The Christmas holidays offer a plethora of pursuits considerably more enjoyable than scanning the updates: unwrapping gifts, feasting on delicious food, and harnessing patience techniques to avoid yelling at family members. I hope you succeeded in do all these things and more. However, the world of entertainment doesn't go on vacation, and this is especially true for the realm of anime. A slew of thrilling developments surfaced over the holidays, and if you didn't see any, here is a summary of the biggest bits.
The One-Punch Man Series Its Third Season Is Moving Forward (By 2027)
Perhaps the most shocking piece of news, the widely-criticized disaster that was season 3 of One-Punch Man wasn't enough to halt more episodes. The show will come back with a follow-up batch of episodes in 2027—a date so remote they might as well have dubbed it season 4. Adding to the surprise, animation studio J.C. Staff will remain in charge. Thankfully this time, director Shinpei Nagai is on board to direct from the outset, which could be taken as a good sign. Yet, the key visual for the new episodes is a mirror of the one used for season 3, just with characters Saitama and Garou looking opposite ways. This makes me think that, at this point, they must be trolling the fans.
Ruri Dragon Is Poised to Be the First Shonen Jump Anime From Kyoto Animation
Kyoto Animation has established a standing for being an top-tier animation studio, making its mark not just for the high caliber of its work but for the fair treatment of its employees—a sadly unusual standard in the industry. Surprisingly, until now, it had never worked on an anime adapted from a manga published in Shonen Jump, possibly the most iconic magazine in the field. Ruri Dragon will break that tradition, and what a excellent choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo achieved a huge following when it launched in 2022 after just a small number of issues, but then went into a two-year hiatus due to the creator's health issues. When it returned with a reduced workload, the series showed it still retained the fans' appreciation and goodwill, and now the community is ecstatic about the upcoming KyoAni adaptation.
The Kingdom Series Its Sixth Season Is Getting a Follow-Up 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 recently got an English localization, but the anime has been airing for a while, and its sixth season was yet another excellent entry. Apparently that was just the first cour, because a "sequel" has been revealed as in development, and it will almost certainly debut in 2026.
Science Saru Will Adapt A Witch in Mongolia Into an Anime Series
One more studio renowned for the excellent quality of its projects, Science Saru has brought us hit shows of the caliber of Space Dandy, Devilman Crybaby, and, lastly, 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 actual historical person of Fatima, an powerful 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 highly unique and fascinating visual style, which evokes Ranking of Kings. Debuting in July 2026, this one will without a doubt be on my watchlist.
Tougen Anki Will Return With a Season Two
Shortly after the release of the final episode of the first season, it was revealed that Tougen Anki will be receiving a sequel. Adapted from the Japanese legend of Momotaro, Tougen Anki is based on the manga by Yura Urushibara. The second season of the anime will adapt the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a firm premiere date has not yet been announced.
