The EDENS ZERO Season 2 release date in Japan is confirmed to be on April 1, 2023, the Spring 2023 anime season. But there are still many questions unanswered.
How will the unexpected death of the director affect the EDENS ZERO Season 2 release date? With the EDENS ZERO manga ending relatively soon, what does that mean for the anime?
And will the EDENS ZERO Season 2 Netflix release date be announced for international audiences? Notice that we say “will” since there is the possibility that Disney+/Hulu will be streaming the 2nd season.
If you haven’t heard, Japanese publishing company Kodansha and Walt Disney Company formed a long-term partnership beginning in late 2022. Disney has been partnering with Kodansha ever since 1950 when they created a manga adaptation of Disney characters. The expanded collaboration of the 70-year deal between the two companies means that Disney will be licensing exclusive anime titled based on manga produced by Kodansha, which includes EDENS ZERO.
As another example, the Tokyo Revengers Season 2: Christmas Showdown Arc anime being released in Winter 2023 will be a Disney+ exclusive.
Presumably, Hulu USA will be streaming all of the anime series based on Kodansha properties in the United States whereas Disney+ will be streaming these series to other worldwide territories. This was how the release schedule of Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War was handled since Hulu USA had established a marketing presence in the anime fandom whereas Disney+ USA had never carried a single anime title.
Otherwise, it’s been confirmed that EDENS ZERO Season 2 will be simulcast in France on Animation Digital Network. Fast-forward to April 1st and it’s a bad joke that we still don’t know the streaming platforms for other countries.
The EDENS ZERO anime TV series was confirmed to be in production on February 5, 2022. The announcement of the Japanese premiere time frame was made by a EDENS ZERO Season 2 PV trailer on September 16, 2022.
Months before the official announcement, Anime Geek predicted that the EDENS ZERO Season 2 release date would be in 2023. The reason was that there were complicating factors, including the death of the first season’s director.
In early February 2022, the official announcement of the second season’s production was made in Weekly Shonen Jump Issue 11, 2022. On February 8, 2022, the official Twitter account also made the announcement:
“The second season of the TV anime EDENS ZERO will be produced. Thank you for your patience, everyone!” they tweeted. “Details such as the broadcast time will be reported in the future, so please look forward to it.
EDENS ZERO Season 2 will continue the journey of Shiki Granbell, Rebecca Bluegarden, and Happy the Cat as they explore the vastness of space in search of Mother, the legendary goddess of the cosmos.
Beginning on August 26, 2021, Netflix began to release the first 25 episodes. But it’s unknown if they will be streaming EDENS ZERO 2.
EDENS ZERO Season 2 was teased early on. On October 3, 2021, the official Twitter account for EDENS ZERO tweeted, “Shiki and his friends’ adventure will continue. Thank you for your continued support.”
When the official account promised that day to make an “important announcement” everyone assumed it would be EDENS ZERO 2. Unfortunately, the announcement turned out to be the sad news that EDENS ZERO director Yūshi Suzuki had died at a Tokyo hospital on September 9, 2021.
“The director of the anime EDENS ZERO, Yushi Suzuki, has passed away. We would like to express our deepest condolences to the bereaved family,” stated the account. “We, all the staff, are still in disbelief and deep sorrow at the sudden news of his death. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Director Suzuki for his great efforts in this film. I would like to pray for his soul with everyone.”
Suzuki had worked on a handful of Fairy Tail anime episodes in the past as a key animator and storyboard artist. The EDENS ZERO anime was the first and last time Suzuki served as the main director. However, he was an episode director for Fairy Tail, High School Prodigies Have It Easy Even In Another World, Log Horizon Season 3: Destruction of the Round Table, and Talentless Nana.
The main staff and studio that is making EDENS ZERO Season 2 hasn’t been announced yet.
The first season was produced by animation studio J.C. Staff, known for the original Sorcerous Stabber Orphen anime, the KonoSuba movie, Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon?, A Certain Scientific Railgun, One Punch Man Season 2 (and, hopefully, One Punch Man Season 3), and the Food Wars! anime series.
In 2021, Studio J.C. Staff was working on the Date A Live Season 4 anime, Combatants Will Be Dispatched! anime, How a Realist Hero Rebuilt the Kingdom, and The Duke of Death and His Maid anime. The DanMachi Season 4 release date was in 2022 and The Duke of Death and His Maid Season 2 release date is in 2023.
