Since its premiere in 2019, Vinland Saga, based on Makoto Yukimura’s manga of the same name, has been a phenomenal anime. The series won the best anime of the year award at the 6th Anime Trending Awards, and it has long been a fan favorite, with an impressive MyAnimeList score of 8.73. Aired from July 2019 to December 2019, the first season comprises 24 episodes, and considering how it adapts the Slave Arc following the War Arc in the first season, we can expect another 24-episodic series.

MAPPA studio green-lit the second season’s production at the Vinland Saga 2nd Memorial Movie in July 2021, even though Wit Studio produced the first one. Vinland Saga is a story that draws on Viking history and depicts it with profound meaning, as we’ve seen in the first season. While there is still plenty to uncover in the story and many new characters to cross paths with, here’s everything we know about Vinland Saga season 2, one of the most awaited anime of 2023.

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Vinland Saga Season 2: The Plot

In the first season, we watched as the honorable Jomsviking general, Thors, was killed in unfair combat by Askeladd, the leader of a band of mercenaries. Thorfinn, his son, who witnessed everything on the scene, vowed to avenge his father in fair combat against Askeladd. However, after years of growing together with Askeladd and ultimately seeing his death, he destroyed the Vengeful Thorfinn inside him and lost the will to live.

The first season serves as an epilogue to Thorfinn’s character development, and as manga readers claim, the true saga is only getting started. Season 2 of Vinland Saga follows the manga’s Slave Arc, commonly known as Ketil’s Farm Arc. Thorfinn is enslaved as a punishment for attacking Canute, the new king, for stealing his purpose of existence with the execution of Askeladd at the end of the first season. Thorfinn has only experienced war as a killing machine fighting under Askeladd, but season 2 will reveal a new side of him and share the anguish of an enslaved individual.

We’ll likely see a reformed version of Thorfinn with a new will to survive. Canute, on the other hand, aims to make Earth a paradise in his own sense, and while he intends to build a peaceful world, he may negatively impact the story.

Vinland Saga Season 2: The Characters & Crew

     Netflix/Crunchyroll

Although the first season of Vinland Saga featured a significant number of characters to propel the story forward, most of them were killed off. The second season, on the other hand, features even more intriguing characters, such as Einar, who will play a crucial role in Thorfinn’s character development.

The cast of Vinland Saga season 2 includes Shunsuke Takeuchi as Einar, Yuuto Uemura as Thorfinn, Mayumi Sako as Arnheid, Kensho Ono as Canute, Youji Ueda as Leif Erikson, Hideaki Tezuka as Ketil, Yuu Hayashi as Olmar, Fuminori Komatsu as Snake, Mugihito as Sverkei, Taiten Kusunoki as Thorgil, Akio Ootsuka as Thorkell and many more.

Shuuhei Yabuta, who helmed the first season of Vinland Saga, will return for the second season. Among his other notable works are Attack on Titan, No Game No Life, Overlord, and Parasyte: The Maxim. Takahiko Abiru is the Chief Animation Director and Character Designer, having formerly worked on Hunter x Hunter, Redline, and Paprika. Hiroshi Seko is in charge of the Series Composition, while Izumi Hirabayashi and Kentarou Oonuki are the Art Directors. Yutaka Yamada, well known for his work on anime series such as Tokyo Ghoul, Great Pretender, and Vinland Saga season 1, is returning to compose the music.

Release Date

Vinland Saga season 2, one of the most anticipated historical anime, is coming to Netflix and Crunchyroll on January 10, 2023.

Everything Else We Know

Even though the anime’s first season was released in 2019, the renewal took nearly three years. The main reason for the extended delay is that the animation studio was switched from Wit Studio to MAPPA. Naokado Fujiyama, the producer of Vinland Saga, discussed how the anime changed the studio for the upcoming season during an interview with Anitrendz. He stated:

Wit Studio delivered justice to the manga adaptation with animation that exceeded anime fans’ expectations, but MAPPA never disappoints. With consistently successful anime projects like Attack on Titan, Jujutsu Kaisen, Inuyashiki, Kakeguri, and many more throughout the years, MAPPA has proven to be one of the anime industry’s rising big giants.

“We chose to switch studios from WIT Studio to MAPPA this time. I think that’s where a lot of people were surprised. But by switching the studio to MAPPA, new and wonderful staff members have joined the team, and they are working together with the staff from season 1 to create season 2. We are working hard to produce season 2 that will be enjoyable for everyone, so please look forward to it. When we released the trailer for season 2, we released it in a way to show continuity from season 1, and I hope that is something fans would appreciate and a positive aspect. We’re very excited to bring Vinland Saga Season 2.”

As the story of manga leaves more to be uncovered, the second season will provide fans with plenty of action and heartfelt interactions. When paired with the outstanding visual appeal of MAPPA studio, it will certainly outperform the previous season.