A Ton of Anime Updates Dropped Over the Festive Season
The Christmas holidays present a plethora of pastimes far superior than catching up on the headlines: opening presents, getting stuffed on festive fare, and harnessing deep breathing to avoid snapping at family members. It is wished you managed to do all these things and more. However, the entertainment world doesn't take a break, and this is particularly true for the realm of anime. Numerous noteworthy announcements came out during the break, and just in case you missed a few, here is a roundup of the juiciest bits.
One-Punch Man Season 3 Will Continue (By 2027)
Perhaps the most shocking announcement, the widely-criticized controversial season that was the third season of One-Punch Man proved insufficient to deter the series' continuation. Season 3 will come back with a subsequent part in 2027—a date so remote they might as well have labeled 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 on board to direct from the start, which could be taken as a hopeful indicator. But, the promotional image for the continuation is identical to the one used for season 3, just with characters Saitama and Garou facing different directions. This suggests that, at this point, they must be mocking the fans.
Ruri Dragon Is Set to Be the Premiere Shonen Jump Anime From Kyoto Animation
Kyoto Animation has built a standing for being an top-tier animation studio, distinguishing itself not just for the superb artistry 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 based on a manga serialized in Shonen Jump, arguably the best-known magazine in the business. Ruri Dragon will end that streak, and what a excellent choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo gained widespread acclaim when it debuted 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 reduced workload, the series showed it still retained the fans' support and enthusiasm, and now fans are overjoyed about the impending KyoAni adaptation.
Kingdom Season 6 Has a Sequel Now in the Works
Kingdom is the highly popular, epic Shueisha manga that is not One Piece. If you've never heard of it before, it's because it only just received an English release, but the anime has been running for a while, and season 6 was another excellent entry. Apparently that was just the initial batch, because a "sequel" has been announced as in development, and it will very likely premiere in 2026.
Science Saru Is Bringing A Witch in Mongolia To Anime
One more studio famous for the excellent quality of its work, Science Saru has delivered critically acclaimed works of the quality 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, inspired by the real historical figure 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 fascinating visual style, which reminds me a bit of Ranking of Kings. Scheduled to launch in July 2026, this one will absolutely be on my watchlist.
The Tougen Anki Series Is Set to Continue With a Second Season
Immediately following the conclusion of its twenty-fourth episode, it was announced that Tougen Anki will be securing a follow-up. Inspired by the Japanese legend of Momotaro, Tougen Anki adapts the manga by Yura Urushibara. The new season of the anime will adapt the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a specific release date has yet to be revealed.
