A Heap of Anime News Landed Over the Holidays

The Yuletide season offer a wealth of activities far superior than checking the latest news: discovering surprises, feasting on delicious food, and using meditation skills to avoid arguing with loved ones. I hope you succeeded in accomplish all these things and more. However, the showbiz industry doesn't go on vacation, and this is notably true for the realm of anime. A slew of exciting news items emerged during the festive period, and just in case you didn't see a few, here is a compilation of the biggest bits.

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

Perhaps the biggest announcement, the widely-criticized troubled production that was season 3 of One-Punch Man wasn't enough to halt further production. The show will come back with a follow-up batch of episodes in 2027—so far away they could have called it season 4. Adding to the surprise, the studio J.C. Staff will still be leading the project. At least this time, director Shinpei Nagai is attached to direct from the start, which might be a hopeful indicator. Yet, the promotional image for the second cour is the same image the one used for season 3, just with characters Saitama and Garou facing different directions. This makes me think that, nowadays, they could be teasing the fans.

Ruri Dragon Is Poised to Be the First Shonen Jump Anime By Kyoto Animation

Kyoto Animation has forged a standing for being an prestigious animation studio, making its mark not just for the exceptional quality of its productions but for the ethical practices of its employees—a sadly unusual standard in the industry. Curiously, until now, it had never worked on an anime based on a manga published in Shonen Jump, arguably the most iconic magazine in the industry. Ruri Dragon will break that tradition, and what a great choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo became widespread acclaim when it debuted in 2022 after just a small number of issues, but then went into a two-year hiatus due to the mangaka's health issues. When it returned with a more relaxed pace, the series proved it maintained the fans' affection and positive sentiment, and now everyone is ecstatic about the upcoming KyoAni adaptation.

The Kingdom Series Season 6 Has a Sequel 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 just received an English release, but the anime has been running for a while, and its sixth season was a further outstanding entry. Apparently that was just the first cour, because a "sequel" has been confirmed as in production, and it will very likely premiere in 2026.

Science Saru Is Bringing A Witch in Mongolia Into an Anime Series

Another studio known for the artistic merit of its productions, Science Saru has given us masterpieces 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 titled Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia will have a distinctly fresh and captivating visual style, which is somewhat reminiscent of Ranking of Kings. Debuting in July 2026, this one will without a doubt be on my watchlist.

The Tougen Anki Series Will Continue With a Season Two

Immediately following the release of its twenty-fourth episode, it was announced that Tougen Anki will be receiving a follow-up. Adapted from the Japanese legend of Momotaro, Tougen Anki brings to life the manga by Yura Urushibara. The second season of the anime will delve into the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a specific premiere date has not yet been announced.