Popular anime that didn't get a sequel

In the anime industry, it is common for new series to be introduced every season, while others come to an end. Some anime, after concluding, generate great expectations among fans, who yearn for a continuation. However, not all successful series manage to get a second season, leaving fans waiting for years. Such is the case of "No Game No Life", "Majo no Tabitabi (Wandering Witch: The Journey of Elaina)" and "Accel World", three series that, despite their popularity, have not yet received a continuation.

"No Game No Life," based on Yuu Kamiya's light novel of the same name, aired in 2014 and quickly gained a passionate fan base. The story follows brothers Sora (played by Yoshitsugu Matsuoka) and Shiro (played by Ai Kayano), who are transported to the world of Disboard, where all conflicts are resolved through games. Despite the success of the series and a prequel film released in 2017, the second season remains unconfirmed. Yuu Kamiya, the original author, has expressed on social media his bewilderment at the persistent fan demand for a sequel, noting that the "excellent quality" of the first season could be a barrier to the production of a second season.

Another notable case is "Majo no Tabitabi", based on the light novel by Jougi Shiraishi. The story follows the traveling witch Elaina (played by Kaede Hondo), as she travels through different cities and faces various situations, some touching and others shocking. Although the series was well-received and the original story has continued with up to 23 volumes in October 2024, there has been no word on a second season. Shiraishi has expressed his desire to continue the series in anime format, urging fans to support the franchise to make a sequel possible.

Finally, "Accel World", based on the light novel by Reki Kawahara, is also in a similar situation. The series, aired in 2012, follows Haruyuki (played by Yuki Kaji), a high school student who escapes his harsh reality through an augmented reality game. Despite the fact that the source material has continued to be published, with 27 volumes as of August 2024, only a small part of the story has been adapted, leaving fans waiting for a second season that seems less and less likely.

While some anime like "Kimi ni Todoke: From Me to You" have managed to release sequels many years after the original airing, not all projects are so lucky. Interest in new titles, changing trends, and difficulty in reuniting the original staff are just a few of the hurdles the sequels face. However, fans do not lose hope that one day their favorite series will return to the screen.

"In the end, anime are made to promote light novels or manga, and if a work has too many volumes, it's difficult to attract new fans. Even if someone is interested in reading the source material, it's hard to get started if you have to get dozens of volumes. Even if anime is popular, it's no longer a time when Blu-rays sell well, so it's hard for an anime to be profitable on its own, which complicates the production of sequels."
"Although 'Hataraku Maou-sama!' had a second season after a long time, the quality clearly dropped compared to the first season. I remember reading an interview with the producers after the first season aired where they said something like, 'We know it's going to be a hit, so we won't,' but I can't help but question that answer. I discovered that some works that miss their opportunity can become something completely different."
"Also, there are so many new works that have not yet been adapted into anime, and they are waiting for their turn."
"I always thought that publishers tend to adapt light novels to anime to explosively increase sales, so I think they prefer 'new works' over a second season."
"Personally, I liked 'HOTD' (Highschool of the Dead). But, unfortunately, the author passed away."
"In the case of 'No Game No Life,' the author was unable to continue writing due to health issues, which made it difficult for the anime project to move forward. For 'Accel World', he was asked to correct many parts of the content, such as depictions of harassment and psychological violence, which could have hindered the story. In addition, the retirement or temporary retirement of the original voice actors may also have made it difficult to continue the adaptation."
"As for 'Majo no Tabitabi,' I think the level of the producers who worked on the adaptation was so high that they may not be able to assemble a team that matches (or surpasses) that quality."
"When will the continuation of 'Oniichan wa Oshimai!' come out?"
"Because they produce too many anime in 12-episode seasons, there are a lot of works that remain incomplete. With series based on 'light narratives', it is relatively easy to bring them to the public, but many times they leave them unfinished or release them in a very irregular way, so it is likely that they will never be finished."
"I think 'Accel World' was overshadowed by the success of 'SAO,' and they probably avoided direct competition."
"Gekkan Shoujo Nozaki-kun' is another work that many fans have been waiting for a second season (although half resigned, hehe)."
"Even if it's a popular play, producing a second season doesn't guarantee the same success, and production crews are often booked well in advance. There are so many works that are waiting for a continuation and so many others that have not yet been discovered."
"Sometimes a play suddenly becomes popular, but if they don't have contracts for future seasons, they can't secure the production team, the voice actors or anything. And in the time that passes, two or three years later, the audience and trends change. Also, second seasons are often a hard sell to new viewers unless they have a big name. Sometimes there are unexpected second seasons, but..."