It’s April 2025, and Highschool of the Dead fans are still waiting for Season 2, 15 years after the first season dropped in 2010. I binged the 12-episode run on Hulu last week—Takashi Komuro and his crew fighting through a zombie apocalypse while stuck in high school is as gory and thrilling as I remembered. With its mix of horror, action, and fanservice, the show built a cult following, but will it ever return? Let’s dig into the latest updates, fan buzz, and what’s holding things back.
No Season 2 in Sight: A Dead End?
As of April 29, 2025, there’s no official word on Highschool of the Dead Season 2. I checked X posts from the official Fujimi Shobo account (@fujimishobo), which has been active but silent on this series since 2017, as well as Anime News Network (@anime) and Crunchyroll (@Crunchyroll)—nothing. The manga, written by Daisuke Satō and illustrated by Shōji Satō, ended in 2013 with 7 volumes, but Daisuke’s death in 2017 halted any continuation. CBR reported in 2023 that Shōji Satō decided not to continue the manga out of respect for Daisuke, leaving the story unfinished. The anime, produced by Madhouse, adapted volumes 1–4, leaving just 3 volumes for a potential Season 2, per Sportskeeda (2024).
Madhouse has moved on to projects like Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End, per ANN, and hasn’t hinted at revisiting Highschool of the Dead. The 2011 OVA, Drifters of the Dead, was the last animated content fans got, per Wikipedia. Daisuke’s health issues started in 2008, slowing the manga’s progress, and after a brief 2013 chapter (which didn’t feature the main cast), the series went on permanent hiatus, per CBR. With no new source material and Madhouse’s focus elsewhere, Season 2 looks unlikely.
What Season 2 Could’ve Been: Surviving the Mall
If Highschool of the Dead Season 2 happened, it’d likely adapt volumes 5–7, picking up after the group’s escape from Fujimi High School. The Anime Daily (2022) outlined the potential plot: Takashi’s crew, including Rei, Saeko, and Saya, would leave the shopping mall they holed up in, only to face chaos when another group of survivors opens an emergency exit, letting zombies flood in. New characters like Asami Nakaoka, a police officer at the mall, and Rei’s mother Kiriko, a gang member-turned-cop, would join the fray, per Looper (2023). The English dub cast—Leraldo Anzaldua (Takashi), Jessica Boone (Rei), and Taylor Hannah (Saeko)—could return, as they’re still active in the industry.
The story would dive deeper into societal collapse, with the group facing not just zombies but also dangerous survivors, per Wikipedia. Saeko’s kendo skills and Shizuka’s emotional fragility would get more focus, as Entoin (2021) highlighted their roles in Season 1. But without a proper ending to the manga, Madhouse would need to craft an original conclusion, which they’ve rarely done for sequels (No Game No Life fans are still waiting too).
Fan Hype and X Sentiment
Fans on X are desperate but losing hope.
@LoKoKaBoosTeR69 posted in 2023 and 2024 claiming Season 2 was “coming soon,” but the account has under 50 followers and no official sources, making it unreliable. A Reddit thread from January 2024 on r/anime (@ThatLegendMe) asked about Season 2, with users like u/ManIDoubtIt saying it’s unlikely unless Netflix or Crunchyroll buys the rights, and u/HighSchoolFan noting the anime’s provocative nature might not fit today’s climate. The series still ranks in the top 100 on MyAnimeList with over 1.4 million members, per Looper, and its 7.5/10 rating shows enduring love, per Entoin.
Sportskeeda (2024) noted the show’s cult status, but its heavy fanservice and gore, which led to a 2015 ban in China per Wikipedia, might deter studios. A petition on Change.org for Season 2 exists, but it’s stalled since 2019, per web data. Fans have turned to memes on Reddit, with one user in 2022 using a “So that was a fuc**g lie” template to mock renewal rumors, per The Anime Daily.
Odds of a Second Season?
Will Highschool of the Dead Season 2 ever happen? It’s a long shot. The manga sold well—volume 7 moved 206,532 copies in 2011, per Wikipedia—and the anime’s Blu-ray sales hit 7,000 copies per disc, decent for 2010, per Anime Next Season (2022). Streaming on Hulu and HIDIVE keeps it relevant, per Cultured Vultures (2023). But Daisuke’s death, the manga’s abrupt end, and Madhouse’s disinterest are major roadblocks. CBR (2021) noted there’s just enough material for a short Season 2, but Shōji Satō’s refusal to continue without Daisuke makes it a hard no.
The rise of zombie anime like Zom 100 might spark interest, per Looper, but Highschool of the Dead’s NSFW elements could be a liability in 2025’s market. A reboot or live-action adaptation (rumored on Reddit for Netflix) is more likely than a Season 2, but there’s no news on that either. I’d give it a 10% chance—only if a studio like Netflix takes a gamble.
What to Do While We Wait
This wait’s tougher than fighting zombies, but fans have options. Rewatch Season 1 on Hulu or HIDIVE—I loved Takashi and Rei’s dynamic all over again. The manga’s volumes 5–7, available via Yen Press, continue the story, though they end abruptly. Keep an eye on @fujimishobo or ANN for any miracles, and rate the series on MyAnimeList to show support.
Madhouse, don’t leave us in the apocalypse! Takashi’s squad deserves closure, and the manga’s final volumes are screaming to be animated. Let’s keep the undead dream alive.
A Zombie Cliffhanger That Won’t Die
Fifteen years after Season 1, Highschool of the Dead Season 2 remains a pipe dream. No airdates, no trailers—just an unfinished manga and a fanbase that won’t quit. Are we stuck in zombie limbo forever, or will a studio revive this cult classic? I’m still hoping for a bloody comeback. Stream on Hulu, read the manga, and cross your fingers. Will Takashi’s crew ever escape?
