A Heap of Anime Updates Landed Over the Holidays

The Christmas holidays offer a plethora of pursuits far superior than scanning the headlines: opening presents, getting stuffed on holiday treats, and using patience techniques to not snapping at loved ones. I hope you succeeded in accomplish all these things and more. That said, the showbiz industry never sleeps, and this is particularly true for the realm of anime. Numerous exciting developments came out during the holidays, and if you didn't see a few, here is a compilation of the biggest bits.

One-Punch Man Season 3 Will Continue (In 2027)

Perhaps the most shocking piece of news, the much-discussed controversial season that was season 3 of One-Punch Man proved insufficient to halt the series' continuation. Season 3 will come back with a second cour in 2027—a date so remote they could have labeled it season 4. More surprisingly, animation studio J.C. Staff will still be leading the project. On a positive note this time, helmer Shinpei Nagai is set to direct from the beginning, which might be a positive development. However, the main art for the second cour is the same image the one used for season 3, just with protagonists Saitama and Garou looking opposite ways. This leads one to believe that, nowadays, they must be mocking the fans.

Ruri Dragon Will Be the Premiere Shonen Jump Anime Produced By Kyoto Animation

Kyoto Animation has built a name for being an top-tier animation studio, distinguishing itself not just for the superb artistry of its work but for the ethical practices of its employees—a sadly unusual standard in the industry. Surprisingly, until now, it had not adapted an anime adapted from a manga serialized in Shonen Jump, arguably the most famous magazine in the industry. Ruri Dragon will break that tradition, and what a superb choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo became widespread acclaim when it first appeared 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 proved it still retained the fans' support and positive sentiment, and now the community is overjoyed about the impending KyoAni adaptation.

The Kingdom Series Its Sixth Season Will Get a Sequel In Production

Kingdom is the highly popular, epic Shueisha manga that is aside from One Piece. If you've are unfamiliar with it before, it's because it only fairly recently obtained an English translation, but the anime has been running for some time, and its sixth season was a further excellent entry. It turns out that was just the first half, because a "sequel" has been revealed as currently being made, and it will almost certainly premiere in 2026.

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

Another studio known for the excellent quality of its productions, Science Saru has given us critically acclaimed works of the caliber of Space Dandy, Devilman Crybaby, and, most recently, Dandadan. This time, the studio will be taking on the adaptation of Tomato Soup's manga A Witch's Life in Mongol, inspired by the actual historical person of Fatima, an powerful woman and intellectual in the Mongol Empire in the 13th century. Based on the trailer, the anime titled Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia will have a truly original and fascinating visual style, which is somewhat reminiscent of Ranking of Kings. Debuting in July 2026, this one will without a doubt be on my must-watch list.

Tougen Anki Is Set to Continue With a Season Two

Immediately following the airing of its twenty-fourth episode, it was revealed that Tougen Anki will be receiving a follow-up. Inspired by the Japanese legend of Momotaro, Tougen Anki is based on the manga by Yura Urushibara. The second season of the anime will delve into the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a firm premiere date has not been disclosed yet.