A Heap of Anime News Dropped Over the Holidays
The winter break offer a wealth of pursuits considerably more enjoyable than scanning the latest news: unwrapping gifts, feasting on festive fare, and employing patience techniques to not arguing with loved ones. Hopefully you were able to accomplish all these things and more. Nevertheless, the showbiz industry doesn't go on vacation, and this is especially true for the realm of anime. A slew of exciting developments emerged during the festive period, and if you didn't see any, here is a compilation of the most exciting bits.
One-Punch Man Its Third Season Is Moving Forward (By 2027)
Perhaps the most surprising piece of news, the notorious disaster that was the third season of One-Punch Man failed to halt the series' continuation. Season 3 will return with a second cour in 2027—such a distant date they easily could have called 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 set to direct from the start, which could be taken as a hopeful indicator. But, the promotional image for the second cour is a mirror of the one used for season 3, just with characters Saitama and Garou looking opposite ways. This makes me think that, at this point, they could be mocking the fans.
Ruri Dragon Is Poised to Be the First Shonen Jump Anime Produced By Kyoto Animation
Kyoto Animation has built a reputation for being an elite animation studio, making its mark not just for the exceptional quality of its output but for the fair treatment of its employees—a rarity in the industry. Surprisingly, until now, it had never worked on an anime based on a manga from Shonen Jump, arguably the most famous magazine in the field. Ruri Dragon will break that tradition, and what a superb choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo became massive popularity when it launched in 2022 after just a few chapters, but then went into a extended pause due to the author's health issues. When it came back with a more relaxed pace, the series demonstrated it still retained the fans' support and goodwill, and now everyone is ecstatic about the upcoming KyoAni adaptation.
The Kingdom Series Season 6 Is Getting a Follow-Up In Production
Kingdom is the best-selling, decades-spanning 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 running for a while, and season 6 was a further excellent entry. As it happens that was just the first cour, because a "sequel" has been announced as in development, and it will very likely air in 2026.
Science Saru Is Adapting A Witch in Mongolia Into an Anime Series
One more studio famous for the excellent quality of its projects, Science Saru has brought us critically acclaimed works of the quality of Space Dandy, Devilman Crybaby, and, more 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 true story of Fatima, an prominent woman and intellectual in the Mongol Empire in the 13th century. Based on the trailer, the anime called Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia will have a highly unique and intriguing visual style, which evokes Ranking of Kings. Scheduled to launch in July 2026, this one will absolutely be on my must-watch list.
Tougen Anki Is Set to Continue With a Second Season
Immediately following the release of episode 24, it was confirmed that Tougen Anki will be securing a follow-up. Inspired by the Japanese legend of Momotaro, Tougen Anki is based on the manga by Yura Urushibara. The upcoming season of the anime will cover the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a specific release date has yet to be revealed.
