Otaku Culture
Will there be a sequel to Grimgar of Fantasy and Ash?
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Nowadays, isekai is as common a genre as anime, but back in the day it was quite new and inventive. In fact, one of the best isekai anime came out before the genre became so ubiquitous. Based on a series of light novels, “Grimgar of Fantasy and Ash (Hai to Gensou no Grimgar)” was a much darker and more character-driven story than the current isekai.
The success of the franchise and the quality of its scripts can be seen in the successful and ongoing series of light novels. Despite its positive reception – and the fact that its premise would make it an even bigger hit today – the “Grimgar of Fantasy and Ash” anime only had one season in 2016. See below what the series was about and when we might see a sequel.
“Grimgar of Fantasy and Ash” involves a group of people who are suddenly thrust into the role of Volunteer Trainee Soldiers, hunting fearsome goblins in the world of Grimgar. Through flashbacks, it is revealed that these people are not native to Grimgar, but are trapped in this world due to mysterious circumstances.
The flashbacks also show how many of the original group survived and became soldiers, though some fared better than others. From there, a story filled with world-building, sacrifices, and intense character development unfolds. Most of the fanservice and less popular elements of many of today's isekai cliches are nowhere to be found. Instead, the strengths of the genre are showcased.
The original “Grimgar of Fantasy and Ash” light novels were created by Ao Jumonji and Eiri Shirai, and the series is still ongoing. It also had a brief manga adaptation between 2015 and 2016, and the first season of the anime aired in 2016. Since then, however, the anime has been pretty quiet.
The lack of a second season may be due in part to the popularity of the first season. Although the manga was quite popular, the anime did not do as well as the success of the light novels suggested. This may be partly due to the series' poor timing. Isekai was growing in popularity, but it wasn't nearly the cash cow it is now. Likewise, anime streaming was also not as widespread as it is today, so anime with low live viewership would not have been able to make up for it through streaming views.
It's not uncommon for anime to return to streaming after a long hiatus, and since the "Grimgar of Fantasy and Ash" light novels are still being published, there's a possibility that a lot of content will be transferred to the big screen. Whether or not this revives the Grimgar anime for a second season may depend on the level of demand for it.
