Published 4 hours ago

The biggest anime news you may have missed during the Christmas break

A ton of anime news dropped over the holidays

Image: Shueisha/Viz

There is a plethora of things to do during the Christmas holidays that are better than checking the news: opening gifts, getting stuffed on food, using meditation skills to not yell at relatives. I hope you did all of these, and more. However, the entertainment world doesn't go on vacation, and this is especially true for anime. Many exciting news items dropped during the holidays, and just in case you missed some of them, here is a roundup of the juiciest bits.

One-Punch Man season 3 will continue (in 2027)

Truly the most shocking announcement, the much-discussed disaster that was season 3 of One-Punch Man wasn't enough to deter further production of the anime. Season 3 will return with a second cour in 2027 (which is so far away that they could have just called it season 4) and, even more shocking, animation studio J.C. Staff will still be at the helm. At least this time, Shinpei Nagai is attached to direct from the start, which could be taken as a good sign. However, the key visual for the second cour is the same image as the one used for season 3, just with Saitama and Garou facing different directions, which makes me think that, by now, they must be trolling fans.

Ruri Dragon will be the first Shonen Jump anime produced by Kyoto Animation

Kyoto Animation has built a reputation for being an elite animation studio, distinguishing itself not just for the quality of its productions but for the fair treatment of its employees, which is unfortunately a rarity in the industry. Surprisingly, until now, it had never worked on an anime based on a manga published in Shonen Jump, perhaps the most famous magazine in the industry. Ruri Dragon will break that tradition, and what a great choice this was. The manga by Masaoki Shindo became massively popular 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 came back with a lighter schedule, the series proved it hadn't lost the fans' appreciation and goodwill, and now everyone is ecstatic about the upcoming KyoAni adaptation.

Kingdom season 6 has a sequel in production

Kingdom is the best-selling, 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 localization, but the anime has been going on for a while, and season 6 was another excellent entry. It turns out that was just the first cour, because a "sequel" has been announced as in production, and it will very likely air in 2026.

Science Saru is bringing A Witch in Mongolia to anime

Another studio known for the excellent quality of its productions, Science Saru brought us masterpieces of the caliber of Space Dandy, Devilman Crybaby, and more recently Dandadan. This time, the studio will be handling the adaptation of Tomato Soup's manga A Witch's Life in Mongol, based on the real historical figure of Fatima, an influential woman and intellectual in the Mongol Empire in the 13th century. From the trailer, the anime titled Jaadugar: A Witch in Mongolia will have a truly original 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.

Tougen Anki will continue with a second season

Right after the release of episode 24, the last of the first season, it was confirmed that Tougen Anki will be getting a sequel. Based on the Japanese legend of Momotaro, Tougen Anki adapts the manga by Yura Urushibara. The second season of the anime will adapt the Nikko Kegon Falls Arc, but a release date has not been disclosed yet.