Vinland Saga Creator Says Anime’s Third Season Is Not in Production

Vinland Saga ranks among the most critically acclaimed manga series of all time. Author Makoto Yukimura built a somber reflection on war and violence around a cast of compelling characters in a historical drama. Wit Studio adapted Vinland Saga into an anime in 2019. MAPPA produced a second season, which aired in 2023. Fans have waited for news of a continuation since then, and Yukimura has now shared a disappointing update.

A fan on X asked Yukimura about a third season of Vinland Saga. Yukimura replied: “Sorry my friend, I have no good news about that. The project is not currently in progress.” Kodansha, which publishes the Vinland Saga manga, has made no official statement about a third season. MAPPA hasn’t either.

Vinland Saga is a somber reflection on war and violence

Vinland Saga is the anime you show people who have never watched anime, to demonstrate what the medium can do. The story takes place between Iceland and England in the 11th century AD. The protagonist, Thorfinn, watches his father die at the hands of Askeladd, the ambitious leader of a band of Vikings. His father taught pacifism, but Thorfinn joins Askeladd’s gang anyway and waits for a chance at revenge. He becomes a cruel, ruthless raider who feels no qualms about killing and pillaging. Meanwhile, his bond with Askeladd shifts into something closer to mentorship. Then Askeladd is killed during a plot to assassinate the Dane king of England, and Thorfinn’s chance at revenge slips away.

Thorfinn realizes there was no point in becoming a murderer. He loses all purpose and motivation and resigns himself to life as a slave on a Danish farm owned by a kind master named Ketil. He befriends another slave and starts to face his past. After much painful soul-searching, he decides to become a pacifist like his father. The Viking world is cruel, though, and King Canute’s decision to take over Ketil’s farm soon tests Thorfinn’s conviction.

The second season ends with Thorfinn finding himself and steeling his resolve. He decides to search for the legendary land of Vinland, where he and his friends can live free from war. Whether fans will see the rest of his journey, and when, remains unclear.

A production committee handles Vinland Saga. It is a common practice in the anime business in which several companies pool their resources to make a series. It often leads to delays and creative disputes. MAPPA has recently started moving away from that model by producing anime fully in-house, as it did with Chainsaw Man, thanks to a partnership with Netflix. That arrangement doesn’t apply to Vinland Saga. Its production committee includes Twin Engine, Kodansha, Production I.G., and MAPPA.

Manga and anime are known for emotional storytelling, but Vinland Saga stands out for its delicate yet powerful treatment of war, violence, regret, and grief. It is a gripping historical drama with meaningful lessons about humanity. It’s a shame that no third season is in sight.

Source: Polygon