A Ton of Anime Updates Dropped During the Holidays
The Yuletide season provide a multitude of activities considerably more enjoyable than scanning the headlines: opening presents, indulging in delicious food, and using deep breathing to avoid arguing with loved ones. I hope you were able to enjoy all these things and more. That said, the showbiz industry doesn't go on vacation, and this is particularly true for the realm of anime. Numerous exciting announcements emerged over the break, and if you missed a few, here is a roundup of the biggest bits.
One-Punch Man Season 3 Is Moving Forward (Come 2027)
Truly the most surprising revelation, the widely-criticized disaster that was the third season of One-Punch Man wasn't enough to stop further production. Season 3 will be back with a follow-up batch of episodes in 2027—such a distant date they easily could have dubbed it season 4. More surprisingly, the studio J.C. Staff will remain leading the project. Thankfully this time, director Shinpei Nagai is set to direct from the start, which might be a good sign. Yet, the key visual for the second cour is a mirror of the one used for season 3, just with protagonists Saitama and Garou facing different directions. This makes me think that, by now, they must be teasing the fans.
Ruri Dragon Is Poised to Be the Premiere Shonen Jump Anime From Kyoto Animation
Kyoto Animation has established a standing for being an elite animation studio, making its mark not just for the superb artistry of its work but for the good working conditions of its employees—a sadly unusual standard in the industry. Surprisingly, until now, it had never worked on an anime adapted from a manga serialized in Shonen Jump, arguably the most iconic magazine in the field. Ruri Dragon will change that, and what a excellent choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo gained a huge following when it first appeared in 2022 after just a small number of issues, but then went into a extended pause due to the author's health issues. When it resumed publication with a more relaxed pace, the series proved it hadn't lost the fans' appreciation and positive sentiment, and now everyone is overjoyed about the upcoming KyoAni adaptation.
Kingdom Season 6 Has a Sequel In Production
Kingdom is the highly popular, epic Shueisha manga that is aside from One Piece. If you've never heard of it before, it's because it only recently got an English release, but the anime has been running for years, and its sixth season was a further stellar entry. It turns out that was just the initial batch, because a "sequel" has been announced as currently being made, and it will almost certainly debut in 2026.
Science Saru Will Adapt A Witch in Mongolia To Anime
One more studio renowned for the artistic merit of its projects, Science Saru has delivered critically acclaimed works of the quality of Space Dandy, Devilman Crybaby, and, more recently, Dandadan. This time, the studio will be producing the adaptation of Tomato Soup's manga A Witch's Life in Mongol, 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 called Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia will have a truly original and captivating visual style, which reminds me a bit of Ranking of Kings. Debuting in July 2026, this one will without a doubt be on my must-watch list.
The Tougen Anki Series Will Continue With a Second Season
Right after the release of its twenty-fourth episode, it was announced that Tougen Anki will be getting a sequel. Inspired by the Japanese legend of Momotaro, Tougen Anki is based on the manga by Yura Urushibara. The upcoming season of the anime will adapt the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a firm air date has yet to be revealed.