Houseki No Kuni (Land of the Lustrous) is a highly acclaimed anime series, first released in Fall 2017, blending action and fantasy genres. Based on the manga by Haruko Ichikawa, the anime was adapted by the renowned studio Orange, famous for its use of 3D CG animation. Orange, also responsible for Beastars, has created an anime that captivated audiences worldwide. The first season of Houseki No Kuni, licensed by Sentai Filmworks, originally aired from October 7, 2017, to December 23, 2017, on local Japanese channels like AT-X, Tokyo MX, BS11, and MBS. Additionally, the series was available globally on Amazon Prime Video, significantly broadening its reach. Now, fans are eagerly anticipating the release of the second season. In this article, we’ll dive into everything we know about Houseki No Kuni and the highly anticipated upcoming season.
What is the plotline of Houseki No Kuni?
Houseki No Kuni was one of the most striking animes of 2017, captivating audiences with its unique animation, theme, and music. While the focus here is on the upcoming season, let’s quickly revisit the story that sets the stage for the series. The manga, which the anime is adapted from, presents a futuristic world where “houseki” (Jewels) have emerged as a new form of life. These 28 jewels are engaged in an ongoing war with the “tsukjin” (Residents of the Moon), who aim to capture them and turn them into ornaments. Each jewel is assigned a specific role, such as warrior or health worker, but one jewel, Phos, has yet to be given a role. Phos’s life changes when Jewelry Director Congo assigns him the task of editing a natural history magazine.
Will there be a second season of the anime?
As of November 28, 2024, at the time of writing, studio Orange or any related company has yet to renew the Houseki No Kuni anime for a second season. No matter how much time passes, anime may still receive a new season. This is a common situation that we often encounter with anime series. In the absence of an official announcement, it is only possible to speculate about the new season at the moment. The key factors that influence the anime’s approval for a new season include the availability of manga source material, its popularity, and financial considerations. Let’s explore the possibilities of a new season based on the information we have so far.
Second season possibility in terms of “Manga status”
As we mentioned at the beginning of the article, Houseki No Kuni is adapted from the manga written and illustrated by Haruko Ichikawa. The manga series, published by Kodansha, is also available in English through the publisher’s NA branch, so readers can follow it without needing fan translations.
The manga series, which began in 2012, has now concluded, with the final volume, Volume 13, released on April 25, 2024. The manga series has a total of 13 volumes. The first season of the anime covered the first 5 volumes of the manga, leaving 8 volumes of source material available for a potential second season. With the manga now completed, there is no longer a limitation in terms of source material for the anime’s continuation.
Additionally, the manga took a hiatus in December 2020, but after returning in June 2022 with Volume 8, it progressed steadily towards its conclusion in 2024. This hiatus did not impact the potential for a second season since the material is now fully available, and the brand’s renewed activity can help sustain interest for a new anime season.
The completion of the manga series provides a definitive and complete source for a second season, potentially strengthening the case for an anime revival. Furthermore, the manga’s conclusion and the broader discussion around the anime adaptation could boost interest in the series, contributing to both its popularity and financial viability.
Blu-ray and DVD Sales of the anime’s first season
Disc sales play a crucial role in the financial success of an anime, as many series are produced with a focus on achieving strong sales to cover production costs and promote associated merchandise, such as manga. For a series to be considered financially successful and profitable, it is typically expected to sell at least 4,000 units of Blu-ray or DVD discs.
Houseki No Kuni surpassed this threshold significantly. The first volume of the anime’s Blu-ray and DVD sales reached an impressive 6,200 units, which is well above the industry average. This positive sales performance indicates a solid level of fan support and interest in the series. Strong disc sales are a key indicator of continued interest, and the success of these sales further bolsters the case for a second season, as they demonstrate that the anime remains popular and financially viable.
Given this solid sales performance, combined with the completion of the manga series and the continued global popularity of the anime, the chances of a second season are further enhanced.
Other factors to see the second season
The anime Houseki No Kuni holds a respectable ranking of 489th on MyAnimeList based on popularity. This score is considered above average and indicates a solid fanbase, which is a positive sign for the potential of a second season. The anime’s presence is also strong on social media, with 87,4k followers on X (on the anime’s official X page) and notable search data on Google, further demonstrating its ongoing popularity.
In terms of distribution, the anime is available on major platforms like the D Anime Store, U-Next, and Hulu in Japan, generating additional revenue streams. Worldwide, the anime is distributed by Amazon Prime, which significantly broadens its global audience and boosts its chances for a second season due to its wider reach and international exposure.
The studio behind the anime, Orange, also gained significant attention with its work on Beastars, which premiered in 2019. While Houseki No Kuni may not be as widely recognized as Beastars, it remains one of the studio’s most valuable properties. Given the success of Beastars and the studio’s track record, it’s likely that Orange would be open to revisiting Houseki No Kuni for a second season, especially since the demand for sequels in popular series is often strong.
These factors—popularity on multiple platforms, strong social media following, substantial sales, and backing from a prominent studio—further increase the likelihood of a second season.
When is the second season of Houseki No Kuni?
The second season of the series has not been confirmed yet. However, based on our evaluation, there are several positive indicators. Disc sales have been above average, the anime’s overall popularity is strong, and financially, everything seems to be on track. Most importantly, the manga provides sufficient source material for the creation of a second season. Given these factors, we believe a second season is quite possible, although the exact release date remains uncertain. The most likely timeframe for the second season could be the earliest 2025 considering production time, but we will have to wait for an official confirmation. We will notify you once any official announcements regarding the second season arrive.