The Ancient Magus’ Bride Season 2 release date is on April 6, 2023, the Spring 2023 anime season.
Crunchyroll will be streaming The Ancient Magus’ Bride Season 2 as new episodes are released in Japan on Amazon Prime Video Japan. Crunchyroll is streaming the anime TV show in North America, Central America, South America, Europe, Africa, Oceania, the Middle East, and CIS.
Mahoutsukai no Yome Season 2 will feature “Child of Thorn” Elias Ainsworth and magic apprentice Chise Hatori going to college as an auditing student and magic professor.
That is to say, The Ancient Magus’ Bride Season 2 will adapt the Gakuin (Academy) arc of the manga.
Take a look at the official teaser trailer that was released on September 5, 2022. (This version was updated in November 2022 by Crunchyroll to include English subtitles.)
It has been confirmed that the main cast will be reprising their roles alongside Hino Satoshi (Mikhail Renfred) and Tamura Mutsumi (Alice Swayne).
- Chise Hatori voiced by Atsumi Tanezaki
- Elias Ainsworth voiced by Ryota Takeuchi
- Ruth voiced by Kouki Uchiyama
- Silky voiced by Aya Endo
- Mikhail Renfred voiced by Satoshi Hino
- Alice voiced by Mutsumi Tamura
The Ancient Magus’ Bride Season 2 cast will include multiple new characters.
- Lucy Webster voiced by Minami Tsuda
- Philomela Sergeant voiced by Maki Kawase
- Rian Scrimgeour voiced by Seiichiro Yamashita
- Zoe Ivy voiced by Daiki Kobayashi
- Veronica Rickenbacker voiced by Reina Ueda
- Isaac Farrar voiced by Kotaro Nishiyama
The new cast has released messages celebrating the 2nd season.
“Congratulations on the production of The Ancient Magus’ Bride Season 2. I’m Minami Tsuda, and I’ll be playing the role of Lucy Webster from Season 2. I was happy when I heard about the casting decision! Lucy has a sharp look on her face and she has an unapproachable demeanor, so please look forward to how she will interact with Chise. I might be making a frowning face when I play her (laughs).”
“When I read the original story, I was was into the sadness and the transience of the beautiful world,” said Maki Kawase. “I am really happy to be able to participate in this work as Philomela. I would like you to focus on what kind of girl she is. Please look forward to it.”
“I had this opportunity to [be] involved with [this] wonderful piece of work. I read the original story when I was cast, and I was fascinated by the worldview, atmosphere, and the words and lines that were spun,” said Seiichiro Yamashita of his character Rian. “I became devoted [to] my role, and it became even more fun to play. I hope that you will look forward to the delicate interactions and careful depictions of the characters. Please look forward to it!”
“A beautiful view throughout the work. The detailed expressions that made it exquisite, and there is even a darkness in the fantasy, and I really like that atmosphere. Zoe is a pure and kind person, so I hope I can express his own atmosphere in this beautiful work,” said Daiki Kobayashi. “I want to act differently between when I’m frightened, and when I spend peaceful moments with everyone at the college. I will do my best to support Chise’s story.”
“In the recording session, ‘Please act in a bright and energetic manner, and try to be conscious of being everyone’s older sister.’ Veronica got the direction,” said Reina Ueda. “She [Veronica] always has a smile on her face, and I’d like to take time to get to know her inner side.”
“I’m Kotaro Nishiyama, and I’ll be playing the role of Isaac Fowler. First of all, I read the original story, and I was impressed and fascinated by the delicate and beautiful art and story. Isaac is a wise and kind-hearted boy. The animation depicts his inner conflicts, and I strongly sympathized with him. I got you, Isaac…! I hope that everyone will look forward to it. I’m also looking forward to the broadcast!”
On September 5, 2022, the official Twitter made the “confidential” announcement of the second season. Producer company Twin Engine set up a YouTube video that confirmed The Ancient Magus’ Bride Season 2 for April 2023.
On March 9, 2021, it was officially announced that a new Mahoutsukai no Yome OVA anime series will be released as a three-part OAD. It’s been confirmed that the OAD series will be the “first part” of the new Ancient Magus’ Bride anime project while the second part was eventually announced as the second season.
An Original Animation DVD, or Original Anime Disc, is usually bundled as a bonus with special editions of new manga volumes. A trailer for the new episodes first premiered on YouTube on June 4, 2021. (This trailer was replaced with the Crunchyroll trailer on September 30, 2021.)
The new MahoYome OAD is similar to The Ancient Magus’ Bride: Those Awaiting a Star, which was an anime-only side story written by manga creator Kore Yamazaki that was also bundled as three parts with manga volumes 6, 7, and 8 in 2016 and 2017.
