A Mountain of Anime News Arrived Over the Holidays

The winter break provide a wealth of activities much better than scanning the latest news: discovering surprises, indulging in festive fare, and using patience techniques to refrain from snapping at relatives. It is wished you managed to enjoy all these things and more. That said, the entertainment world doesn't go on vacation, and this is notably true for the realm of anime. Numerous noteworthy announcements emerged during the break, and should you missed a few, here is a roundup of the juiciest bits.

One-Punch Man Season 3 Will Continue (Come 2027)

Without a doubt the most surprising announcement, the much-discussed troubled production that was the third season of One-Punch Man proved insufficient to halt more episodes. The show will come back with a second cour in 2027—such a distant date they easily could have dubbed it season 4. Even more shocking, the studio J.C. Staff will continue to be at the helm. At least this time, helmer Shinpei Nagai is set to direct from the outset, which could be taken as a hopeful indicator. But, the promotional image for the second cour is the same image the one used for season 3, just with characters Saitama and Garou facing different directions. This leads one to believe that, at this point, they must be trolling the fans.

Ruri Dragon Is Set to Be the First Shonen Jump Anime Produced By Kyoto Animation

Kyoto Animation has forged a reputation for being an elite animation studio, setting itself apart not just for the exceptional quality of its productions but for the ethical practices of its employees—a sadly unusual standard in the industry. Unexpectedly, until now, it had not adapted an anime based on a manga serialized in Shonen Jump, perhaps the most iconic magazine in the industry. Ruri Dragon will change that, and what a great choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo achieved massive popularity 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 proved it still retained the fans' affection and enthusiasm, and now fans are thrilled about the impending KyoAni adaptation.

The Kingdom Series Season 6 Is Getting a Follow-Up Currently in Production

Kingdom is the highly popular, decades-spanning Shueisha manga that is not One Piece. If you've never heard of it before, it's because it only recently got an English release, but the anime has been running for years, and season 6 was another stellar entry. Apparently that was just the first cour, because a "sequel" has been confirmed as in production, and it will almost certainly premiere in 2026.

Science Saru Will Adapt A Witch in Mongolia To Anime

A further studio renowned for the excellent quality of its productions, Science Saru has delivered masterpieces of the caliber of Space Dandy, Devilman Crybaby, and, lastly, Dandadan. This time, the studio will be handling the adaptation of Tomato Soup's manga A Witch's Life in Mongol, which is based on the real historical figure of Fatima, an prominent woman and scholar in the Mongol Empire in the 13th century. Judging from the trailer, the anime called Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia will have a distinctly fresh and intriguing visual style, which is somewhat reminiscent of Ranking of Kings. Scheduled to launch in July 2026, this one will absolutely be on my list of anticipated shows.

Tougen Anki Will Continue With a Second Season

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