For the first season, director Suzuki was joined by Chief Director Shinji Ishihira, the main director for the entire Fairy Tail anime series. His directing experience also includes Air Gear, Final Fantasy 7: On The Way to a Smile – Episode: Denzel, Heybot!, and all three Log Horizon anime seasons (here’s hoping for Log Horizon Season 4).
Writer Mitsutaka Hirota (Hunter X Hunter 2011, Rent-a-Girlfriend [and presumably Rent-a-Girlfriend Season 2], X-Men 2011) is writing the scripts/series composition. Artist Yurika Sako (animation director for Date a Live, One Punch Man Season 2) is the character designer. Composer Yoshihisa Hirano (Death Note, Hunter X Hunter 2011) is confirmed to be returning to create the music.
The EDENS ZERO Season 2 OP (opening) and ED (ending) theme song music hasn’t been announced yet.
For the first season, the EDENS ZERO OP “Eden Through the Rough” was performed by Takanori Nishikawa, while the ED “A Vlog of the Journey (Bouken no Vlog)” is sung by CHiCO with HoneyWorks.
For the second cour, the new OP “FOREVER” was performed by L’Arc-en-Ciel, while the new ED “Secret of the World (Sekai no Himitsu)” was sung by Sanketsu-girl Sayuri.
What’s a cour, you might ask? For those unfamiliar with the lingo, a “cour” is a three-month block of TV broadcasting based on the physical seasons usually composed of 10 to 13 episodes.
The first season had 25 episodes released as eight EDENS ZERO Blu-ray/DVD volumes. The first volume goes on sale in Japan on August 4, 2021.
The EDENS ZERO release date in Japan was on April 10, 2021. Hulu and Netflix Japan released the episodes at the same as the Japanese TV premiere.
The first cour’s mid-season finale in EDENS ZERO Episode 12 released on June 27, 2021.
Due to special TV programming in Japan, the EDENS ZERO Episode 20 release date was pushed back to August 28, 2021.
The finale, EDENS ZERO Episode 25, released on October 2, 2021.
- Updated December 29, 2022: EDENS ZERO manga’s final arc announced. Added Disney+/Hulu info.
- Updated September 16, 2022: EDENS ZERO Season 2 release date in Spring 2023 confirmed by trailer PV.
- Updated August 17, 2022: EDENS ZERO Season 2 confirmed to be in 2023 by new key visual.
- Updated April 16, 2022: EDENS ZERO Season 2 composer reveals that audio sessions have begun.
- Updated February 5, 2022: EDENS ZERO Season 2 confirmed to be in production.
This article provides everything that is known about EDENS ZERO Season 2 and all related news. As such, this article will be updated over time with news, rumors, and analysis. Meanwhile, let’s delve down into what is known for certain.
Why the EDENS ZERO Season 2 release date is in Spring 2023
As of the last update, Kodansha, Aniplex, Studio J.C. Staff, or any company related to the production of the anime has not officially confirmed the exact EDENS ZERO Season 2 release date.
However, the production of an EDENS ZERO sequel been announced and it’s been confirmed that EDENS ZERO S2 is coming out in April 2023.
Once the news is officially confirmed this article will be updated with the relevant information.
Before the second season was made official, it was easy to say that the anime will be renewed for a second season given that the story is from the Fairy Tail creator. To say that the “adventure will continue” was not an official confirmation that the anime sequel has been greenlit for production, although it was the earliest hint that the anime production committee would have EDENS ZERO renewed.
But the EDENS ZERO review scores have been oddly low even after the international Netflix premiere. Maybe some fans are dismissing the new anime out of hand as “Fairy Tail in space”. Maybe it’s due to the anime having been in Netflix jail but the scores didn’t pick up substantially in August 2021.
The real test was Netflix’s streaming numbers since streaming revenue is the biggest factor for success in the modern anime industry. Thankfully, the numbers must have been good enough for the anime production committee to have EDENS ZERO renewed.
The reason that EDENS ZERO Season 2 wasn’t announced immediately is likely due to director Suzuki’s unexpected death. Finding a good replacement will take time, especially since the main staff is often comprised of contractors and they’re reserved for projects in advance.
As such, it’s likely that the release date for the second season was pushed back by at least months if not a year. Still, we do know for certain that audio recording sessions had begun by April 2022.
Therefore, that’s why we predicted that the EDENS ZERO Season 2 release date would be be in April 2023 (Spring 2023).
