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Will There Be a Season 2 of Kemono Jihen? Here's What We Expect to Happen After Season 1 Ends


Credit: Aija-do Animation Works

Kemono Jihen, like most anime shows that began during the Winter 2021 season, is coming to an end. At only 12 episodes, season 1 managed to introduce a colorful cast we came to love and an intriguing world, not to mention some upbeat music… but a closure so soon doesn't seem possible. So will there be a season 2 of Kemono Jihen?

The supernatural shōnen anime follows occult-specialist detective Inugami and his young wards, Kabane, Akira, and Shiki, who are part humans, part supernatural entities, and all fight to ensure peace between humans and kemono while looking for their lost families.

The show is based on a currently ongoing manga by Sho Aimoto. Just by comparing it to the show and seeing what has been covered so far, it becomes evident that Kemono Jihen wasn't planned as a single season.

While Kabane is undeniably the protagonist of Kemono Jihen he has taken a backseat for a large part of the first season. Some episodes focus on Shiki, with whom Kabane forms a heartwarming friendship, while the last few episodes of Season 1 adapt the Akira Arc of the manga.

As of March 2021, the manga consists of 52 chapters, with more to come in the future. Supposing that Season 1 will wrap up the Akira Arc, the anime would stop at chapter 19 or 23 at most if another volume's content can be fitted into the seasons' finale.

This leaves more than half the manga unadapted. More than that, we might get some sort of closure for two great characters, but Kabane, the one whose journey we signed up for first, wouldn't be so lucky.

Season 1 is great but feels very much like an introduction to the characters and setting. From an artistic viewpoint, then, creating a Kemono Jihen Season 2 would be the only right choice.

Unfortunately, there has been no official announcement for a second Kemono Jihen season so far. In the past, Aija-do Animation works weren't particularly keen on sequels, though one of its 2018 gems, How NOT to Summon a Demon Lord is returning with a new season, so that's not a rule set on stone.

Another complication lies in the fact that while generally well-received, Kemono Jihen was a bit overshadowed by other works including the supernatural shonen Jujutsu Kaisen. Unlike other Funimation anime, Kemono Jihen doesn't even have a dub yet, as more popular works and second seasons of already established anime were largely prioritized.

This is not to say that a Kemono Jihen Season 2 is impossible. After all, there's plenty of source material, and by the time a second season is on the cards, there will likely be more. Kabane still has to find his family, while Inari's agenda and Kon's conflicting loyalties have yet to be explored.

At this point, we can't give a definitive answer, especially since it often takes some years for a new anime season to be announced. We will update you with more information when an official announcement is made.

Meanwhile, you can read the manga for more Kemono Jihen content or check out Spring 2021 anime whose new seasons will be released soon, such as My Hero Academia Season 5 and Fruits Basket Season 3.

Related:Will The Promised Neverland Season 2 Be Dubbed in English? When to Expect a Dub Release Date

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