Mushoku Tensei has taken the anime community by storm. Only a few months after the 1st season’s conclusion, the 2nd season of Mushoku Tensei has been announced. The new season will start by adapting the 7th light novel in the series and will likely continue up until the 12th novel.
By the end of the 1st season Rudy’s party, Dead End, was unofficially disbanded as they parted ways. With season 1’s main characters gone and Rudy’s goal of returning home complete, it’s a complete mystery for where the show will go next. Without getting into specifics, here are some things to look forward to in the upcoming season and the direction it is likely to take.
The Story has a Shift in Tone
Mushoku Tensei’s 1st season ends with a shot of the Ranoa Magic Academy. Before the Mana Displacement incident, the academy was Rudy’s main objective. Now that Rudy has made it home, enrolling at the Magic Academy seems to be Rudy’s next step.
As Rudy becomes a student at the Ranoa Magic Academy, the 2nd season will differ greatly from the 1st season. Entering a classic school-like setting, season 2 will have a lot more slice-of-life moments than before. Fans who enjoyed Rudy’s downtime and interactions with the cast can look forward to this change.
However, just because season 2 focuses on Rudy’s school life doesn’t mean there won’t be any more action or adventures. The first season started with a calmer, slice of life tone however, a significant portion is dedicated to Rudy’s adventure. Season 2 will be the inverse with a decent amount of adventure but primarily slice of life.
Familiar Faces Make a Return
Mushoku Tensei’s new setting will come with a ton of new characters. However, there will still be some familiar faces. Mushoku Tensei’s recent OVA introduced us to Cliff, a young talented mage. After setting up Cliff’s backstory and history with Eris, expect to see him cross paths with Rudy at the Ranoa Magic Academy.
Cliff will not be the only familiar face Rudy will meet during his enrollment at the academy. Zanoba, the figurine fanatic Rudy encountered in Shirone, will make an appearance, leading to some funny moments. More importantly, Rudy will encounter an old friend that hasn’t shown their face in a really long time.
Rudy's Significant Growth
At the end of the first season, Rudy falls into despair at the loss of Eris, the person he has fallen in love with. This will end up being a really difficult problem that Rudy will have to deal with and lead to some devastating consequences. Throughout the 2nd season, Rudy will slowly have to work to overcome both the physical and mental issues resulting from the loss of Eris. However, by the end of it, Rudy will end up becoming a stronger person making significant growth as a character.
Rudy’s growth won't just be limited to his character. Mushoku Tensei’s first season follows Rudy’s new life as he grows from a newborn into adolescence. The 2nd season covers the ‘Youth Arc’ where Rudy grows into his early to late teens. As a result, Rudy will end up going through a massive change in appearance from his previous adolescent self. Towards the end of the season, he will end up looking more like a young adult rather than a young child.
The Mana Displacement Incident & Rudy’s Reincarnation
The upcoming season will feature some answers to a lot of questions that fans may have. The mystery surrounding the huge Mana Displacement Incident will become a little clearer. Despite turning the whole world upside-down, not much is known about the incident. Finally, after a bit of research at the magic academy, viewers will get some answers surrounding the terrible disaster.
Not only will there be some answers about the Mana Displacement Incident, but also Rudy’s mysterious reincarnation. While at the academy, Rudy will come across an intriguing person who knows something about Rudy's reincarnation into this new world. After more research is done at the Academy, some shocking results will come about.
A Colossal Ending
Based on the first season adapting the first 6 novels, the second season is likely to adapt the next 6 novels in the series. If this ends up being the case, the finale will cover the 12th novel in the series and will have a shocking conclusion. Fans of the light novel widely consider the 12th novel to be one of the best in the series. A big reason is that the novel contains a massive turning point for Rudy that will change his life forever.
With Mushoku Tensei’s 2nd season on the horizon, there is a ton to look forward to. While there will certainly be a change of pace, a lot of the developments in the plot and Rudy’s character will leave viewers extremely satisfied. In addition to that, there are a ton of developments and characters that weren't covered so expect lots of surprises! Mushoku Tensei’s 2nd season is scheduled to air Spring of 2023.