How often did you start binging a show, only to realize that there was no second season? It doesn’t help that this is usually the case when the season either ends on a cliffhanger, or is so good that you’ve already prepared to sink all of your time into it. And this applies to anime just as much as any great TV shows. For this piece we’ll look into a few shows that never got the chance to tell their full story (or at least, not at the time of writing this article) but are shows that absolutely should get the chance to.
15. Vinland Saga
I want to start off with Vinland Saga, as there’s still a slight chance that we could get that illusive second season. I was absolutely blown away when this show first aired. And it quickly became one of my favorite shows of all time. You can imagine my surprise when my snobby manga friend said the obligatory snobby manga friend phrase “it only gets better from there”. I was annoyed, but also incredibly intrigued. So I hope that I’ll be able to see what happened to my short king before I die of old age.
14. Re:Creators
This is one of the rare times where I wished that a company would milk a franchise dry. That is simply because I fell in love with the concept that Re: Creators put forth. The thought of a reverse isekai where fictional characters get brought into the real world and a raid boss waifu who can metagame you out of existence just lends itself to so much fun. Even if they did a complete character overhaul and just kept the key world concept, I would totally be down.
13. Talentless Nana
This one’s relatively new, having concluded in 2020, so I’m hopeful that it’ll get a second season. Especially since the first season left us on a huge cliffhanger that made me throw my body pillow out of frustration. The series is extremely tense and takes it sweet time when it comes to revealing certain key elements, so the thought of not getting the answers is downright haunting. Plus, Among Us might make a comeback if everything goes according to plan.
12. Tower of God
Take everything I said about Talentless Nana, fix it up with the best steroids money can buy, and you get my view on Tower of God. The story left off on the cliffiest of hangers. And I’m surprised the entire anime community didn’t start rioting in the streets because of that final scene. There have been a lot of rumors circulating about the second season, and I do think that there’s a good chance that the series will come back. But I have been hurt like this too many times to truly believe it. But fingers crossed!
11. Grand Blue
Grand Blue is one of my all-time favorite comedy series. It’s set in college, so it hits a little closer to home. And alcoholism is so rampant that I wish it would hit a bit further away. Although I don’t have any burning questions after finishing the first season, I’m still angry that they decided to end it there. The show was so consistently hilarious, and the characters were so lovable, that I simply need more of that positive energy in my life. So, studio Zero-G, just state your demands and I’m sure that we can work something out.
10. Deadman Wonderland
And now back to shows that made me cry on the inside because they never wrapped up their plot. Deadman Wonderland is quite famous in this regard, as the show made its season finale plot twist a decade ago – and just left us all to suffer in the meantime. I always enjoy a surprise villain. But the fact that we don’t get to see the final confrontation and Gunta’s return to the real world, free of that pesky mass murderer title, is a bummer to say the least.
9. Highschool of the Dead
Finding a good zombie apocalypse show is rarer than finding a Fortnite fan old enough to vote. So you can imagine everyone’s anger when the one good apocalypse show decided to just drop everything after the first season! Where else will I find bullet-dodging curves and camera angles so low you feel like you’re getting stepped on? Although rumors of a second season come and go from time to time, we have slowly just accepted that this gem will never rise up again.
8. Hunter x Hunter (2011)
Okay, this one might seem a bit weird because the “first season” is comprised of 148 episodes. But I just need to vent. Hunter x Hunter has been known as the hiatus king for a long time. But that still doesn’t explain how we have not gotten another adaptation in over 7 years! There are just too many amazing scenes and plot lines that have not graced our screens. Not animating Hisoka vs Chrollo should be considered a war crime. And for the love of god, I want to see what Ging can do already. Besides leaving his family, that is.
7. A Sister’s All You Need
I honestly wouldn’t be surprised if the reason for this show only having one season is the fact that the name fires off several red flags in your brain in terms of content. However, the story is actually quite wholesome and gripping! There’s still a lot of sister-obsessed jammer in the air, but the main focus of the story is the art of writing a novel. I can’t really say that the first season left me with a gaping hole in my brain, grasping for answers, but I would definitely want to see more of this odd writing room show.
6. Asobi Asobase
Asobi Asobase falls under the same category as the previous anime I mentioned, as it’s a rather light-hearted slice of life show. The thing that sets Asobi Asobase apart, however, it the fact that it is absolutely insane. I love absurdist humor when it’s done correctly. And this show has it in spades. I don’t think a person can ever see enough of obsessive butlers that fire lasers out of their butt. So I’m praying to anime Jesus that this show gets approved for another season.
5. Grimgar: Ashes and Illusions
This is probably the most slow-paced isekai you’ll ever find in your life, and I love it. Unlike the usual “instant god mode activated” isekai shows, this one takes its sweet time and really forces the characters to work for each and every victory. And just when they were becoming decently tough, the series ends. And my power fantasy is left to rot in the corner. I know the isekai genre is oversaturated already. But please give us more Grimgar.
4. Baccano!
Baccano does have some specials, but I think those don’t truly count. I want to see more of this world! The first season just jam-packed so many lovable characters and multiple narratives together that it could have easily become the next shounen titan! I mean, you literally have immortal characters in this show. So the options are wide open when it comes to a second season and/or time skips. I also just really need to see Miria and Isaac again. Sure, they dropped in during Durarara. But it’s just not the same!
3. Dororo
OK sure, the first season of this show was basically perfect and wrapped up every plot point the series had set up. But that still won’t quench my thirst for more amazing battles & Hyakkimaru being a badass. Just imagine if this show ever got a time skip second season. I’m sure a few of you just wished death on my head for that suggestion, but I’m willing to deal with the consequences if it means that an amazing show will get some more well-deserved screen time.
2. Barakamon
Funny enough, I also deem the first season of Barakamon to be perfect on its own. It completed an entire arc of Sei finding love in his art and appreciating those around him. But man, did I want to see where he would go from there! I want a second season where we get to see a new and improved Sei once again strive for the very top of the calligraphy world, making us cry with every new piece he produces. And maybe this time he won’t sucker punch a judge. No guarantees though.
1. No Game No Life
I’m certain that you all saw this one coming, as it’s the Half-Life 3 of anime. Sure, we did get that movie. But that’s simply not enough. I can confidently say that everyone wanted to see how Sora and Shiro would pull the rug out from the entire world and once again put humanity on the very top. And don’t even mention their fight with Teto, because I’m foaming at the mouth already. The first season ended on such a high note that you can’t blame the entire anime community for craving this second season like no other.