Titled Nishi no Shounen to Seiran no Kishi (The Boy from the West and the Knight of the Blue Storm), the three episodes were bundled with manga volumes 16, 17, and 18. The Ancient Magus’ Bride Volume 16 released date was scheduled for September 10, 2021, while Volume 17 came out on March 10, 2022, and Volume 18 on September 9, 2022.
On September 28, 2021, Crunchyroll confirmed that it will be internationally streaming The Ancient Magus’ Bride: The Boy from the West and the Knight of the Blue Storm starting in December 2021. The new OAD will be available to watch in the USA, Canada, Central America, South America, Europe, Africa, Oceania, the Middle East, and the Commonwealth of Independent States.
The story for the OAD project was based on the historical The Wild Hunt. It’s a myth that has its origin in British and Welsh folklore (please see the article in the link for a full explanation).
(For more details about The Ancient Magus’ Bride OVA, including an interview with the anime studio staff, please read our article focused on that news story.)
Shortly before the OAD series was announced, anime news leaker Ranobe Sugoi claimed that “The Ancient Magus’ Bride will be receiving [a] new Anime project along [with a] new OVA series. Would be great if new anime has movie-tier visuals and animations.”
At the time, it was not specified whether this new project would be Mahoutsukai no Yome Season 2 or a The Ancient Magus’ Bride movie. However, based on the way the manga’s story continues in the college story arc Anime Geek predicted back then that an anime TV series was more likely than a movie.
Anime fans were shocked to find out that the OVA series was switching studios away from Japanese animation company WIT Studio, which is most famous for producing the first three seasons of the Attack On Titan anime TV series (Attack On Titan: The Final Season was produced by Studio MAPPA).
The studio change made sense because WIT Studio’s schedule was fairly packed during that time frame. In 2021, they were also working on original anime like Vivy: Fluorite Eye’s Song, Netflix’s Vampire in the Garden, and an adaptation of the Ranking of Kings (Ousama Ranking) manga. In recent years, WIT Studio’s leaders have been quite open about preferring to develop their own original stories if they can although they’re still adapting manga and light novels.
Coincidentally, WIT Studio announced in early March 2021 that they’re working on a Kickstarter-funded OAD for The Girl from the Other Side: Siuil, a Run manga series. The project is notable since the main Teacher character bears a striking resemblance to our favorite horned mage. The official MahoYome Twitter account is even cross-promoting the two OAD.
Instead of WIT Studio, the three-part The Ancient Magu’s Bride OAD is be produced by a newly established company, Studio KAFKA. But this new anime studio was formed by ex-WIT Studio staff and it seems they’ll be capable of recapturing the magic of the first season.
Studio KAFKA will be making The Ancient Magus’ Bride Season 2.
- Director: Kazuaki Terasawa
- Script: Aya Takaha, Yoko Yonaiyama, Chiaki Nishinaka
- Character Design: Hirotaka Kato
- Chief Animation Director: Kohei Tokuoka
- Color Design: Yuko Kobari
- Art Director: Seiki Tamura
- Director of Photography: Mayo Suzuki
- CGO Director: Katsuaki Miyaji
- Special Effects: Chiptune
- Editing: Daisuke Imai
- Music: Junichi Matsumoto
- Music Production: Flying Dog
- Sound Director: Shoji Hata
- Sound Effects: Noriko Izumo
- Sound Production: Sound Team Don Juan
- Animation Production: Studio Kafka
Most of the main staff from the anime’s first season are returning for creating the OAD and the second season.
The first season was helmed by director Norihiro Naganuma (Blood-C) at WIT Studio. The 2021 The Ancient Magus’ Bride OVA project was helmed by director Kazuaki Terasawa at KAFKA.
The OAD project is the first time that Terasawa has been the leader director. In the past, he’s been the episode/unit director for Anonymous Noise, Cardfight!! Vanguard, and the Overlord anime Season 2 and 3.
Returning staff from the first season includes writer Aya Takaha (Psycho-Pass), who wrote the script alongside Yoko Yonaiyama (Uma Musume Pretty Derby). Artist Hirotaka Katou (Eyeshield 21, Great Pretender) returned as the character designer. Composer Junichi Matsumoto (Plunderer) returned to create the music.
Otherwise, the Chief Animation Director was Kouhei Tokuoka (Bungo Stray Dogs, Golden Kamuy, Noragami Season 2, Sk8 The Infinity, Sword Art Online: Alicization). The CGI Director was Katsuaki Miyaji (Horimiya, Shadows House, Tiger & Bunny).
The Ancient Magus’ Bride Season 2 OP (opening) “Dear” will be performed by JUNNA, while the ED (ending) theme song music “hasn’t been announced yet”Mubansou” is performed by edda.
