Unlike other things, 2020 turned out to be a good year for NGNL fans. The highly-acclaimed anime series finally released on Netflix last year, and subscribers hovered over there to watch. Within a year, the initial popularity of the 2014 show has almost doubled. As a result, the demand for No Game No Life Season 2 has also increased. Will Madhouse ever renew the sequel? What’s in the future of the Isekia anime? Here’s everything you need to know about the much-awaited second installment.
Studio Madhouse’s popular anime series No Game No Life is the adaptation of a light novel series of the same name. The LN began serialization under the MF Bunko J imprint in April 2012, whereas Yen Press distributed the English version from 2015. Published by Media Factory, the last volume of the light novel came out back in January 2018. While the series hasn’t been officially canceled, writer and illustrator Yū Kamiya has not launched any new volume in the last three years.
Ever since it started serialization, the NGNL light novel series created a buzz amongst otakus from around the world. Due to its rising popularity, an anime adaptation of the LN was already expected by fans. Within a few years, popular studio Madhouse picked up the story, which hit the Japanese televisions in April 2014. The installment completed its air in June 2014 and was soon released on several streaming platforms for an international audience. When fans started demanding a sequel, the studio released a movie adaptation of the light novel.
Will There Be A No Game No Life Season 2?
Over the years, No Game No Life has reached higher up in the list of some of the best isekai anime. When it debuted, the series became an instant hit and one of the highest-rated shows in the genre. Aside from its unbelievable popularity, the series received critical acclaim from some significant rating and review platforms. Hence, fans were quite optimistic about the anime’s future.
However, Madhouse did not assure any sequel ever since the first season concluded. The studio only released a prequel movie of the franchise back in July 2017. For almost seven years now, fans of the iconic sci-fi anime have been waiting for its return. Yet, NGNL creators have ignored the heavy demands and online petitions for No Game No Life Season 2. Well, given that neither of the producers has canceled the anime yet, there might still be hope for its renewal in the future.
What Are The Chances Of Its Return? Can Fans Save It?
Looking at the popularity of the franchise and the demand for NGNL Season 2, it will likely be a bad decision for Madhouse to cancel the series now. If the sequel is could possibly be a profitable project for the studio. Besides, given that the first season is now available on Netflix, its initial reach has almost doubled. Well, based on Madhouse’s latest business decisions, it wouldn’t let go of No Game No Life Season 2 so easily. The studio renewed Overlord Season 3, even though the sales of its previous season was much lesser than NGNL’s first installment. Hence, there is still hope for the much-awaited isekai anime.
On the other hand, we have noticed several rumors about the anime’s cancelation in the last few years. Speculations say that since it has already been seven years since the first season, the anime could’ve been canceled. However, it is essential to notice that Madhouse also released the No Game No Life: Zero movie adaptation back in 2017. This reduces the seven-year hiatus to a three-year one. Moreover, compared to US television shows, it is common for anime to have long gaps between seasons. In the past, many popular anime series have taken as long as four to five years to return (One-Punch Man & Attack On Titan).
Hence, the chances for the return of No Game No Life Season 2 are still pretty high. Moreover, the series has hulking fan support, which would play an important role in its renewal. In recent times, fan support has helped the survival of many shows. If a series has enough people signing up online petitions and making social media requests, producers will probably notice the demand.
No Game No Life Easter Egg In Madhouse Anime
Some recent events reveal that Madhouse is still very interested in NGNL projects. Back in 2018, while the first season of the A Place Further Than The Universe anime was airing, viewers noticed several easter eggs. Fans pointed out some poster of the 2014 anime in between some scenes. The 2018 anime is also produced by Madhouse, hence, it left some hints for No Game No Life fans during the episodes. A lot of people assumed that the studio might be planning to renew a sequel soon.
However, soon after the incident, Madhouse confirmed that A Place Further Than The Universe and the No Game No Life: Zero prequel movie teamed up for a special collaboration. This was to celebrate the Blu-ray and DVD release of the movie adaptation. Well, it turns out that the creators weren’t hinting towards No Game No Life Season 2. Yet, this event ensures that the studio is quite serious about the anime’s future.
Is Netflix Planning To Pick Up NGNL Season 2?
The globally influential streaming giant has shown much interest in the anime industry in the last few years. It has recently produced several Original anime series, including popular names such as Devilman Crybaby Season 2, Ultraman, Little Witch Academia, and many others. Besides, the streamer also re-released some popular anime on its platform. One such anime was No Game No Life, which arrived on Netflix in February 2020. The re-release brought back many memories for the anime’s fans who had watched it during its initial release. It also attracted plenty of new viewers who ended up falling in love with the show.
Hence, NGNL’s Netflix release surged up the popularity of the anime last year. As a result, more and more people are signing up petitions in support of the series’ return. In fact, the sequel became one of the top trending animes of 2020. Well, Netflix is quite quick to notice such opportunities. This could be the best time for the streamer to pick up the second installment. Given that the platform has saved many deserving shows from cancelation before, it could become a potential producer of No Game No Life Season 2 as well.
