, at this point, they are probably trolling the fans.
Ruri Dragon Is Poised to Be the Premiere Shonen Jump Anime By Kyoto Animation
Kyoto Animation has forged a reputation for being an elite animation studio, distinguishing itself not just for the superb artistry of its output but for the ethical practices of its employees—a uncommon practice in the industry. Surprisingly, until now, it had not adapted an anime based on a manga serialized in Shonen Jump, possibly the best-known magazine in the field. Ruri Dragon will change that, and what a great choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo became massive popularity when it first appeared in 2022 after just a small number of issues, but then went into a extended pause due to the creator's health issues. When it came back with a more relaxed pace, the series showed it still retained the fans' appreciation and goodwill, and now fans are overjoyed about the impending KyoAni adaptation.
Kingdom Its Sixth Season Has a Sequel In Production
Kingdom is the best-selling, decades-spanning Shueisha manga that is not One Piece. If you've never heard of it before, it's because it only fairly recently obtained an English translation, but the anime has been airing for years, and its sixth season was another stellar entry. Apparently that was just the initial batch, because a "sequel" has been announced as currently being made, and it will probably air in 2026.
Science Saru Will Adapt A Witch in Mongolia Into an Anime Series
Another studio famous for the excellent quality of its projects, Science Saru has brought us masterpieces of the ilk of Space Dandy, Devilman Crybaby, and, most recently, Dandadan. This time, the studio will be producing the adaptation of Tomato Soup's manga A Witch's Life in Mongol, which is based on the actual historical person 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 distinctly fresh and intriguing visual style, which is somewhat reminiscent of Ranking of Kings. Scheduled to launch in July 2026, this one will absolutely be on my must-watch list.
The Tougen Anki Series Will Return With a Season Two
Immediately following the conclusion of its twenty-fourth episode, it was confirmed that Tougen Anki will be getting a sequel. Inspired by the Japanese legend of Momotaro, Tougen Anki brings to life the manga by Yura Urushibara. The second season of the anime will cover the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a concrete air date has not yet been announced.