For the first season, The Ancient Magus’ Bride OP was “Here” as performed by JUNNA and the ED was “Wa -cycle” as performed by Hana Itoki. For the second cour, the second OP was “You” by May’n, while the second ED “Tsuki no Mou Hanbun” was performed by Aiki and Akino from bless4.
The first season The Ancient Magus’ Bride was streaming on Netflix, Crunchyroll, Amazon Prime Video, and VRV. FUNimation’s The Ancient Magus’ Bride English dub was released back in 2017/2018.
FUNimation’s The Ancient Magus’ Bride Season 2 English dub hasn’t been announced yet.
The first season’s finale, The Ancient Magus’ Bride Episode 24, was released on March 25, 2018.
- Updated December 12, 2023: Exact The Ancient Magu’s Bride Season 2 release date confirmed!
- Updated November 20, 2022: Crunchyroll streaming The Ancient Magus’ Bride Season 2. Added updated trailer PV, cast, staff, and manga details.
- Updated September 5, 2022: The Ancient Magus’ Bride Season 2 release date in 2023.
- Updated June 6, 2022: Added OAD 3 trailer and historical info.
- Updated March 10, 2022: Added OAD 3 key visual and new modified release date.
- Updated September 30, 2021: Added Crunchyroll OAD release date info and English subtitles trailer.
- Updated September 11, 2021: Added new key visual for The Ancient Magus’ Bride: The Boy from the West and the Knight of the Blue Storm.
- Updated June 4, 2021: Added The Ancient Magus’ Bride OVA episodes trailer and more details.
This article provides everything that is known about The Ancient Magus’ Bride Season 2 (Mahoutsukai no Yome Season 2) and all related news. As such, this article will be updated over time with news, rumors, and analysis. Meanwhile, let’s delve down into what is known for certain.
Why we predicted the Mahoutsukai no Yome Season 2 release date was in 2023
As of January 12, 2023, Studio KAFKA, Twin Engine, Mag Garden, and Shochiku have officially confirmed that the exact The Ancient Magus’ Bride Season 2 release date is on April 6, 2023. The production of The Ancient Magus’ Bride sequel was initially announced on September 5, 2022.
As previously mentioned, the final third part of The Ancient Magus’ Bride OAD release date is on September 9, 2022, when manga Volume 18 releases.
The production schedule of Studio KAFKA is publicly wide open although it’s likely they’re working on securing new projects, or they’re already scheduled.
Therefore, since the official announcement confirmed the anime TV sequel in late 2022, The Ancient Magus’ Bride Season 2 release date will be in Spring 2023.
The Ancient Magus’ Bride manga compared to the anime
The story for the anime TV series is based on Mahoutsukai no Yome manga series by creator Kore Yamazaki. Serialized in Mag Garden’s Monthly Comic Garden since September 2014, the series is up to Volume 18 as of September 9, 2022.
Historically, new volumes are released only twice a year, typically in March and September. Therefore, The Ancient Magus’ Bride Volume 19 release date is on March 10, 2023, while Volume 20 will presumably release in September 2023.
In an interview with Crunchyroll, the original creator claimed she didn’t have any plans for The Ancient Magus’ Bride manga’s ending. However, she originally assumed the manga would end in only two volumes since she “never thought [her] manga would have any appeal to the general public”.
The author “wanted to write a story about personal growth, which both children and grown-ups can enjoy,” and the story is about the personal journey of both Chise and Elias.
“I don’t know if I’m thinking of the plot development consciously or if it’s just flowing out of my head. I think of the direction for myself, and the characters talk to me as I’m writing the story,” Yamazaki said.
In addition to the main manga, Yamazaki released two books in 2017 called The Ancient Magus’ Bride: The Golden Yarn and The Ancient Magus’ Bride: The Silver Yarn. The books contained short stories from the original creator along with other book authors like Fate/Apocrypha writer Yuichiro Higashide and Sorcerous Stabber Orphen writer Yoshinobu Akita.
The official English translation of the manga and books is being published by Seven Seas Entertainment in North America. As of October, the English The Ancient Magus’ Bride manga was up to Volume 14 by April 27, 2021. The English translation of The Golden Yarn and The Silver Yarn were published in December 2018 and March 2019, respectively.
While Yamazaki is famous for creating the Mahoutsukai no Yome manga, she has also published two other manga in the past: Futari no Renai Shoka and the supernatural drama Frau Faust. The first manga finished in 2013 and told the story of a young bookstore worker who falls in love with a customer. The second manga ended in 2017 and told the tale of a different version of the legend of Faust, the eccentric scholar who made a deal with the devil.
On March 10, 2021, it was announced that Yamazaki was starting a new series called the Ghost and Witch manga (tentative title) that was initially released on September 10, 2021.
Manga readers love it when an anime adapts the source material faithfully. Overall, WIT Studio maintained the heart of the story and the art animation style closely followed the manga panels for many scenes.
