Chainsaw Man Season 2: What's in Store After the Movie?

Shueisha's annual Jump Festa event is known for its thrilling and unexpected announcements, but the lack of a Chainsaw Man season 2 reveal at the 2024 event was the most surprising of all. Although fans did receive news about the upcoming Reze arc film, the absence of a season 2 announcement caught many off guard.

Instead of the expected Chainsaw Man season 2 announcement, fans were surprised to learn that the franchise would be releasing a canon movie covering the Bomb Girl arc, which is now officially known as the Reze arc. This was unexpected, as many had anticipated season 2 to kick off with the Reze arc, and the canon film to cover the final chapters of part 1 that wouldn't fit into season 2.

Chainsaw Man season 2 likely to release, but could be canceled if the Reze arc isn't a fiscal success

Despite this, MAPPA Studios and the rest of the adaptation team have decided that the Reze arc film will be released before Chainsaw Man season 2. However, there are now concerns among fans about the possibility of a second season, especially in light of the recent developments at MAPPA Studios and the financial performance of season 1.

Season 2's status, explored

It's highly likely that MAPPA Studios will announce, produce, and release Chainsaw Man season 2 for fans. Despite the production of a canon film, there is enough material for a second season. The series is still popular as a manga, justifying the move forward with the television anime adaptation.

However, several key factors could prevent the second season from being produced. The first major factor is the unprofitability of the first season in relation to MAPPA Studios' fiscal expectations. This is largely due to the negative perception of the anime domestically in Japan, which is a significant market for anime series on Blu-ray.

Considering that MAPPA Studios also funded season 1 by themselves, and would likely do the same for Chainsaw Man season 2, this may deter them from moving forward with production. While season 1 director Ryu Nakayama's departure from MAPPA Studios may result in production changes that make the series more domestically successful, this departure also creates another issue.

After allegedly being scapegoated for the poor performance of season 1, Nakayama's departure may lead other MAPPA staff to also leave the studio, especially if Nakayama's new production company, Andraft, becomes a successful animation studio in the anime industry.

Another strong supporting piece of evidence for the eventual production of Chainsaw Man season 2 comes from a quote by MAPPA CEO Manabu Otsuka. In an interview with IGN France, Otsuka expressed his desire to eventually animate all of Fujimoto's works through the studio's production, despite this statement being made before the first season's financial struggles.

Keep up with all the latest news about the Chainsaw Man anime, manga, and film, as well as general anime, manga, film, and live-action updates as 2024 unfolds. The financial success of the Reze arc film will be a crucial factor in determining whether fans will see a season 2 of the television anime series. If the film proves to be as profitable as anticipated by MAPPA, it is likely to lead to the production of the anime's second season.

Editor's P/S

As a hard fan of Chainsaw Man, I was eagerly waiting for the announcement of season 2 at the Jump Festa event. However, I was left disappointed when no such announcement was made. Instead, we were surprised with the news of a canon movie covering the Reze arc. While I am excited about the movie, I can't help but feel concerned about the fate of season 2.

The financial performance of season 1 and the departure of season 1 director Ryu Nakayama from MAPPA Studios have raised doubts about the possibility of a second season. The negative perception of the anime domestically in Japan, which is a significant market for anime series on Blu-ray, is a major concern. If the Reze arc film does not meet MAPPA's financial expectations, it may further jeopardize the chances of season 2.