A Mountain of Anime Updates Landed During the Holidays
The Christmas holidays provide a wealth of pastimes considerably more enjoyable than checking the headlines: unwrapping gifts, feasting on delicious food, and employing meditation skills to refrain from yelling at loved ones. I hope you managed to do all these things and more. Nevertheless, the entertainment world doesn't go on vacation, and this is notably true for the realm of anime. Numerous exciting announcements came out over the break, and should you missed any, here is a compilation of the biggest bits.
One-Punch Man Its Third Season Is Moving Forward (In 2027)
Perhaps the biggest revelation, the much-discussed disaster that was the third season of One-Punch Man failed to stop the series' continuation. The show will come back with a second cour in 2027—such a distant date they easily could have dubbed it season 4. Adding to the surprise, the studio J.C. Staff will continue to be in charge. Thankfully this time, director Shinpei Nagai is set to direct from the beginning, which could be taken as a good sign. Yet, the promotional image for the new episodes is a mirror of the one used for season 3, just with characters Saitama and Garou oriented differently. This makes me think that, at this point, they must be mocking the fans.
Ruri Dragon Will Be the Premiere Shonen Jump Anime Produced 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 work but for the good working conditions of its employees—a sadly unusual standard in the industry. Surprisingly, until now, it had not adapted an anime based on a manga from Shonen Jump, possibly the most famous magazine in the business. Ruri Dragon will change that, and what a excellent choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo achieved a huge following when it first appeared in 2022 after just a handful of installments, but then went into a lengthy break due to the author's health issues. When it came back with a lighter schedule, the series showed it still retained the fans' affection and enthusiasm, and now fans are thrilled about the forthcoming KyoAni adaptation.
The Kingdom Series Its Sixth Season Is Getting a Follow-Up Now in the Works
Kingdom is the best-selling, decades-spanning Shueisha manga that is aside from One Piece. If you've are unfamiliar with it before, it's because it only fairly recently obtained an English translation, but the anime has been running for a while, and its sixth season was a further stellar entry. Apparently that was just the initial batch, because a "sequel" has been announced as in development, and it will probably premiere in 2026.
Science Saru Is Adapting A Witch in Mongolia To Anime
One more studio renowned for the artistic merit of its work, Science Saru has given us hit shows of the caliber of Space Dandy, Devilman Crybaby, and, most recently, Dandadan. This time, the studio will be taking on the adaptation of Tomato Soup's manga A Witch's Life in Mongol, which is based on the true story 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 distinctly fresh 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.
Tougen Anki Will Continue With a Season Two
Right after the airing of its twenty-fourth episode, it was confirmed that Tougen Anki will be getting a second season. 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 concrete premiere date has not yet been announced.