The Christmas holidays present a plethora of activities far superior than checking the updates: unwrapping gifts, getting stuffed on festive fare, and employing meditation skills to refrain from arguing with relatives. I hope you were able to do all these things and more. That said, the world of entertainment doesn't take a break, and this is notably true for the realm of anime. A slew of noteworthy announcements emerged over the holidays, and just in case you missed some of them, here is a roundup of the most exciting bits.
Without a doubt the most surprising announcement, the widely-criticized controversial season that was the third season of One-Punch Man wasn't enough to deter further production. Season 3 will be back with a follow-up batch of episodes in 2027—such a distant date they could have called it season 4. More surprisingly, animation studio J.C. Staff will remain at the helm. On a positive note this time, director Shinpei Nagai is set to direct from the beginning, which might be a hopeful indicator. But, the main art for the continuation is a mirror of the one used for season 3, just with characters Saitama and Garou oriented differently. This suggests that, at this point, they must be mocking the fans.
Kyoto Animation has forged a reputation for being an top-tier animation studio, making its mark not just for the exceptional quality of its output but for the good working conditions of its employees—a sadly unusual standard in the industry. Surprisingly, until now, it had never worked on an anime adapted from a manga from Shonen Jump, perhaps the most famous magazine in the field. Ruri Dragon will break that tradition, and what a superb choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo achieved widespread acclaim when it debuted in 2022 after just a few chapters, but then went into a two-year hiatus due to the author's health issues. When it resumed publication with a more relaxed pace, the series showed it hadn't lost the fans' affection and positive sentiment, and now fans are ecstatic about the impending KyoAni adaptation.
Kingdom is the best-selling, decades-spanning 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 going on for some time, and its sixth season was yet another stellar entry. Apparently that was just the initial batch, because a "sequel" has been confirmed as currently being made, and it will probably air in 2026.
One more studio famous for the artistic merit of its projects, Science Saru has given us critically acclaimed works of the quality of Space Dandy, Devilman Crybaby, and, more recently, 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 called Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia will have a highly unique and fascinating visual style, which is somewhat reminiscent of Ranking of Kings. Scheduled to launch in July 2026, this one will definitely be on my list of anticipated shows.
Right after the conclusion of episode 24, it was revealed that Tougen Anki will be receiving a second season. 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.
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