Despite the critical acclaim and popularity of Hell's Paradise's recent anime adaptation, fans had to wait till the last moments of the first season to learn if they could still watch the adventures of Gabimaru and Yamada Asaemon Sagiri on the cursed island of Shinsenkyo, but it's basically confirmed that Hell's Paradise will be getting a season 2.
Although it was the first of Shonen Jump's "Dark Trio" to hit the stands, Hell's Paradise never was able to achieve the massive popularity of its manga brethren Jujutsu Kaisen or Chainsaw Man, that is until its animated series hit the small screen. Since its debut last April, Hell's Paradise has quietly but quickly established itself as one of the runaway hits of the 2023 anime season.
The Latest News on Hell's Paradise Season 2
While there's yet to be an official announcement confirming that Hell's Paradise will be returning for a second season, fans have been given confirmation in everything but word. Shortly after the ending of last weekend's final episode of the first season, fans were treated to a short post-credit promotional video that all but guarantees a second season is in the works. That confirmation came with the appearance of the new character Shugen, a member of Sagiri's Yamado Asaemon Clan who still had to make his appearance during season 1.
Hell's Paradise Story Details
Adapted from Yuji Kaku's manga Hell's Paradise: Jigokuraku is a mix of ninja fantasy and survival horror which ran from January 2018 to January 2021, the first season of the anime follows the story of top ninja and master killer Gabimaru, who is betrayed by his village's leadership for his intent to retire and live a happy and peaceful life with this wife. Annoyed and upset that his best shinobi is abandoning the trade, the village leader rigs Gabimaru's last mission so that his caught by the government. Naturally, for all the people he's killed as a ninja, Gabimaru is given a death sentence. However, as a result of his near-superhuman skills, Gabimaru cannot be killed unless he himself allows it. This catches the eye of Yamada Asaemon Sagiri, a master sword user who sensing Gabimaru's hope to see his wife again offers him the chance to do so if he can retrieve the "elixir of life" from the legendary Shinsenkyo Island.
Many death-row criminals are given the same chance, each accompanied by an Asaemon guardian, but once they get to Shinsenkyo they realize that the island is actually Hell on Earth. Vicious monsters populate it, and nature itself is out to kill the intruders. While desperately trying to survive and competing with each other to find the elixir (and get the shogun's amnesty), the criminals will also have to uncover the mysteries of Shinsenkyo and its masters, the superhuman Tensen.
Hell's Paradise Production
Outside Kaku's storytelling, one of the main reasons why Hell's Paradise has found success is that fact that is being produced by MAPPA Studios. Though just over a decade old, over the last five years, MAPPA has clearly become one of the top animation studios in the world. From its start, MAPPA had shown signs of animation excellence with its production of quiet hits such as Fighting Spirit, and Terror in Resonance. However, it really proved its abilities with its more recent work on Attack of Titan,Jujutsu Kaisen, and Chainsaw Man. Indeed, considering the outsized popularity and accolades of its most recent productions, fans were happy to see that it was chosen for Hell's Paradise - few other production companies could effectively adapt a dark fantasy ninja battle manga story into a cultural phenomenon, like MAPPA did.
Hell's Paradise Season 2 Release Date
While the debate over whether there will be a second season for Hell's Paradise has been quieted, no information was posted as to when fans can expect to see Gabimaru and the others in their quest for the elixir of life. Considering the other titles MAPPA is currently working on, more than a few fans believe that the earliest possible start for a second season would be early 2024. This theory makes sense when with the understanding that his year's debut in Hell's Paradise occurred in April, meaning season 2 could get a late spring or early summer release.
Hell's Paradise Season 2 Trailer
As the promotional video suggests, something is rotten on Shinsenkyo Island and the lack of news from the most recent expedition has the Shogun worried. As a result, he gives another opportunity to the Yamada Asaemon Clan to prove their worth. He dispatches Yamada Asaemon Shugen to get to determine why the elixir of life has not yet been obtained. Accordingly, fans should expect in the upcoming season of Hell's Paradise a deeper exploration of the different interests vying to secure the elixir, if it actually exists, and possibly the unveiling of the mystery of the Tensen and their superhuman powers.
The first season of Hell's Paradise is now available for viewing on Crunchyroll.
