A Heap of Anime News Dropped Over the Festive Season

The Yuletide season present a multitude of pursuits much better than checking the headlines: opening presents, getting stuffed on festive fare, and harnessing patience techniques to refrain from arguing with loved ones. I hope you managed to accomplish all these things and more. However, the showbiz industry doesn't go on vacation, and this is particularly true for the realm of anime. A slew of thrilling news items surfaced over the break, and just in case you overlooked some of them, here is a roundup of the most exciting bits.

One-Punch Man Season 3 Is Set to Continue (By 2027)

Truly the most shocking piece of news, the widely-criticized disaster that was season 3 of One-Punch Man proved insufficient to stop further production. The show will return with a subsequent part in 2027—so far away they could have dubbed it season 4. Adding to the surprise, the studio J.C. Staff will continue to be at the helm. On a positive note this time, director Shinpei Nagai is set to direct from the start, which is seen as a hopeful indicator. However, the main art for the second cour is a mirror of the one used for season 3, just with characters Saitama and Garou looking opposite ways. This leads one to believe that, at this point, they could be teasing the fans.

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

Kyoto Animation has forged a name for being an prestigious animation studio, making its mark not just for the superb artistry of its work but for the good working conditions of its employees—a uncommon practice in the industry. Curiously, until now, it had not produced an anime stemming from a manga published in Shonen Jump, perhaps the most iconic magazine in the field. Ruri Dragon will end that streak, and what a superb choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo became 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 mangaka's health issues. When it resumed publication with a reduced workload, the series demonstrated it maintained the fans' support and goodwill, and now fans are overjoyed about the upcoming KyoAni adaptation.

The Kingdom Series Its Sixth Season Will Get a Sequel Currently in Production

Kingdom is the best-selling, epic Shueisha manga that is aside from One Piece. If you've haven't come across it before, it's because it only recently got an English release, but the anime has been going on for years, and its sixth season was another excellent entry. It turns out that was just the first cour, because a "sequel" has been revealed as currently being made, and it will very likely air in 2026.

Science Saru Is Adapting A Witch in Mongolia Into an Anime Series

Another studio known for the superior craftsmanship 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 producing the adaptation of Tomato Soup's manga A Witch's Life in Mongol, inspired by the actual historical person of Fatima, an powerful 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. Set to premiere in July 2026, this one will absolutely be on my watchlist.

Tougen Anki Is Set to Continue With a Second Season

Right after the conclusion of episode 24, it was revealed that Tougen Anki will be securing a sequel. Inspired by the Japanese legend of Momotaro, Tougen Anki adapts the manga by Yura Urushibara. The new season of the anime will cover the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a specific premiere date has not been disclosed yet.