The Ancient Magus’ Bride is a popular dark fantasy anime series that first aired in 2017 as a single season. Set in the enchanting countryside of England and London, the series captivated audiences with its mysterious and magical world. Based on the manga of the same name, which has been written and illustrated by Kore Yamazaki since 2013, the anime adaptation was produced by Wit Studio—well-known for its successful works such as Seraph of the End and Vinland Saga. The anime was licensed by Crunchyroll and originally broadcast by Japanese local networks from October 7, 2017, to March 24, 2018, with its first season.
After the first season, fans had to wait nearly six years for the return of the series, with many wondering if a new season would ever be made. However, their wishes were granted as the series returned with a long-awaited new season created by Studio Kafka with a studio chance. Now, fans are eagerly awaiting news about a third season. But will the anime have a third season, and what do we know about its future in 2025?
The Ancient Magus’ Bride: Recap
The Ancient Magus’ Bride follows the story of Chise Hatori, a young girl who, after a troubled childhood, is sold to a mysterious sorcerer named Elias Ainsworth. Elias, who has the appearance of a humanoid creature with the head of a beast, takes Chise as his apprentice and bride. The series explores themes of magic, self-discovery, and the complicated relationship between the two protagonists.
In season 1, Chise begins her new life under Elias’ guidance, learning about the world of magic while also discovering her own latent powers. As their bond grows, the duo faces numerous challenges, including encounters with dangerous magical beings and dark forces that seek to exploit Chise’s unique abilities. The season ends with Chise beginning to accept her place in Elias’s world, though their relationship remains fraught with mystery and uncertainty.
After a long hiatus, the series returned with The Ancient Magus’ Bride: The Boy from the West and the Knight of the Blue Storm (Season 2). This season delves deeper into the characters’ pasts, including Elias’s own dark history, as well as exploring Chise’s increasing struggle with her identity and powers. The couple faces new obstacles, and their connection is further tested as Chise’s powers grow stronger and more uncontrollable.
What Fans Can Expect from Season 3?
As fans eagerly await season 3, the stakes are higher than ever. The next season is expected to focus on Chise’s continued development as a powerful magic user and her deepening bond with Elias. With the revelation of Elias’s past, season 3 is likely to explore the complexities of his character and his relationship with Chise more intimately. Expect more magical creatures, darker plotlines, and emotional moments that will further test the strength of their bond.
Will there be a third season of The Ancient Magus’ Bride?
As of January 2, 2025, neither licensees, Wit Studio, nor any related company have renewed The Ancient Magus’ Bride for a third season. While the long wait may dampen hopes for a new season, there’s no need to worry. Long gaps between anime seasons are quite common. In fact, the biggest example of this may be the series itself. The Ancient Magus’ Bride aired its first season in 2017, and the second season made its return nearly six years later. The second season was released in two parts, with the season finale airing on December 21, 2023, in Japan. Despite this, a renewal announcement has yet to be made, and the future of the series remains open to speculation. While there has been no official statement so far, we can assess the likelihood of a new season based on key parameters, providing an educated guess. Let’s dive into these details together.
Third season possibility in terms of manga status
As mentioned at the beginning of the article, The Ancient Magus’ Bride anime is adapted from the manga written and illustrated by Kore Yamazaki. Originally published by Mag Garden until 2023, the manga series first appeared on November 30, 2013. The manga is now published by Bushiroad Works and currently consists of 21 volumes and 103 chapters, with more chapters ongoing.
The manga serves as the main source material for the anime, and its continued publication is promising for the possibility of future seasons. The first season of the anime adapted the first 9 volumes of the manga, while the second season covers up to chapter 96 (up to volume 20). This nearly aligns with all the manga volumes released so far. During the adaptation process, all available source material was used, meaning that currently, there isn’t enough material to create a new season.
The bad news here is that there isn’t enough material for a new season yet. However, the good news is that the manga is still ongoing, which means there will be enough source material for a future season of The Ancient Magus’ Bride in the future.
Popularity and Other Factors
One of the most crucial factors in anime renewals is popularity. Anime productions aim to boost manga sales, generate revenue through disc sales, and attract viewers on online platforms, making popularity a significant influence in decisions regarding new seasons. The first season of The Ancient Magus’ Bride performed well in terms of disc sales. However, as physical media sales have declined, viewership on online platforms has become even more critical.
On MyAnimeList, the anime holds a solid rating of 8.06, based on thousands of user ratings. This is an excellent indicator of the anime’s reception, ranking it among the top-rated anime on the platform. In the second season, despite challenges, the anime managed to maintain a decent level of quality, earning a respectable rating of 7.76. More importantly, it ranks among the top 200 most popular anime on MyAnimeList, a remarkable achievement considering the vast number of anime series available today.
Looking at social media metrics, The Ancient Magus’ Bride has over 120,000 followers on the official X page, showing a growing trend in fan engagement. History has shown that anime series with over 100,000 followers have a higher chance of receiving new season approvals. This could bode well for the anime’s future prospects.
However, despite securing a place in the top 200 anime rankings on MyAnimeList, this might not be enough to gauge the anime’s true popularity. While its fanbase is still significant, the anime’s online interest has slightly waned in comparison to earlier seasons. Search engine trends suggest a decline in overall interest, which is common as time passes after a season’s release.
Although Studio Kafka created the second season of the anime, Studio Kafka was founded by Kazuaki Terasawa, who previously worked as a director and character designer for Wit Studio’s Vinland Saga. Therefor there is still a strong connection with Wit Studio. When compared to other anime produced by Wit Studio, such as Seraph of the End and Vinland Saga, The Ancient Magus’ Bride lags behind in terms of current popularity. Both Seraph of the End and Vinland Saga enjoy larger and more sustained fan followings. However, The Ancient Magus’ Bride maintains a dedicated fanbase, and its continued engagement on social media and respectable reviews suggest that it still holds potential for a third season.
When is the third season of the anime?
The future of The Ancient Magus’ Bride remains uncertain, but promising signs suggest that fans could see a third season eventually. While there is no official renewal yet, the manga is still progressing and the anime enjoys a dedicated fanbase, meaning there is plenty of potential for future seasons, even if the wait for a new installment might take some time.
As for when the third season might air, it’s hard to pinpoint an exact date. The delay between the first and second seasons was significant, with nearly six years between releases. Given that it may take some time for the necessary source material to accumulate for a third season, it’s estimated that about 10 volumes are typically adapted per season. With the manga currently in the early 20s in terms of volumes, reaching the 30s could take a few more years. A reasonable estimate suggests we may not see a new season before 2028. However, if you can’t wait that long, we recommend diving into the manga series for more details and to satisfy your curiosity about what’s to come.