Grand Blue, also known as Grand Blue Dreaming, is a comedy and slice-of-life anime series that premiered in 2018. Adapted from Kenji Inoue’s manga, the anime was brought to life by the renowned studio Zero-G, known for other popular comedy and slice-of-life adaptations such as Science Fell in Love, So I Tried to Prove It and My Roommate is a Cat.
The series originally aired on July 14, 2018, on local Japanese broadcasters and its global reach expanded with licensing by Amazon Prime Video, attracting a worldwide audience. While the anime currently consists of just one season, fans were delighted with a live-action movie released on August 7, 2020.
With the continued interest and demand from fans, the question arises: could the anime receive a second season after more than three years? The anticipation for its return remains high.
What is the plotline of Grand Blue?
Iori Kitahara begins his first year at Izu University, surrounded by the sparkling waves and golden sunshine of the seaside town of Izu. Moving into Grand Blue, where his uncle’s dive shop is located, Iori dreams of a college life filled with beautiful girls and great friends. However, his expectations are quickly shattered. Upon entering the dive shop, he is greeted not by the idyllic scene he imagined, but by a rowdy group of upperclassmen who drag him into their wild, alcohol-fueled antics.
Although reluctant at first, Iori soon gets swept up in their chaotic lifestyle. Unfortunately, his timing couldn’t be worse—his cousin, Chisa Kotegawa, walks in at just the wrong moment, leaving her unimpressed with his behavior. Despite the rocky start and his cousin’s disapproval, Iori remains determined to create the perfect college experience. But will he finally find his dream life, or will trouble find him again?
Will there be a second season of Grand Blue?
Great news for Grand Blue fans: the anime has been renewed for a second season! After six long years since the first season ended, this long-awaited renewal proves once again that the anime world is full of surprises. The official announcement, made in September 2024, confirms that Grand Blue will return for Season 2.
Season 2 begins with Iori returning to Izu after completing his diving license in Okinawa, where he receives a letter from his sister, Shiori. A teaser visual has been released to celebrate the news, featuring the members raising a toast under a summer sky. Given the long gap between seasons, some staff changes were already expected. Staff and cast details have also been revealed.
The animation will once again be handled by Zero-G, who worked on Season 1, with studio Liber joining the production. Returning staff include director, scriptwriter, and sound director Shinji Takamatsu, as well as character designer and chief animation director Hideoki Kusama. The original cast, including Yūma Uchida as Iori, Ryōhei Kimura, Hiroki Yasumoto, Katsuyuki Konishi, Chika Anzai, Maaya Uchida, Toa Yukinari, and Kana Asumi, will reprise their roles.
To celebrate the announcement, Kimitake Yoshioka shared a special illustration for Season 2. Kenji Inoue also expressed his excitement, saying, “It’s incredible that after such a long wait, people are still so eager for a sequel! This is truly heartwarming. Originally, this manga was created to promote the sport of diving.”
Manga status of Grand Blue
Grand Blue Dreaming is a Japanese manga series written by Kenji Inoue and illustrated by Kimitake Yoshioka. Serialized in Kodansha’s Good! Afternoon magazine since April 2014, the series has garnered significant popularity, with over 8 million copies in circulation as of April 2023.
As of January 2025, the manga has been compiled into 23 volumes. Since the first season of the anime adapted only 5 out of these 23 volumes, there is plenty of source material for future seasons. With 18 volumes remaining, the series has enough content to easily support at least two more seasons.
Disc sales of the anime
Disc sales are an important factor for anime production, as it is generally expected that an anime sell at least 4,000 discs on average for a new season to be considered profitable. While digital streaming platforms have decreased the reliance on physical disc sales, they still play a role. For Grand Blue Dreaming, the Blu-ray and DVD sales for its first season in 2018 were lower than expected, with only 1,455 units sold, which is far below the target. However, despite these low sales, the anime has been confirmed for a second season, indicating that other factors, such as the manga’s popularity and fan demand, likely influenced the decision.
Global popularity
Grand Blue has continued to attract new viewers even years after its initial release, currently ranking 248th on MyAnimeList’s popularity chart. The anime’s official Twitter account has garnered 56k followers. While this isn’t a massive social media following in Japan, it still demonstrates a strong global interest, as reflected in consistent search volume on Google. Given the current level of popularity, a second season could likely perform well in terms of viewership, and creators can use this momentum to support the decision for its continuation.
Moreover, the acquisition of broadcasting rights by a major platform like Amazon Prime boosts its popularity. The recent release of a live-action film also helps keep the brand in the public eye. While the disc sales and overall popularity in Japan are areas of concern, the overall prospects for a second season look promising.
When is the release date of the second season?
The anime has been renewed for a second season; however, as of January 12, 2025, an official release date has not yet been announced. Anime productions typically take about a year, and it’s common to expect a new season roughly a year after the renewal announcement. Since the anime was renewed in September 2024, it is speculated that we may see the new season in fall 2025. With Zero-G and Liber confirmed as the studios working on Season 2, and returning staff like director Shinji Takamatsu on board, it is likely that the pre-production phase has already been completed, and animation work is currently underway. We will keep you informed as soon as the official release date is announced, and we’ll also share the season 2 trailer when it is published. Stay tuned for more exciting news!