The Ancient Magus’ Bride: Those Awaiting a Star acted as a prequel of sorts. The book-loving Yamazaki wrote the story as a love letter to reading books.
The first OVA series also provided insight into Chise’s experiences as a “sleigh beggy” child and the terror it brought her. The story takes place in a flashback that occurs well after Chise came to live with Elias, but it’s best to watch it between episodes 12 and 13 since Episode 13 made references to the events of the OVA series.
While the first half of the first season kept true to the original story by adapting only Volume 4: Chapter 18, the second cour dramatically picked up the pacing and skimmed all the way to Volume 9.
To pull off this fast pacing, the anime greatly condensed the manga’s dialogue down to voiceovers for certain scenes. Some anime scenes briefly summarized what was happening by silencing the characters and awkwardly showing their lips moving to the tune of background music.
In fact, when the first season’s finale in Episode 24 first aired the anime was actually ahead of the manga! Normally, anime fans hate an “anime original ending”, but in this case, Yamazaki wrote the ending for the anime’s first season herself so it would (mostly) match up with her plans for the manga.
One addition was the song sung by Chise during the confrontation between her and Cartaphilus. The biggest change was an extra scene where Chise chastised Elias for what he did to Stella after waking up, never mind chewing out Ruth and the others.
The story for The Ancient Magus’ Bride OVA: The Boy from the West and the Knight of the Blue Storm apparently takes place in a time gap in the manga series that occurs right before Cartaphilus begins sleeping. That means the short story is set in the timeline in-between scenes in manga Chapter 45, which is coincidentally the ending of the anime’s first season.
All in all, the finale, The Ancient Magus’ Bride Episode 24, adapted everything up until the last 5 pages of Chapter 45.
It was the best stopping point since it provided plot resolution to the major conflict between Elias and Chise while showing them going home together after vowing to work any future conflicts out with open communication. The final 5 pages of the manga then jumped straight into introducing the next major story arc focused on Chise attending College.
The good news is that the manga was up to Chapter 78 when the second OVA series was announced in March 2021. That means by March 2022 there should be 80 chapters, which is more than enough for making The Ancient Magus’ Bride Season 2 anime TV series.
Better yet, English-only manga readers can jump straight to Volume 10 if they wish to read ahead of the anime.
The only negative is that if the second season is two cours again then it’s likely anime fans will be waiting another four years for The Ancient Magus’ Bride Season 3 anime since the anime will catch up again.
The Ancient Magus’ Bride Season 2 anime TV spoilers (plot summary/synopsis)
Defeating the alchemist Cartaphilus and putting him to rest may have ended the conflict temporarily, but the puppeteer Ashen Eye is still lurking in the shadows. The aftermath of the fight also left long-lasting repercussions for Chise’s health.
Helping the rampaging dragon cost Chise her human arm, which is now blackened and bound into a normal shape. Chise drew the magic of the dragon’s fear, anger, and pain into her own body, endowing her with new powers while cursing her with a future where these dark emptions are eating away at her body like cancer.
Having forestalled her death, Chise accepts the dragon’s curse since it’s uncertain when she’ll die, which is like any other person, after all. Elias desires to discover a solution for rescuing his bride from this fate, but in the meantime she’ll try to live life to its fullest.
To start, Chise accepts the suggestion made by the alchemists in Episode 19 that she should attend the college, a society of alchemists, as an auditing student. Deep beneath the British Library, Chise and Elias are introduced to headmistress Liza Quillain and the curtain rises on a new story set on a new stage. There, human children learn, think, and grow…but what of those who are inhuman?
Anime audiences will be introduced to a whole plethora of new characters and Chise will need to learn how to handle student life. Elias also attends as a magecraft professor to give lectures and we learn more about how magic and alchemy functions in this world. The story will also delve down into Elias’ past.
Anime audiences might also be surprised to learn that a very grumpy one-eyed Cartaphilus will occasionally rouse from his slumber to keep tabs on Chise. After all, he’s still waiting on a reply to his question… It’s also learned that the curse in Chise’s eye cannot be removed even if she removes Joseph’s eye.
It’s also made very clear that sleigh beggys such as Chise are actually more commonly born than natural magi. Most sleigh beggys are physically weak and end up being harvested as magical batteries for wizardry. As a sleigh beggy with a dragon’s cruse, and one of immortality, Chise is the perfect research specimen for the college, which might be able to figure out a way to remove her curse and also to improve the fate of all sleigh beggys.
As Chise and Elias settle into their new roles at the College, old and new allies alike have lessons to teach them both inside and outside the school’s walls. The Church, the Seven Shields, and a motley array of students… Each has mysteries to uncover.
Unfortunately, anime fans will have to wait until The Ancient Magus’ Bride Season 2 release date to watch what happens next. Stay tuned!