A Heap of Anime Updates Dropped During the Festive Season
The Christmas holidays present a wealth of pastimes considerably more enjoyable than catching up on the headlines: opening presents, getting stuffed on holiday treats, and harnessing deep breathing to refrain from yelling at family members. I hope you succeeded in do all these things and more. However, the showbiz industry never sleeps, and this is notably true for the realm of anime. Numerous noteworthy developments surfaced during the break, and if you didn't see a few, here is a roundup of the juiciest bits.
One-Punch Man Its Third Season Is Moving Forward (By 2027)
Truly the most surprising revelation, the widely-criticized controversial season that was season 3 of One-Punch Man proved insufficient to deter further production. Season 3 will be back with a subsequent part in 2027—a date so remote they easily could have called it season 4. Adding to the surprise, animation studio J.C. Staff will remain leading the project. On a positive note this time, helmer Shinpei Nagai is on board to direct from the start, which is seen as a good sign. Yet, the main art for the second cour is the same image the one used for season 3, just with protagonists Saitama and Garou looking opposite ways. This makes me think that, by now, they are probably trolling the fans.
The Ruri Dragon Series Is Poised to Be the First Shonen Jump Anime Produced By Kyoto Animation
Kyoto Animation has established a reputation for being an prestigious animation studio, distinguishing itself not just for the exceptional quality of its productions 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 stemming from a manga from Shonen Jump, perhaps the most iconic magazine in the industry. Ruri Dragon will change that, and what a great choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo became a huge following when it launched in 2022 after just a handful of installments, but then went into a two-year hiatus due to the author's health issues. When it resumed publication with a lighter schedule, the series showed it hadn't lost the fans' appreciation and enthusiasm, and now the community is overjoyed about the impending KyoAni adaptation.
The Kingdom Series Season 6 Has a Sequel In Production
Kingdom is the top-selling, epic Shueisha manga that is not One Piece. If you've haven't come across it before, it's because it only just received an English localization, but the anime has been running for a while, and season 6 was a further outstanding entry. Apparently that was just the initial batch, because a "sequel" has been revealed as currently being made, and it will very likely premiere in 2026.
Science Saru Is Adapting A Witch in Mongolia To Anime
A further studio known for the artistic merit of its work, Science Saru has given us masterpieces of the ilk 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 real historical figure of Fatima, an powerful woman and intellectual in the Mongol Empire in the 13th century. Judging from the trailer, the anime titled Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia will have a distinctly fresh and fascinating visual style, which is somewhat reminiscent of Ranking of Kings. Set to premiere in July 2026, this one will definitely be on my must-watch list.
Tougen Anki Is Set to Continue With a Second Season
Right after the release of the final episode of the first season, it was announced that Tougen Anki will be receiving a sequel. Based on the Japanese legend of Momotaro, Tougen Anki adapts the manga by Yura Urushibara. The second season of the anime will adapt the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a specific release date has not been disclosed yet.
