Anime Expo is coming up quickly, and last week, a few sources shared a rumor that Studio Bones (Fullmetal Alchemist, Mob Psycho 100) would be making a new announcement during Crunchyroll's panel. This came not two weeks after Anime Expo's Twitter announced that studio founder Masahiko Minami and Cowboy Bebop character designer Toshihiro Kawamoto would attend as Guests of Honor.
Reports broke early morning in the U.S., notably from Twitter users @MangaMoguraRE and @AniNewsAndFacts, which provide the latest news in anime and manga. Sources weren't offered and the former's tweet employs some speculative language, but whether it was confirmed or not, it made sense to the fans given the guests attending, which led to loads of speculation.
What Do the Fans Want?
The replies to these stories alone paint quite a picture of Bones' animation oeuvre, as it were. Fandoms from countless series by the studio came out of the woodwork to try and manifest sequels to their favorite shows. And the loudest fandom that awoke from its slumber was most certainly Noragami.
Directed by notable storyboard artist Koutarou Tamura, Noragami aired in 2014, telling the story of a wandering minor god named Yato, with no followers or shrine to call his own. The series received great acclaim and even got a second season in 2015, but never got a third on account of low sales. Looking at the outpour of demand now, it's surprising it didn't find the support it needed.
Even with a passionate fandom and well-earned praise, a work of art can fall below expectations, and it might take years for people to realize how good it was. However, now that the manga is ending this year, now might be the perfect time for Bones to announce a return, especially considering that Kawamoto, one of AX's guests, was the character designer.
Of course, no rumor about a new Bones project would be complete without the Soul Eater fandom praying for a remake, and those comments were plentiful as well. It seems like a longshot, but the prevailing logic seems to be that "if Fullmetal Alchemist could get a remake, so should we." However, it would be hard to imagine a remake without director Takuya Igarashi, and they're currently busy with Bungo Stray Dogs. Plus, a remake might not be viable anymore.
What's More Likely?
.jpg?q=50&fit=crop&w=1500&dpr=1.5)
It seems unlikely that the announcement would be a previously announced work, like Sk8 the Infinity Season 2, which was confirmed but never given a release window. But looking at it another way, this announcement could be Bones putting their name on an anticipated project, the studio of which has yet to be revealed. And there's one big anime that still doesn't have a studio: One Punch Man Season 3
Naturally, fans of the aforementioned shows might read that and think "That just sounds like wishful thinking from a One Punch Man fan." That's understandable but consider for a moment who truly made the series what it was. Most sources will say Madhouse and while they're not technically wrong, One Punch Man was famously comprised of talent from across the industry. In particular, there were many animators from Bones.
Season 2 might have been a disappointment to fans, but nothing says that Bones can't come in for the third act to bring that series back to the pinnacle of animation quality. And now that the Mob Psycho 100 is finished, another series from the creator of One Punch Man, it would be a match made in heaven for that team to reconvene for a new season. Add in Mob Psycho director Yuzuru Tachikawa, and it will be a match made in heaven.
There is however another possibility; a project that hasn't been previously animated but has been getting a lot of buzz as of late: Yukinobu Tatsu's shōnen manga, Dandadan. It began running in Shōnen Jump+ in 2021 and tells the story of a boy who doesn't believe in ghosts and a girl who doesn't believe in aliens. When they learn that both exist, they get roped into an adventure as they try to make their lives normal again.
An anime adaptation has been speculated for ages and gives off the impression of the next big craze in anime should it get one, similar to how Chainsaw Man captivated audiences last year. If Bones is looking to create something new, but with an established fanbase, acquiring Dandadan might be more valuable than even One Punch Man.
Of course, like with Season 3 of OPM, fans are preparing for the possibility that Dandadan will be adapted by MAPPA in its ongoing quest to make far too much with frighteningly decent results on the whole. Both studios have the potential to knock it out of the part, but with Bones' comparably smaller workload, industry-savvy fans might breathe a tad easier.
What Would Be Especially Great?
There's always the possibility that none of the above will get announced. Were it to be something completely unexpected, that would be a delight in its own right. Even so, a completely original work feels unlikely as Bones already recently announced Metallic Rogue for 2024, while will be celebrating the studio's 25th anniversary. Although, there's an exception.
Fans of 2015's Kekkai Sensen should be very familiar with its director Rie Matsumoto, who has worked with Bones a number of times since, mostly on music videos and promotional campaigns. There have been rumors for years about a new project with Matsumoto as a director, and if ever there were a time to dispel fans' worries about those rumors being untrue, now would be the time.
Obviously, not everyone will be as excited about a project we know nothing about from a director who is admittedly pretty niche, but she might be one of the most promising directors in the industry. Her works are few but powerful and as critics of her works will attest, she's an immaculate storyteller. Matsumoto deserves more opportunities to direct, and it's clear that she has a good relationship with the studio.
Come July 2, fans will finally know what this mystery project is, or if the rumor was actually true, to begin with. Either way, all eyes will be on the Crunchyroll Panel, and in the meantime, now's the perfect chance to revisit your favorite show from Studio Bones. Who knows, it might be getting a sequel soon.
Sources: Twitter (AnimeExpo [1] [2], MangaMoguraRE, AniNewsAndFacts)