Netflix’s EDENS ZERO keeps the Japanese season labeling
Netflix U.S. likes to set up international anime audiences for binge-watching even though Netflix Japan releases the episodes as they are broadcast on Japanese TV stations. Therefore, the international launch on Netflix U.S. traditionally waits until the episodes have finished broadcasting on TV in Japan
The EDENS ZERO Netflix release date for international audiences was on August 26, 2021. The first cour of 12 episodes was streaming on that day.
Thankfully, EDENS ZERO Part 2 was not labeled as a second season by Netflix. In the past, Netflix U.S. has labeled each cour of some anime TV series as a separate “season” even though the Japanese consider the cours released in a certain time frame to be a single season.
For example, WIT Studio’s The Great Pretender anime was a two-cour anime season, but Netflix considered the second half to be The Great Pretender Season 2. The same thing is happening with Netflix’s The Seven Deadly Sins Season 5 anime in 2021, which is technically only four seasons in Japan.
EDENS ZERO Season 2 English dub release date predictions
Netflix’s EDENS ZERO trailer was streaming with English subtitles. An EDENS ZERO English dub was included with the release on August 26, 2021.
In addition, Netflix provided dubbed audio for German, Spanish, and French. It’s also possible to watch with the original Japanese dub in addition to English subtitles.
The real question is what will happen to the EDENS ZERO Season 2 English dub if the Disney/Kodansha results in the anime switching streaming platforms. It’s unknown whether or not Disney might continue to use the Netflix recording studio for their exclusive titles or whether they’ll establish a separate recording unit. Since voice actors are typically contractors let’s just hope they resume their roles in future sequels even when Netflix is no longer the streaming licensor.
EDENS ZERO manga ending in 2023 or 2024?
The story for the anime TV series is based on the EDENS ZERO manga by creator Hiro Mashima, who also created Fairy Tail and Rave Master. Kodansha’s Weekly Shonen Magazine has been serializing the manga since June 2018. It’s up to EDENS ZERO Volume 25 as of February 17, 2022.
The manga chapters are divided up into story arcs and Sagas. The first saga, the Sakura Cosmos Saga, had 9 story arcs. Chapter 105 was the start of the second saga, the Aoi Cosmos Saga, which only had 4 story arcs. Chapter 170 began the 3rd saga, the Kaede Cosmos Saga, which had only 2 story arcs.
Finally, the fourth and final saga, the Universe Zero Saga, began with Chapter 217. The 2nd story arc of the final saga will apparently pick up with EDENS ZERO Chapter 222
Kodansha Comics USA is publishing the EDENS ZERO English translation in North America. The English version was up to Volume 20 as of December 27, 2022, with Volume 21 scheduled for release on February 28, 2023, Volume 22 on April 25, 2023, Volume 23 on June 27, 2023, and Volume 24 on August 29, 2023.
The English EDENS ZERO manga can also be read on Crunchyroll, which provides a simultaneous publication (SimulPub) for subscribers with the latest chapters.
The EDENS ZERO manga’s ending came into sight when the final story arc was announced in December 2022. During a 2019 interview, Mashima provided an early estimate.
“For now, I would say it is around 20 to 30 volumes. Well, even if that is how I feel now, it will continue longer if it’s meant to continue longer, and it will end if it is meant to end. At first, I thought I would finish Fairy Tail after 10 volumes or so, but it ended up continuing as long as it did because it became more popular than I had expected it to.”
Fast-forward to January 2021. In a Mantan Web interview, Mashima clarified his earlier comment, stating that he really did believe EDENS ZERO would last around 30 volumes at first.
“But it may not end there,” the EDENS ZERO author said. “The more I draw, the more fun it becomes. I have ideas one after another.”
Apparently, Mashima wants to make the EDENS ZERO manga longer than Rave Master, which had 295 chapters in 35 volumes, but shorter than Fairy Tail, which ended in Chapter 545 with Volume 63.
As for the climax or how he wants to end the final chapter, Mashima has an idea for a EDENS ZERO ending in mind but it’s apparently morphing over time.
“It depends on the manga,” Mashima explained. “For Rave Master, I had a clear idea of how I wanted it to go all the way until the end. On the other hand, I had nothing decided at all for Fairy Tail. EDENS ZERO lies somewhere between them, as I do have certain aspects decided, but I want to keep the weekly ‘sense of live action’ important.”
