Taking a look at the psychology of gambling and gaming, Kakegurui - Compulsive Gambler became an unexpected success. Not only is there an ongoing manga, but an anime adaptation from the well-known studio MAPPA aired for two seasons, from 2017 to 2019. That's to say nothing of the television series and film. However, while the latter is set to continue with announced sequel, there's been no such word on the anime.
Kakegurui has spawned a franchise full of high-stakes storytelling, but the biggest gamble is when, or if, the anime series will ever come back. It's been a few years since the second season, but there may be an explanation for what's taking so long. Here's a look at whether another season of Kakegurui could be in the cards.
What Kakegurui Is About
The plot of Kakegurui involves Yumeko Jabami, a recent transfer student at the Hyakkaou Private Academy. The school's hierarchy and student body performance aren't measured by academic success, but instead by their success in the world of gambling. That leads the top players to make massive monetary contributions from their winnings, earning both fortune and glory for themselves. However, unlike the other students, Yumeko is literally addicted to gambling, doing so merely for the fun of it -- and having quite the skill for it. She uses this experience to ride to the top of the school's rankings, upsetting the status quo and earning the attention of the student council president.
The series started as a manga created by Homura Kawamoto and Toru Naomura, published in Gangan Joker. Beginning in 2014, it's so far released 14 collected volumes that have been published in English through Yen Press. There's also been a spinoff manga and a video game, as well as a TV drama series and a movie. However, the franchise is best known for its anime adaptation, which began in 2017.
Will There Be a Season 3 of Kakegurui?
There's been no confirmation from either the mangaka or the production studio as to whether Kakegurui will continue with a third season of the anime. Given that the manga is still continuing, and the anime hasn't adapted all that's been released, there's definitely enough material for at least one more season.
The delay in any official word on a third season may simply stem from industry backlogs caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. This has seen several studios push back on, or be reticent about, revealing upcoming productions.
The show's first season came out in 2017, although it didn't hit Netflix until the following year. Season 2 came out in 2019, so following that pattern, a tentative third season theoretically should have been released this year. That obviously isn't happening, but again, the current woes of the anime industry as a whole could be to blame for this.
MAPPA is also hard at work on shows such as Chainsaw Man, which undoubtedly take precedence over Kakegurui. Hopefully, news about a third season will be announced sooner rather than later, but fans should hedge their bets, just in cast.
