Fans have been eagerly awaiting the Vinland Saga Season 2 release date. But while current information is limited, an announcement may not be as soon as many have hoped.
On February 14, 2022, director Shuuhei Yabuta hit fans with a message not carrying the typical carefree bliss of the Valentine’s Day holiday.
As stated on his Twitter, “We have been hit by an unexpected situation. But now, we are concentrating on our work in a stable environment thanks to the support of many people.”
Those who follow the director and the production of Vinland Saga Season 2 may already know that undivulged problems had been discussed already back in the summer of 2021.
“This one year, our team had many problems to solve and we have made difficult decisions. But fortunately, the team composition is almost the same and we are motivated to concentrate on this season.”
Previous speculation from an anime news leaker called AnimeHype claimed that Studio MAPPA will replace WIT Studio — possibly due to the fact that MAPPA took over for WIT Studio for the final season of Attack on Titan.
Nothing has been confirmed, but it does leave fans guessing what unexpected changes will come for the barbarous tales of Vikings clashing steel.
Notably, Animehype also previously claimed that a new Vinland Saga Season 2 trailer PV was coming out soon. This claim was made shortly before the director discussed an “unexpected situation” affecting the production.
Assuming that the rumor of the impending trailer release was true, it’s possible that the preview was delayed. Or, the director could be simply referencing something else entirely.
Vinland Saga Season 2 will be a great departure from Season 1
The ending of Vinland Saga Season 1 closed the chapter on many characters’ arcs. And while that leaves the potential for new beginnings, it leaves behind a cast of characters many have grown to love.
Known as Farmland Saga by some in the fandom, Vinland Saga Season 2 takes a slow slice-of-life approach to explore Thorfinn’s struggles after breaking free from his quest for revenge. A life of battles and bloodshed may wane into the background, but what Thorfinn will choose for his life moving forward is what this season will follow.
This may come as a shock or disappointment to some. Those hooked on gory fight scenes and the harsh realities of war — all prefaced with an opening track by artist Survive Said the Prophet in a style reminiscent of Swedish melodic death metal — will have to enjoy Thorfinn’s journey at a slower pace. Older but burdened with guilt from the past, Thorfinn embraces pacifism.
Aware that not everyone will be on-board with Vinland Saga Season 2’s tonal shift, Shuuhei Yabuta tweeted another message alongside the tweet of an ‘unexpected situation’.
Beyond the dissenting opinions, however, many are excited for the changes that Vinland Saga Season 2 will bring. Taking to Twitter to show their support, fans have praised director Shuuhei Yabuta for the care and attention he’s put into the anime adaption of Vinland Saga.
Shuuhei Yabuta and his team are working painstakingly to make the Vinland Saga anime the best adaption of the manga possible
With everything in the anime and manga world, some have worried that the director’s tweet may be a warning sign of burnout. Although, others point to contract or financial issues as a possible reasoning for the ominous tweet. Whatever the case, Shuuhei Yabuta’s dedication to the project should put some minds at ease.
From keeping tabs on Vinland Saga merchandise to celebrating protagonist Thorfinn’s birthday, Shuuhei Yabuta has gone above and beyond his role as a director to ensure that the story of Vinland Saga is given the justice it deserves.
Perhaps better insight into the director’s mind can be gained from a previous tweet where he stated, “If there is a boundary, it is between the original author and the other narrators. I think that all the narrators who are not the original authors are sharing what they have read and experienced, whether officially or unofficially, in the form of their own stories.”
Currently, there is no set release date for Vinland Saga Season 2. Likewise, fans still question whether the Vinland Saga manga will reach its end in the next few years. Shuuhei Yabuta’s continued transparency, however, is a good indication that an update will be available — hopefully coinciding with the release of the Vinland Saga Season 2 trailer.