Ahiru no Sora is a popular sports anime series that first aired in 2019, captivating audiences with its heartfelt storytelling and relatable characters. Adapted from a manga series that has been ongoing since 2003, the anime brought a fresh take to the sports genre during its run. Like other notable sports anime, such as Number 24, Ahiru no Sora quickly gained recognition. Licensed by both Sentai Filmworks and Crunchyroll, the series has also made its way onto Netflix in select regions, expanding its global reach. Initially launched on major Japanese networks like TV Tokyo, AT-X, and BS TV Tokyo on October 2, 2019, the anime spanned 50 episodes, concluding with a season finale on September 30, 2020. Produced by Diomedéa, a studio known for works like Domestic Girlfriend, the series showcased their animation prowess. However, some fans expressed concerns over the studio’s relative inexperience in handling sports anime, sparking debates about whether a potential second season should be developed by a different studio. So, the pressing question remains: Will Ahiru no Sora return for a second season? Let’s explore the possibilities.
Ahiru no Sora Plotline and Season 2 Predictions
Sora Kurumatani, standing at just 1.49 meters tall, is a student whose height often makes him an easy target for ridicule. However, his unwavering passion for basketball drives him to enroll at Kuzuryuu High School, where he hopes to fulfill his late mother’s wish for him to win his first high school tournament. Upon joining the school, Sora discovers that the basketball club is far from functional. Its members, including a talented center who struggles with scoring and his twin, Chiaki, a skilled playmaker who has lost interest in the sport, seem more interested in mischief than basketball. Despite being bullied and warned against pursuing basketball at the school, Sora refuses to give up. Determined to inspire his apathetic teammates, he takes on the challenge of reigniting their passion for the game and transforming the club into a cohesive and competitive team.
What Can We Expect in Season 2?
The first season of Ahiru no Sora laid a solid foundation, even though its story progression was slow. It effectively highlighted the characters’ struggles and underscored the long journey ahead for the team. The season focused on their numerous defeats, emphasizing the need for growth and improvement. If a second season is greenlit, it promises to showcase the team’s evolution and newfound strengths.
Among the key players, Momoharu holds the most growth potential. His ability to contribute under the rim—whether by scoring or rebounding—will be crucial to the team’s offensive strategy. Tobi has already demonstrated significant development, adapting well to team play. Meanwhile, Sora continues to hone his playmaking skills, with noticeable progress in three-pointers, though he still needs to improve his dribbling. Chiaki remains the genius of the team, providing solid performances, while Shigeyoshi requires a considerable stamina boost to keep up with his teammates.
Momoharu’s development could be the linchpin for the team’s success. By improving his defensive and offensive capabilities, he can unlock greater opportunities for the entire squad. In addition, the team’s overall defensive strategies are expected to mature, making them formidable competitors in future matches. Fans eagerly anticipate witnessing this growth in a potential second season, where the team will strive to become stronger and more cohesive.
Will There Be a Second Season of Ahiru no Sora?
As of December 20, 2024, neither the manga publisher Kodansha, Studio Diomedéa, nor Sentai Filmworks has renewed Ahiru no Sora for a second season. It’s not uncommon for anime—especially sports anime with long seasons like Ahiru no Sora’s 50 episodes—to take years before receiving a continuation. While there has been no official announcement, certain factors can help us speculate about the possibility of a second season. Let’s dive into these factors to make predictions.
Source Material Manga Compared to Anime
As previously mentioned, the anime is an adaptation of the manga series written and illustrated by Takeshi Hinata. The manga debuted in 2003 and was serialized in Weekly Shōnen Magazine. Here’s the good news: although the manga series has officially concluded, it enjoyed a 16-year run, culminating in a total of 51 volumes. Unfortunately, the manga lacks an official publisher in the USA, relying instead on fan translations.
When comparing the anime and manga, the first season of the anime covers approximately 140 chapters of the manga. Given that the manga consists of nearly 600 chapters, only about 25% of the story has been adapted. This means there’s enough source material to support at least three additional seasons of similar length. Fans eager for the next installment can also dive into the manga starting from Chapter 140 to continue the story.
Popularity and Other Factors
While the availability of source material is promising, the anime’s popularity presents a mixed picture. On MyAnimeList, the anime ranks 1238th in popularity—decent, but not groundbreaking. However, the series did achieve success in disc sales, a key metric for gauging anime profitability. Despite not becoming a breakout hit, the manga’s immense popularity—with over 24 million copies in circulation—could justify a continuation. These sales figures consistently place it on bestseller lists, indicating strong overall demand.
One major hurdle is the studio’s performance. While Studio Diomedéa handled the adaptation, many fans felt that the studio struggled to capture the unique atmosphere of a sports anime. Currently, the studio is focused on The Saint’s Magic Power Is Omnipotent 2nd season. As of now, there have been no indications that the studio is working on a second season of Ahiru no Sora. Still, the strong foundation provided by the manga leaves hope for a future adaptation, whether by the same studio or a new one.
In terms of social media presence, Ahiru no Sora’s official X page has around 40,000 followers. While this is a decent following, anime that secure new season approvals often have more than 100,000 followers, with 100k being a general threshold to gauge strong social media popularity. The relatively modest following may not be enough to push the anime to the top of the priority list for a second season, but it still indicates a dedicated fanbase.
When is Ahiru no Sora Season 2?
After considering all factors, we can’t say everything is perfect, but we remain optimistic about the possibility of a new season. The anime was initially announced on February 28, 2018, and began airing on October 2, 2019. Based on this timeline, we can estimate that the production period for the anime was about two years. With this in mind, it’s reasonable to expect a potential second season sometime in 2026-2027.
In the meantime, we recommend checking out other popular sports anime, such as Haikyuu and Air Gear, which are widely loved by fans of the genre.