In December 2022, it was announced that EDENS ZERO would start its final arc in the next magazine issue. The EDENS ZERO Chapter 221 release date was on December 28, 2022, and EDENS ZERO Chapter 222 continued the story in the new year on January 11, 2023.
If we were forced to make an estimate, the EDENS ZERO manga’s ending will be coming out sooner than later. It’s probably safe to predict that there will be fewer than 300 chapters altogether and between 30 to 40 volumes in total. As such, the final chapter will come out in either 2023 or 2024 since the new manga chapters come out weekly.
The good news for anime fans is that many chapters should mean there will be plenty of room for EDENS ZERO Season 3, 4, and maybe even 5.
EDENS ZERO Season 1 compared to the manga
The EDENS ZERO anime has been a fairly straightforward adaptation of the source material. There have been some minor differences and some of the dialogue is condensed. Some character details that were mentioned later in the manga show up earlier in the anime.
Sometimes there were character changes made in order to reduce the size of the cast. For example, B-Cubers Ricchan and Nacchan were written out of the script for Episode 9, with other abducted B-Cuber characters fulfilling their role in the plot.
The story for the EDENS ZERO manga is broken up into clear story arcs. Similar to the adaptation pacing of Fairy Tail, EDENS ZERO’s anime has averaged two to three chapters adapted per episode.
The best stopping point for the mid-season finale in Episode 12 was Chapter 28, the end of the Guilst arc. That meant the first cour will have adapted four story arcs and EDENS ZERO Part 2 picked up the story again in the Digitalis story arc about the Super Virtual Planet.
All in all, the ending of the first season’s finale, EDENS ZERO Episode 25, corresponded to manga Chapter 68: Valkyrie.
Chapter 50 would have been the best stopping point since the characters arrive at Sun Jewel, the Planet of Gemstones. Considering that the Sun Jewel and Belial arcs are 51 chapters combined it’ would have been best to adapt them as EDENS ZERO Season 2 to keep good adaptation pacing.
Unfortunately, since the first season’s pacing increased to average closer to three chapters adapted per episode then the best stopping point became Chapter 68, the ending of the Sun Jewel arc. It’d be a great stopping point for setting up EDENS ZERO Season 2 to finish the Sakura Cosmos saga.
The good news is that there is plenty of source material for making EDENS ZERO 2. Better yet, English-only manga readers can immediately read ahead of the anime if they wish by picking up manga Volume 9: Chapter 69.
EDENS ZERO 2 anime spoilers (plot summary/synopsis)
Note: The spoilers provide a recap of the Sun Jewel story arc before discussing new story arcs.
At the ending of the first season, Shiki and his crew arrived at the planet Sun Jewel in search of the Shining Star, Valkyrie. Upon landing, they encounter a seemingly peaceful place, but Shiki and Homura learn first-hand that it’s due to the tyrannical reign of Madame Kurenai.
Shiki and Homura are forced to to mine metal from alien monsters called Stones as punishment for thwarting the casino robbery attempt. After they reunited with Rebecca’s group and defeat a giant Stone, a B-Cube recording reveals that Valkyrie left in search of Homura’s long-lost mother.
Unfortunately, the reunion with Homura’s beloved mentor doesn’t go as planned and she learns a terrible fact about her mother, Madame Kurenai. Worse, the tyrannical leader of Sun Jewel plans to destroy the area with Satellite Blaze.
A revolt begins against Madame Kurenai begins but the rebels find themselves outnumbered by the powerful warriors at her command. It’s time for a new hero to arise using a new armored suit: The Arsenal.
Now that the Four Shining Stars have been assembled, the crew can finally begin their journey beyond the Sakura Cosmos. However, the infamous Drakken Joe has taken an interest in their legendary ship, and begun his plans to take it, along with any treasures it may carry. And just like Shiki, he has a formidable crew, too.
While the Edens Zero is being pursued by Drakken Joe’s giant space fortress, the Belial Gore, Rebecca experiences a nightmare that is all too real to be merely a dream.
Searching for answers, Shiki leads an incursion into the fortress, but they are quickly caught in Drakken Joe’s trap as he advances on the EDENS ZERO. Now the crew of the Eden must fight for their lives against the full might of the Dark Alchemist to protect their home. Fortunately, while their chances of survival seem slim, Rebecca has awakened a new power!
Unfortunately, anime fans will have to wait until the EDENS ZERO Season 2 release date to watch what happens next. Stay tuned!