The winter break offer a multitude of activities far superior than catching up on the headlines: discovering surprises, indulging in festive fare, and harnessing patience techniques to not arguing with family members. Hopefully you managed to accomplish all these things and more. That said, the entertainment world doesn't go on vacation, and this is particularly true for the realm of anime. A slew of noteworthy news items came out during the holidays, and if you overlooked some of them, here is a roundup of the juiciest bits.
Truly the most surprising piece of news, the notorious disaster that was the third season of One-Punch Man wasn't enough to deter the series' continuation. The show will come back with a follow-up batch of episodes in 2027—a date so remote they might as well have labeled it season 4. More surprisingly, animation studio J.C. Staff will still be in charge. Thankfully this time, helmer Shinpei Nagai is attached to direct from the beginning, which could be taken as a positive development. But, the key visual for the new episodes is the same image the one used for season 3, just with protagonists Saitama and Garou facing different directions. This leads one to believe that, at this point, they must be mocking the fans.
Kyoto Animation has established a standing for being an top-tier animation studio, setting itself apart not just for the superb artistry of its productions but for the fair treatment of its employees—a sadly unusual standard in the industry. Curiously, until now, it had not produced an anime based on a manga published in Shonen Jump, possibly the most famous magazine in the field. Ruri Dragon will change that, and what a excellent choice it is. The manga by Masaoki Shindo achieved widespread acclaim when it debuted in 2022 after just a small number of issues, but then went into a extended pause due to the creator's health issues. When it returned with a reduced workload, the series showed it maintained the fans' appreciation and goodwill, and now fans are overjoyed about the impending KyoAni adaptation.
Kingdom is the top-selling, decades-spanning Shueisha manga that is not One Piece. If you've are unfamiliar with it before, it's because it only recently got an English localization, but the anime has been running for years, and season 6 was another excellent entry. Apparently that was just the initial batch, because a "sequel" has been revealed as in development, and it will almost certainly debut in 2026.
A further studio famous for the artistic merit of its work, Science Saru has delivered 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, which is based on the real historical figure of Fatima, an influential woman and thinker in the Mongol Empire in the 13th century. Judging from the trailer, the anime titled Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia will have a distinctly fresh and fascinating visual style, which evokes Ranking of Kings. Set to premiere in July 2026, this one will absolutely be on my watchlist.
Immediately following the conclusion of episode 24, it was revealed that Tougen Anki will be receiving a second season. 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 air date has not been disclosed yet.
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