A Ton of Anime News Dropped Over the Festive Season

The Christmas holidays offer a plethora of pastimes much better than checking the headlines: unwrapping gifts, feasting on delicious food, and harnessing deep breathing to refrain from yelling at relatives. Hopefully you were able to do all these things and more. Nevertheless, the entertainment world doesn't go on vacation, and this is especially true for the realm of anime. Numerous noteworthy developments emerged during the break, and if you overlooked some of them, here is a roundup of the juiciest bits.

One-Punch Man Season 3 Is Moving Forward (In 2027)

Perhaps the biggest revelation, the much-discussed troubled production that was the third season of One-Punch Man wasn't enough to halt the series' continuation. The show will be back with a second cour in 2027—so far away they easily could have labeled it season 4. Adding to the surprise, the studio J.C. Staff will continue to be at the helm. At least this time, director Shinpei Nagai is attached to direct from the beginning, which could be taken as a positive development. Yet, the main art for the continuation is identical to the one used for season 3, just with characters Saitama and Garou facing different directions. This leads one to believe that, by now, they are probably teasing the fans.

The Ruri Dragon Series Is Set to Be the Premiere Shonen Jump Anime By 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 output but for the good working conditions of its employees—a rarity in the industry. Unexpectedly, until now, it had not produced an anime adapted from a manga from Shonen Jump, perhaps the most iconic magazine in the field. Ruri Dragon will change that, 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 few chapters, but then went into a two-year hiatus due to the mangaka's health issues. When it returned with a more relaxed pace, the series showed it maintained the fans' affection and positive sentiment, and now fans are thrilled about the impending KyoAni adaptation.

The Kingdom Series Its Sixth Season Is Getting a Follow-Up 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 localization, but the anime has been running for some time, and its sixth season was another outstanding entry. Apparently that was just the first cour, because a "sequel" has been confirmed as in development, and it will very likely air in 2026.

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

Another studio famous for the superior craftsmanship of its productions, Science Saru has delivered critically acclaimed works 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, based on the real historical figure 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 reminds me a bit of Ranking of Kings. Debuting in July 2026, this one will definitely be on my watchlist.

The Tougen Anki Series Is Set to Continue With a Season Two

Shortly after the conclusion of episode 24, it was announced that Tougen Anki will be getting a second season. Adapted from the Japanese legend of Momotaro, Tougen Anki brings to life the manga by Yura Urushibara. The second season of the anime will adapt the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a concrete air date has not been disclosed yet.