The chaotic world of Dorohedoro is officially reopening for business. After a six-year wait, Studio MAPPA has confirmed that Season 2 of the dark fantasy anime will premiere on April 1, 2026. The announcement comes with a brand-new key visual that promises even more madness and introduces major new factions to the story. The series will be available for a simultaneous global release across various streaming platforms, breaking away from its previous Netflix-exclusive model. For fans who have followed the journey of Caiman and Nikaido since 2020, the long hiatus is finally over.
Dorohedoro Season 2 Key Visual Reveals New Characters and Conflict
The new key visual, illustrated by returning character designer Tomohiro Kishi, is a packed and chaotic glimpse into the upcoming season. It prominently features the central characters from the Hole, including the reptilian-headed Caiman and his friend Nikaido. However, the major new element is the introduction of the Cross-Eyes organization. These characters, marked by their distinct crossed-eye symbols, are shown alongside the main cast, signaling that their paths will violently collide.
This visual shift is a direct hint at the manga’s next major story arcs. Season 2 is set to adapt the pivotal “Lord Tensen” and “Hลrai” arcs. These storylines expand the conflict beyond the grimy streets of the Hole and the sorcerers’ world, pulling Caiman deeper into a conspiracy involving powerful entities and dark magic. The visualโs crowded and tense composition perfectly captures the escalating scale of the coming war.
Complete Release Schedule and Global Streaming Details
The release plan for Dorohedoro Season 2 is structured to let fans worldwide jump in at the same time. The season will begin on Tuesday, April 1, 2026.
- Global Release Time: New episodes will debut at 11:00 PM Japan Standard Time (JST). For international viewers, this translates to 10:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) in the United States on the same day.
- Weekly Schedule: Episodes will be released weekly every Wednesday.
- Streaming Platforms: In a change from the first season, Season 2 will not be exclusive to a single platform. It will premiere on multiple, currently unconfirmed streaming services for its global simulcast. To prepare, a rewatch campaign for Season 1 will begin on March 8, 2026, with the first season becoming available on these additional platforms.
The choice of an April 1 release date has sparked some humorous suspicion among fans online, with many joking about the coincidence with April Fools’ Day. However, the detailed announcement from the official production committee confirms this is the genuine, long-awaited return.
Returning Cast and Production Team for the New Season
The core voice cast that brought the series’ unique characters to life will all return for Season 2. This includes:
- Wataru Takagi as the amnesiac, lizard-headed Caiman
- Reina Kondou as the tough restaurant owner Nikaido
- Kenyu Horiuchi as the powerful sorcerer boss En
- Yoshimasa Hosoya and Yu Kobayashi as the cleanup duo Shin and Noi
Actor Wataru Takagi expressed his excitement about returning to the role, saying, “On the first day of recording, I remembered all sorts of things and my energy levels shot up!”.
The production team at Studio MAPPA also sees the return of key staff. Yuichiro Hayashi is back as director, with Hiroshi Seko handling series composition and (K)NoW_NAME once again creating the music. The team has seen some strategic updates, with Miho Sugiura joining as Art Director and Itsuku Onishi promoted to Color Key Artist, suggesting a fresh yet consistent visual style for the new arcs.
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What to Remember Before Season 2 Arrives
For those needing a refresher, Dorohedoro is based on Q Hayashida’s cult manga and is set across two realms. The Hole is a bleak, polluted city where humans live as test subjects for sorcerers. The Sorcerers’ World is where magic users live, able to travel to the Hole to practice their spells. The story follows Caiman, a man transformed into a reptile, and his friend Nikaido as they hunt sorcerers to find the one who cursed him. Their quest puts them in direct conflict with En and his violent “family” of sorcerers.
The first season, which debuted in early 2020, ended with major revelations and unresolved tension, setting the stage for the larger conflict that Season 2 will explore. With the Cross-Eyes organization now in the mix, the battle lines are about to get much more complicated.
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