A Heap of Anime Updates Landed Over the Holidays

The winter break provide a wealth of pastimes considerably more enjoyable than scanning the updates: opening presents, getting stuffed on delicious food, and harnessing patience techniques to avoid snapping at family members. I hope you were able to enjoy all these things and more. Nevertheless, the showbiz industry doesn't go on vacation, and this is especially true for the realm of anime. Many exciting developments surfaced over the festive period, and should you didn't see a few, here is a summary of the biggest bits.

The One-Punch Man Series Season 3 Will Continue (By 2027)

Without a doubt the biggest revelation, the notorious troubled production that was the third season of One-Punch Man proved insufficient to deter more episodes. The show will return with a follow-up batch of episodes in 2027—such a distant date they could have dubbed it season 4. More surprisingly, animation studio J.C. Staff will continue to be leading the project. At least this time, helmer Shinpei Nagai is attached to direct from the outset, which might be a positive development. But, the key visual for the second cour is a mirror of the one used for season 3, just with protagonists Saitama and Garou facing different directions. This leads one to believe that, nowadays, they are probably mocking the fans.

Ruri Dragon Will Be the First Shonen Jump Anime By Kyoto Animation

Kyoto Animation has built a reputation for being an prestigious animation studio, setting itself apart not just for the high caliber of its output but for the ethical practices of its employees—a sadly unusual standard in the industry. Surprisingly, until now, it had not adapted an anime adapted from a manga from Shonen Jump, perhaps the most famous magazine in the business. Ruri Dragon will end that streak, and what a superb choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo achieved a huge following when it debuted in 2022 after just a handful of installments, but then went into a extended pause due to the mangaka's health issues. When it resumed publication with a more relaxed pace, the series demonstrated it maintained the fans' appreciation and goodwill, and now the community is thrilled about the impending KyoAni adaptation.

The Kingdom Series Season 6 Will Get a Sequel In Production

Kingdom is the highly popular, epic Shueisha manga that is not One Piece. If you've are unfamiliar with it before, it's because it only just received an English translation, but the anime has been running for some time, and season 6 was a further stellar entry. As it happens that was just the first half, because a "sequel" has been confirmed as currently being made, and it will probably air in 2026.

Science Saru Will Adapt A Witch in Mongolia To Anime

A further studio known for the superior craftsmanship of its work, Science Saru has brought us masterpieces of the ilk 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, inspired by the true story of Fatima, an prominent woman and intellectual in the Mongol Empire in the 13th century. Based on the trailer, the anime named Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia will have a truly original and fascinating visual style, which reminds me a bit of Ranking of Kings. Scheduled to launch in July 2026, this one will without a doubt be on my list of anticipated shows.

The Tougen Anki Series Will Return With a Second Season

Right after the airing of its twenty-fourth episode, it was announced that Tougen Anki will be securing 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 air date has not been disclosed yet.