Domestic Girlfriend, also known as Domestic na Kanojo, is a popular anime series animated by the Japanese studio Diomedéa, which is also behind titles like Ahiru no Sora and Aho-Girl. Based on the manga by Kei Sasuga, the anime adaptation was announced on June 12, 2018, and aired in Japan between January 12 and March 30, 2019, on networks like MBS, TBS, and AT-X. The series was later licensed by Crunchyroll, gaining a global fanbase. After more than 5 years of its first debut, fans are still eagerly awaiting news about a potential second season. Has Domestic Girlfriend been renewed for another season? What are the latest updates? Let’s revisit the series and explore the possibilities of a second season.
What is Domestic Girlfriend About?
Natsuo Fujii has a secret: he’s in love with his teacher, Hina. Hoping to escape his unrequited feelings, Natsuo agrees to hang out with his classmates and unexpectedly encounters Rui Tachibana, a mysterious and blunt girl. After a series of unusual events, Rui makes a bold request: she asks Natsuo to escape with her for a night. Their destination? Rui’s home. To Natsuo’s surprise, Rui proposes something even more shocking—she wants to experience intimacy with him, not out of love, but curiosity. Hesitant yet curious, Natsuo agrees, hoping it might help him move on from Hina.
However, Natsuo’s life takes an even more dramatic turn. His father announces his remarriage, and Natsuo suddenly gains two new stepsisters—Hina and Rui! Now living under the same roof with both the teacher he loves and the girl from his first intimate encounter, Natsuo finds himself entangled in a complicated love triangle. The story explores his emotional struggles as he navigates the challenges of love, family, and adulthood.
Will There Be a Second Season of Domestic Girlfriend?
As of December 27, 2024, there has been no official announcement from Diomedéa or any other anime-related company regarding the renewal of Domestic Girlfriend for a second season. We’ve been closely monitoring the anime’s official website and its X page, but the X page is not active since 2021. Unfortunately, there has been no indication of preparations or plans for a second season.
While no renewal has been confirmed, we can speculate about the potential for a continuation. The anime’s source material, Kei Sasuga’s manga, provides plenty of content for a second season. Additionally, the popularity of anime among fans remains high, which could influence future decisions.
In 2020 April, a fun achieved to reach out to manga artist Kei Sasuga on X to ask about a second season. Sasuga responded, stating that there are currently no plans for a continuation, which disappointed many fans. However, this doesn’t necessarily rule out the possibility of plans, as circumstances can change over time.
Manga Status: Source Material Availability
As mentioned earlier, Domestic Girlfriend is adapted from a manga series written and illustrated by Kei Sasuga. Published by Kodansha, the manga debuted in Weekly Shōnen Magazine in 2014. The series concluded its run in 2020 with its 28th volume, marking the end of its six-year publication journey. For international fans, the manga is available in English, thanks to Kodansha USA’s distribution.
The first season of the anime covers volumes 1 through 8 of the manga. With a total of 28 volumes, there is ample source material not only for a second season but potentially a third season as well if future adaptations follow a similar pace. However, despite having sufficient content, anime adaptations are often created to promote manga sales. Once the manga has concluded, there is sometimes less financial incentive to produce additional seasons, making the future of a second season uncertain.
Original Manga Sales of Domestic Girlfriend
When evaluating the potential for a second season of Domestic Girlfriend, the sales play a significant role. Published by Kodansha, the manga’s cumulative circulation exceeded 4.2 million as of December 2020. This impressive milestone includes a notable increase of nearly 1 million copies sold after the anime’s first season aired, demonstrating the adaptation’s promotional impact on manga sales.
Given that anime adaptations often serve to boost manga sales, the strong post-broadcast performance of Domestic Girlfriend indicates a favorable environment for a potential second season. Additionally, the success of special edition releases, which further drive sales, enhances the likelihood of the anime sequel being produced as a promotional tool for the franchise.
Blu-Ray Disc Sales of Domestic Girlfriend
Another critical factor in determining the production of an anime sequel is Blu-ray disc sales. Typically, the industry benchmark for sequel consideration is 4,000 units sold, as this ensures profitability for the production company. However, Domestic Girlfriend stands out as an exception, as it did not release traditional Blu-ray discs.
Instead, the series adopted a unique approach: a code bundled with the manga’s special edition allowed viewers to access the anime via the PlayPic application—a digital download-based platform. This innovative method complicates traditional metrics for sequel viability. While disc sales data is unavailable, the success of the special editions could still play a pivotal role. If the bundled editions perform well, DMM, the operator of PlayPic, might consider investing in a second season.
Conclusion: Will There Be a Season 2 of Domestic Girlfriend?
Despite its above-average popularity and the availability of ample source material, the possibility of a second season remains uncertain. Additionally, statements from the manga artist indicating that a second season is not currently planned dampen expectations further.
That said, the anime industry is full of surprises. The existence of sufficient manga material and the ongoing fan demand keep the door open, albeit slightly, for a continuation. If production committees identify renewed interest or additional promotional opportunities, a new season could still emerge in the future. But this is highly speculative at the moment and this likelihood is no more than we stated above, there is a slim possibility of seeing Domestic Girlfriend Season 2 in 2026 or beyond considering also production period. For now, we can recommend that the fans can read the manga series to learn about the story left.
What can be the Plotline of Domestic Girlfriend Season 2?
The second season is expected to delve deeper into the complicated relationship between Natsuo and Rui. Following the dramatic events of the first season, where Natsuo and Hina’s paths diverged due to school-related issues, the focus will likely shift to Natsuo and Rui’s evolving relationship. The tension between Natsuo, Hina, and Rui will undoubtedly intensify, as the love triangle takes on new layers of complexity.
The manga, which is the original source material, provides interesting hints about what could happen next. Flashforwards in the manga suggest a future where Natsuo and Rui are married, raising children together. However, the identity of Natsuo’s wife remains mysterious, leaving fans to speculate whether these flashforwards will be explored in the second season.
The end of the first season was especially surprising for Hina’s supporters. After Natsuo and Rui confront their feelings for Hina, she decides to leave town, and Natsuo and Rui begin a romantic relationship. As the manga progresses, Natsuo becomes a successful novelist, while Rui follows her dream of becoming a chef. However, as their relationship matures, it faces challenges that will likely form a central part of the second season’s narrative.
How Did the Manga End? — Critical Spoilers
The conclusion of the manga delivers a shocking and emotional ending for fans of Domestic Girlfriend. In the final episodes, Rui becomes pregnant, and she and Natsuo decide to marry. This marks a major turning point in their relationship. Meanwhile, Hina suffers a tragic accident and falls into a coma, which significantly impacts the dynamics of the family.
Despite the difficult circumstances, Natsuo and Rui choose not to marry immediately, choosing to live as a family with Hina still in a coma. The story ends with Natsuo, Rui, and their daughter, Haruka, living together, alongside the comatose Hina. The manga’s final chapter (Chapter 275) features Rui suggesting that they should marry while Hina remains in her comatose state, as a symbol of their love for each other.
While some fans found this ending to be controversial, it highlights the complexity of the characters’ relationships and the difficult choices they make. The drama’s focus on Hina and Natsuo’s connection remains central, but the actions of Rui and Natsuo also shape the story’s resolution. The manga’s ending may feel unsettling to some, as it presents an unusual family dynamic. However, it also offers a bittersweet conclusion where both Rui and Hina ultimately “win” in different ways.
Although the ending is controversial, it offers a unique perspective on love, family, and sacrifice. A potential side story exploring Hina’s journey to healing and finding love after the tragic events could offer a new layer of depth to the story in the future.