Akudama Drive is an action-packed, science-fiction anime that premiered in 2020. While the anime may have drawn inspiration from various sources, it is an entirely original production, not based on any written material (It has a manga adaptation). Licensed by Crunchyroll, the series aired on popular Japanese networks and was also streamed worldwide on Hulu TV, quickly gaining a global fanbase.
Akudama Drive takes place in a world where the Kanto and Kansei regions were once divided by war. Although the war ended, Kansei became heavily dependent on Kanto. Over time, the Kansei region descended into chaos, with rampant crime taking hold due to a weakened government and police force. The criminals in this world are known as “Akudama.” The anime is directed by Taguchi Tomohiro, with an original story by Kodaka Kazutaka, the creator behind the popular Danganronpa series. Sasahara Yoshifumi serves as the assistant director, and Yamaguchi Cindy is responsible for the character design.
The anime was produced by Pierrot, the renowned studio behind other popular titles such as Yona of the Dawn and Black Clover. The first season of Akudama Drive wrapped up with its final episode, “Black Rain,” on November 26, 2020. Since then, the series has received positive reviews from both fans and critics. However, after more than four years of silence, fans are left wondering: will Akudama Drive get a second season? And if so, when can we expect its release? In this article, we’ll explore what we know about a potential second season so far.
Will there be a second season of Akudama Drive?
The first season of Akudama Drive concluded on November 26, 2020. Unfortunately, despite the time that has passed, there has been no official confirmation about a second season. As of January 19, 2025, Neither Crunchyroll, the streaming license holder, nor Pierrot, the studio responsible for the anime, or any other affiliated organizations have made any announcements regarding a potential new season. We’ve seen cases where anime received new seasons after years of silence. While it’s true that the chances of a sequel diminish over time, this isn’t always the case in the anime industry. For example, Black Butler made a comeback after a decade. So, is it possible that Akudama Drive could experience the same fate?
The anime is an original production, which means it doesn’t rely on any source material, unlike many other anime series. While the manga adaptation, which ends in 2023, does expand on some story elements and offers additional details, it doesn’t continue the plot in a way that would lead to a direct continuation. This could be a slight disadvantage for the anime, as the absence of a strong ongoing manga series means there’s no immediate continuation to drive the narrative forward.
However, original anime productions are often at an advantage since the scriptwriter has full creative control, and there is no bottleneck from a source material. If there’s enough fan demand, popularity, and financial backing for a second season, the lack of a manga series wouldn’t be a major issue. Yet, the absence of a strong follow-up manga series means Akudama Drive doesn’t have a built-in source of ongoing content, which could make a sequel more challenging.
Furthermore, director Tomohisa Taguchi is currently working on the high-paced anime Bleach, and it’s unclear if he would have the time and focus to return to Akudama Drive. Additionally, Pierrot Studio is actively prioritizing other popular projects, which may mean they’d choose to focus on more widely popular titles over Akudama Drive at the moment.
As for the anime’s popularity, while Akudama Drive garnered a strong fan following when it first aired, it seems to have lost some of that momentum over time. While the fanbase remains dedicated, the current popularity of the anime doesn’t seem to be strong enough to push for a second season. Creators may view this as a risky decision given the decreasing demand.
Moreover, the narrative of Akudama Drive reached a definitive conclusion in the first season, with major character arcs and plotlines resolved. This comprehensive ending leaves limited room for expansion without introducing entirely new story elements, which can be a deterrent for producing a sequel.
Considering all of these factors, it seems unlikely that Akudama Drive will see a second season any time soon. However, the anime world is full of surprises, and it’s always possible that things could change in the future. If there are any updates or new announcements, we’ll be sure to share them with you!
