The announcement on January 9th, 2024, that the popular anime series Dorohedoro would be getting a second season was met with excitement from fans who had been eagerly awaiting the show’s return.
While the statement confirmed production was underway on the new episodes, no release timeframe or date was provided, leaving viewers curious as to when exactly they can expect the continuation of the surreal mystical tale to drop.
Additionally, there were no details given regarding which streaming platforms would carry the second season, the voice actors, producers, or the animation team involved.
This lack of specifics has sparked questions around whether the acclaimed studio MAPPA of recent hits like Attack on Titan’s final season and Chainsaw Man would be returning following their stellar work on Dorohedoro’s first season, especially amidst rumors of production issues delaying the hotly anticipated One Punch Man season 3.
Fans now know more Dorohedoro is on the way after years of waiting, but with the announcement being light on the key particulars of where and when it will be available and who exactly is crafting the new episodes, devotees of the otherworldly series are left thrilled yet still eager for more concrete information as the return of the strange world of magic smoke and mysticism draws closer.
MAPPA’s Continued Involvement in Dorohedoro Season 2
The identity of the animation studio working on the second season of Dorohedoro would typically be just a minor detail. However, in this case, it has sparked curiosity, given that the first season was produced by the renowned MAPPA Studios.
With MAPPA’s slate filled with high-profile projects over the next few years, like the final Attack on Titan episodes and Chainsaw Man, fans wondered if they would have bandwidth for more Dorohedoro.
However, creator Q Hayashida’s note that season two has quietly been in progress for a while suggests MAPPA is still involved.
Changing animation studios midway is rare once production is underway, so had Dorohedoro switched hands, it likely would have been announced concurrently with the season two greenlight.
Essentially – while the studio behind the new batch of episodes wasn’t named, the fact that work has apparently been ongoing in secret for some time implies MAPPA is still steering the direction of the mystical series.
Had another team taken the reins, that information probably would have been shared already rather than kept under wraps.
So, while not outright confirmed, signs point to fans being able to expect more of MAPPA’s signature stellar animation as the weird world of Dorohedoro expands in the new season.
The Uncertain Future of Dorohedoro’s Animation Studio for Season 2
However, there does remain a possibility that MAPPA has, in fact, handed off production duties for Dorohedoro’s second season to another studio, with the staff opting to announce that at a later date.
The rationale behind this theory lies in MAPPA’s absolutely packed upcoming schedule, with major commitments already in place for highly anticipated titles like Jujutsu Kaisen’s third season, Chainsaw Man’s movie and season two, Hell’s Paradise season two, Lazarus, and more.
Adding fuel to the doubts is the recent swirling rumors that MAPPA would also be taking the reins from season one studio J.C. Staff for the third season of the smash hit One Punch Man.
While official sources have fervently shut down such reports, it signals MAPPA may not be keen to pile even more high-profile projects onto their overflowing plate, opening the door for Dorohedoro’s second season to change animation teams.
While MAPPA’s return is the widespread assumption given their fantastic work on season one and notes that production has been quietly underway for some time, their bombardment of major commitments in coming years allows for the very real possibility that Dorohedoro could end up switching animation studios midway through the adaptation.
If so, that information may just be being held back for a later reveal.
Examining the Potential Challenges and Incentives for MAPPA
Despite Dorohedoro’s popularity and the financial incentive to continue the adaptation, there remains the possibility that MAPPA opts to pass the baton to another studio for season two in order to allocate resources to some of their other mega-hits in progress.
While the magic-tinged series built a passionate fanbase since debuting over three years ago, in MAPPA’s packed portfolio, it slides closer to a hidden gem than the breakout smashes like Jujutsu Kaisen or Attack on Titan’s final run.
Adding to the case is former MAPPA talent like Chainsaw Man director Ryu Nakayama, who recently left to launch his own creative animation unit.
In an environment where MAPPA is overflowing with major commitments and has seen respected names depart, declining further Dorohedoro seasons to focus on more prominent titles is not off the table, even factoring in the potential financial success more episodes could bring.
Yet at the end of the day, while handing off production is plausible, MAPPA returning for round two remains the likelihood – they know the property well, the first season was a critical and commercial triumph for the studio, and until stated otherwise, they seem vested in shepherding their adaptation of Q Hayashida’s surreal vision through to its conclusion.
But the risk of losing or shuffling creative talent is real, meaning as veterans of adaptation, MAPPA won’t commit to projects unless the juice is worth the squeeze.