Is There Enough Source Material For A New Season?
Unlike original television series, the future of anime adaptations is highly dependant on the availability of their source material. Only rare shows are given new stories for sequels in case they don’t have enough source material to adapt. In fact, such projects are often abandoned despite their performance or popularity. However, fortunately, there’s still hope for NGNL Season 2. The No Game No Life light novel series debuted back in April 2012 and has been in the run ever since. As of today, a total of ten volumes of the LN have already been released.
There is a lot of confusion related to the amount of content the NGNL anime consumed. As a matter of fact, the television series only adapted the first three novels of the light novel series. Later on, in 2017, the prequel anime film No Game No Life: Zero consumed the entire plot of Volume 6. Hence, Madhouse can still use Volume 4 to 5, alongside Volume 7 through 10 for No Game No Life Season 2. In fact, the remaining content (six volumes) would be enough for future installments of the anime as well. Hence, lack of source material wouldn’t be an issue in the anime’s renewal.
Has The No Game No Life Light Novel Ended?
The No Game No Life light novel author Yū Kamiya has not released any new volume since July 2018. Since it was the tenth volume, many fans considered it to be the series’ last one. Given the popularity of the franchise, readers are quite concerned about the LN series’ future. However, the author has previously taken around two years to release a new volume. Volume 8 of the series came out back in 2016, while the ninth one wasn’t launched until 2018. Besides, NGNL publisher Media Factory has not confirmed the conclusion of their popular LN series. Hence, the author might release another volume sometime soon.
On the other hand, the story of the light novel is still incomplete after the tenth volume. As per the progress of the plot, the No Game No Life series might not end anytime sooner in the near future. However, since the hiatus between LN volumes are increasing, the author might take even longer to release the upcoming novels of his series.
What Will Be The Plot Of NGNL Season 2?
The story of this legendary anime series centers around lead characters Sora and Shiro, two hikikomori step-siblings. Upon being challenged to a game by a god from another reality, yet, the two of them are summoned in the game reality called Disboard. Over the course of their time in the new world, they travel and participate in different tournaments and become humanity’s representatives in Disboard. Hence, they pick up their next goal to conquer all sixteen species in the reality, to encounter yet again.
The upcoming installment of the anime will likely pick up from the fourth volume of its source material. Hence, the story might begin with Shiro and Sora going on the inevitable beach vacation in the Werebeasts’ Eastern Union. Further ahead, the series will likely cover the plot of Volume 5 and 7. Since the first season covered only three novels, No Game No Life Season 2 might end with the seventh volume. Whereas, it might also include some bits from Volume 8. Since the eighth volume completes the story arc related to Horou’s game, it would be the perfect ending for the sequel. This will also set up a good beginning for NGNL Season 3.
No Game No Life Season 2 Characters: Will The Cast Members Return?
The cast members of No Game No Life were appreciated for their respective performances back when the anime was first released. Lead actors Yoshitsugu Matsuoka and Ai Kayano were the highlights of the entire series. They returned to play their characters alongside other members of the cast for 2017’s No Game No Life: Zero movie adaptation. Hence, it is expected that the actors will be back as their characters in NGNL Season 2 as well.
Alongside Matsuoka and Kayano, other voice actors from Season 1 will join the sequel. This includes Youko Hikasa and Yukari Tamura as their popular characters Stephanie Dola and Jibril, respectively. On the other hand, we might get to see Yuka Iguchi as Kurami Zell, Mamiko Noto as Think Nirvalen, Miyuki Sawashiro as Izuna Hatsuse, and Rie Kugimiya as the God of games, yet, again. According to the plot of No Game No Life Season 2, fans will likely get introduced to several new characters. Hence, Madhouse or any other studio that produces the second season will have to hire new voice actors.
Is There A Trailer For NGNL Season 2?
As of now, none of the companies related to the production of the anime have confirmed its return. Hence, we might not get to watch the trailer until the renewal is announced. Once the green flag arrives, the trailer or teaser will only take months to hit the screens. We will update this section once the potential producer of No Game No Life Season 2 launched the production video (PV). Until then, here’s a trailer of the No Game No Life: Zero movie.
No Game No Life Season 2: Release Date
After the Netflix release of NGNL’s first season, this might be the perfect time for any company to renew the sequel. In fact, it is likely that Madhouse or Netflix might pick up the project this year. If that happens, the producers might take at least a year to complete the productions of No Game No Life Season 2. Hence, as of the current circumstances, a late-2022 or early-2023 release date for the second season seems the most plausible. Keep an eye on this corner to know the official premiere date announcement.
What was your favorite moment from the isekai anime’s first season? Are you excited for the arrival of NGNL Season 2? Please share with us in the comments below.