A Mountain of Anime Updates Landed Over the Holidays

The Christmas holidays present a plethora of activities much better than catching up on the headlines: discovering surprises, indulging in festive fare, and harnessing patience techniques to refrain from snapping at family members. It is wished you managed to do all these things and more. However, the showbiz industry doesn't go on vacation, and this is particularly true for the realm of anime. Many noteworthy news items came out during the holidays, and should you didn't see a few, here is a roundup of the biggest bits.

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

Truly the most shocking revelation, the widely-criticized controversial season that was the third season of One-Punch Man proved insufficient to halt more episodes. The show will return with a subsequent part in 2027—such a distant date they could have dubbed it season 4. Adding to the surprise, the studio J.C. Staff will remain in charge. At least this time, director Shinpei Nagai is attached to direct from the beginning, which could be taken as a good sign. However, the main art for the new episodes is the same image the one used for season 3, just with characters Saitama and Garou facing different directions. This makes me think that, by now, they are probably mocking the fans.

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

Kyoto Animation has forged a name for being an elite animation studio, distinguishing itself not just for the superb artistry of its productions but for the fair treatment of its employees—a sadly unusual standard in the industry. Curiously, until now, it had not adapted an anime adapted from a manga published in Shonen Jump, arguably the most iconic magazine in the business. Ruri Dragon will end that streak, and what a great choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo became massive popularity when it debuted in 2022 after just a few chapters, but then went into a two-year hiatus due to the mangaka's health issues. When it came back with a lighter schedule, the series showed it maintained the fans' appreciation and enthusiasm, and now everyone is ecstatic about the impending KyoAni adaptation.

Kingdom Season 6 Has a Sequel Now in the Works

Kingdom is the best-selling, epic Shueisha manga that is not One Piece. If you've never heard of it before, it's because it only recently got an English translation, but the anime has been airing for some time, and season 6 was a further excellent entry. It turns out that was just the first half, because a "sequel" has been confirmed as in development, and it will very likely premiere in 2026.

Science Saru Will Adapt A Witch in Mongolia To Anime

One more studio known for the excellent quality of its productions, Science Saru has brought us masterpieces of the ilk of Space Dandy, Devilman Crybaby, and, lastly, Dandadan. This time, the studio will be handling the adaptation of Tomato Soup's manga A Witch's Life in Mongol, based on the true story of Fatima, an powerful woman and thinker in the Mongol Empire in the 13th century. Judging from the trailer, the anime titled Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia will have a highly unique and fascinating visual style, which reminds me a bit of Ranking of Kings. Set to premiere in July 2026, this one will definitely be on my watchlist.

The Tougen Anki Series Will Return With a Second Season

Immediately following the conclusion of the final episode of the first season, it was confirmed that Tougen Anki will be getting a follow-up. Inspired by the Japanese legend of Momotaro, Tougen Anki brings to life the manga by Yura Urushibara. The upcoming season of the anime will adapt the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a specific release date has yet to be revealed.