zombieland saga season 3

Zombieland Saga Season 3 Release Date, Renewed or Cancelled?

Zombieland Saga is a comedy-horror anime that premiered in the fall of 2018. This series stood out by offering a refreshing twist on the anime landscape, diverging from the typical romantic comedies and dark fantasy genres. Unlike many anime series, Zombieland Saga is not adapted from a manga or light novel, making it a unique original creation. Produced by the renowned MAPPA studio, famous for its work on high-profile anime like Banana FishThe God of High School quickly captured the audience’s attention with its blend of humor, horror, and heartfelt moments.

The success of the first season of Zombieland Saga set the stage for the highly anticipated second season, Zombieland Saga: Revenge, which aired from April 8 to June 24, 2021. Broadcast across several local networks, the second season also reached global audiences through streaming platforms such as Crunchyroll. Now, fans eagerly await the third season of Zombieland Saga even in 2025. In this article, we’ll take a look back at the series and explore everything we know about the upcoming season.

What is the plotline of the anime?

It begins like any other typical morning. The familiar music, the routine of their daily lives — everything seems peaceful. But for seven girls, this calm existence is about to be shattered by the sudden appearance of zombies. None of them ever imagined they’d find themselves caught up in such a terrifying, bizarre world. Yet, despite their grim fate, they all share one common desire: “We want to live.” In this unusual twist, these girls will fight for a chance to make the impossible happen and defy the odds in the face of a “saga” that’s anything but ordinary.

The story kicks off with Sakura Minamoto, a high school student who tragically dies after being struck by a pickup truck while heading out to an idol audition. Ten years later, Sakura is resurrected as a zombie by an eccentric producer named Kotaro Tatsumi. But she’s not alone. Alongside her, six other “legendary” girls from different periods in Japanese history are brought back to life to form the all-zombie idol group known as Franchouchou — all based in Saga Prefecture.

zombieland saga
Image credit ©Crunchyroll

Will There Be a Third Season of Zombieland Saga?

The second season of Zombieland Saga, titled Zombieland Saga: Revenge, concluded its run on June 24, 2021. While some anime series announce new seasons during their season finales, Zombieland Saga did not follow that pattern. As of January 11, 2025, neither MAPPA nor any of the companies involved with the anime have officially confirmed the renewal for a third season of Zombieland Saga. This has left fans wondering when the series will return. However, there are some positive developments on the horizon. According to an official announcement in October 2021, the anime is set to receive a new movie project. While details about this movie, which is expected to be a sequel, have not yet been fully revealed, fans can expect news to surface soon.

The announcement of a new movie presents a fantastic opportunity to reignite interest in the series. Additionally, it could create momentum for the franchise, possibly increasing the chances of a third season. There are several key factors that could provide more insight into the potential for a new season. Let’s break down some of the main elements that will influence the decision for a third season.

Manga Status of the Anime

It’s important to note that Zombieland Saga is not based on a manga. While many anime adaptations are rooted in manga, this series is an original creation, which means it doesn’t rely on existing material to continue the story. Instead, the anime inspired a manga adaptation written by Megumu Soramichi and published by Cygames, which retells the events of the anime for readers.

Since the series is not a manga adaptation, there’s no immediate concern over the availability of source material. If a third season is greenlit, it’s likely that the writers will create an original script tailored to the anime, rather than adapting a specific manga storyline. So the third season possibility is more depending on other factors.

Disc Sales of the Anime

While the popularity of physical media has waned due to the rise of streaming services, disc sales continue to be an important factor in measuring the success of an anime. DVD and Blu-ray sales provide valuable insight into how well the anime resonates with audiences, particularly in Japan, and can help gauge the potential for future seasons.

For Zombieland Saga, the first season saw impressive sales, with an average of 20,917 units sold across three volumes in the summer of 2018. This placed the series as the third-best-selling anime of that year. Although the anime did not replicate the same level of success in the second season, it still performed well, with an average of 7,757 units sold per volume, far surpassing the industry benchmark of 4,000. This made it the fifth-best-selling anime of 2021. Given the solid sales performance, especially in terms of disc sales, the potential box office success of the upcoming movie could serve as a significant trigger for a third season.

Popularity and Other Key Factors

In addition to sales, the overall popularity of an anime and studio status play a significant role in determining its potential for renewal. One of the major advantages Zombieland Saga has is its backing by the prestigious MAPPA studio, known for producing high-quality anime. MAPPA is a powerhouse studio with significant production capacity, meaning creating a new season wouldn’t pose a challenge for them.

The anime’s popularity is evident in its strong online presence. The official Zombieland Saga Twitter page currently boasts over 171,000 followers, highlighting a dedicated fan base that continues to support the series. Generally, surpassing 100,000 followers is often considered a benchmark for measuring a show’s popularity. However, much of the current fan engagement is concentrated in Japan, while the series has seen a decline in global popularity and viewership. This makes the upcoming movie crucial for regaining momentum and reigniting interest in the franchise.

zombieland saga season 3
3rd Season Chance of Zombieland Saga
Popularity on Mynanimelist
83
Popularity on Social Media
89
Popularity on Google Searches
50
Success in Disc Sales
85
Reader Rating1 Votes
80
Positives
Above-Average Reviews (7.50 on MA, 7.1 on IMDb)
Original Anime (No Source Material Constraints)
Strong Disc Sales
Multi-Season Continuity
Movie Announcement
Active Social Media Presence
Negatives
Below-Average Popularity
50
Renewal Possibility

When is Zombieland Saga Season 3?

There has been no official confirmation for a third season of the anime, but there are positive signs suggesting its potential. It has been three years since the movie was announced in 2021, and projects like this typically take no more than three years to complete. As a result, we expect to hear news of the movie’s premiere date soon, and it may be released sometime in 2025.

As for a third season, there’s no clear indication yet. Generally, producing a new season takes about a year, meaning we may only see a potential third season sometime between 2026 and 2027, following the movie’s release. While there’s no definitive confirmation or timeline, the possibility of a new season hasn’t been ruled out entirely. For now, fans can take comfort in the upcoming movie and look forward to updates from the team behind Zombieland Saga.

In the meantime, if you’re looking for similar anime to fill the gap, we recommend KonoSuba and Miss Kobayashi’s Dragon Maid. Stay tuned for updates on Zombieland Saga Season 3.