A Ton of Anime News Dropped Over the Holidays

The Yuletide season present a plethora of pastimes considerably more enjoyable than checking the updates: discovering surprises, indulging in delicious food, and harnessing meditation skills to not snapping at loved ones. Hopefully you were able to enjoy all these things and more. Nevertheless, the showbiz industry never sleeps, and this is especially true for the realm of anime. Many thrilling news items emerged over the break, and just in case you missed any, here is a summary of the juiciest bits.

One-Punch Man Season 3 Is Moving Forward (Come 2027)

Perhaps the biggest revelation, the much-discussed disaster that was season 3 of One-Punch Man failed to deter further production. Season 3 will come back with a subsequent part in 2027—a date so remote they might as well have dubbed it season 4. More surprisingly, animation studio J.C. Staff will remain leading the project. At least this time, helmer Shinpei Nagai is on board to direct from the beginning, which might be a hopeful indicator. But, the promotional image for the new episodes is a mirror of the one used for season 3, just with protagonists Saitama and Garou looking opposite ways. This leads one to believe that, by now, they must be trolling the fans.

Ruri Dragon Is Set 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 superb artistry of its work but for the good working conditions of its employees—a sadly unusual standard in the industry. Curiously, until now, it had not produced an anime based on a manga published in Shonen Jump, arguably the most iconic magazine in the field. Ruri Dragon will break that tradition, and what a great choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo gained a huge following when it launched in 2022 after just a small number of issues, but then went into a lengthy break due to the mangaka's health issues. When it came back with a lighter schedule, the series demonstrated it still retained the fans' appreciation and positive sentiment, and now the community is thrilled about the impending KyoAni adaptation.

Kingdom Season 6 Is Getting a Follow-Up Currently in Production

Kingdom is the best-selling, epic Shueisha manga that is other than One Piece. If you've haven't come across it before, it's because it only recently got an English localization, but the anime has been running for some time, and its sixth season was a further outstanding entry. As it happens that was just the first cour, because a "sequel" has been announced as currently being made, and it will very likely air in 2026.

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

One more studio famous for the superior craftsmanship of its projects, Science Saru has given us hit shows 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, based on the real historical figure of Fatima, an influential woman and thinker in the Mongol Empire in the 13th century. From the trailer, the anime called Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia will have a highly unique and captivating visual style, which reminds me a bit of Ranking of Kings. Debuting in July 2026, this one will absolutely be on my list of anticipated shows.

The Tougen Anki Series Will Continue With a Second Season

Immediately following the airing of the final episode of the first season, 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 second season of the anime will cover the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a specific air date has yet to be revealed.