After dallying with side projects after Season 1 of the anime, the post-Season 2 break will be blissfully short.
In recent years, an increasing number of anime TV series are taking seasons off between story arcs, often with the hiatus being a year or longer. In the case of series adapted from manga or novels, this gives the original creator time to produce more source material, which helps the series avoid the risk of upsetting its fanbase with anime-original endings or wheel-spinning filler story arcs.
Attack on Titan, though, had an especially long break, with its first season ending in September of 2013 and Season 2 not starting until April of 2017. During its absence, a number of side projects showed up, such as a pair of largely ignored compilation movies, a largely forgotten junior high school parody anime TV series, and two live-action films which many viewers would like to forget.
Attack on Titan Season 2 just wrapped up last weekend, and while watching the finale plenty of fans were no doubt filled with a sense of anxiety that once the episode ended, they were heading into another three and a half years of waiting for the next canonical animated installment. But it looks like the producers have realized that what people really want isn’t spin-offs, but more mainline Attack on Titan, and so they’ve already made the official announcement that Season 3 is coming, and this time the wait won’t be nearly as long.
The TV series’ official website has posted an announcement that Attack on Titan Season 3 will premiere in 2018, and there’s even a teaser video for the next installment already.
▼ Which is more startling to see in Attack on Titan: the ocean, or the color blue?
Unfortunately, the announcement doesn’t specify when in 2018 Season 3 will begin airing. Considering that Japanese TV divides its programming into four seasonal chunks per year, and that the “winter” season generally starts in January, a 2018 premiere would most likely mean September 2018 at the latest, and sitting tight that long should be a snap for Attack on Titan fans after all the patience they developed waiting for Season 2.
Source: Attack on Titan official website via IT Media
Top image: Attack on Titan official website
Insert image: Attack on Titan official website
Attack on Titan Season 2’s premiere date is finally, FINALLY announced
Attack on Titan Season 3 release schedule announced as staff shows off new key art
Finally! Attack on Titan director says TV anime’s second season will start production in 2016
Attack on Titan editor: Manga to end in 3-4 years
X Japan’s Yoshiki, L’Arc-en-Ciel’s Hyde preview co-op theme for Attack on Titan Season 3【Video】
Even at twice regular Daiso price, this handy item is still great for summer travel in Japan
Ghibli’s No Face continues to demonstrate his generous character growth by dispensing soy sauce
Osaka is hosting a “hentai” event, but it’s probably not what you think
Tokyo’s Pokémon Cafe reopens this month with brand-new sweets and Pikachu show
Japanese convenience store shows us how to dress for the rainy season
A Japanese toast sandwich remix: The toasted rice rice ball[SoraKitchen]
Uniqlo reveals third round of massive 100-year-anniversary manga T-shirts for Jump’s Shueisha
Starbucks Japan unveils new Frappuccino showcasing “mottainai” culture
Lawson opens a new mini supermarket, and the lucky bags can essentially stock your kitchen
Japanese high school closes its cafeteria, replaces it with a 7-Eleven convenience store
New official Ghibli anime food cookbook will teach you how to make Ponyo’s ramen and more
Kyoto public junior high school becomes first in Japan with a hoodie school uniform
What’s up with the Ghibli Park photo and video ban?
What’s it like to join Tokyo’s walking-and-talking-with-strangers club for a day?
Krispy Kreme releases a new Doughwich… at only one store in Japan
Tokyo’s life-size Gundam anime mecha statue will be removed this summer
Ichiraku Ramen-inspired ramen sets from Naruto anime pay homage to Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura
Kanji ice cream becomes a sell-out hit in Japan
Japan now has gyoza doughnuts, and they taste like no other doughnut we’ve tried before
Japanese convenience store Lawson launches new “mini supermarket” chain, L Minimart
Japan’s real-world Pokémon hot spring’s first photos are here![Photos]
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
We deeply regret going into this tunnel on our walk in the mountains of Japan
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
Major Japanese hotel chain says reservations via overseas booking sites may not be valid
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
Japan reportedly adding Japanese language skill requirement to most common foreigner work visa
Japan’s 5.3 million beautiful Hitachi Nemophila flowers are now in full bloom[Photos]
Pokémon and Ikea Japan cross over into each other’s worlds with collaboration events
Live-Action Attack on Titan films’ poster, 2nd movie title unveiled
Attack on Thanksgiving! First animated Attack on Titan movie to open in November
New Attack on Titan movie will hit audiences with lights, wind, and water, also has moving seats
Trailer for Attack on Titan’s last season finally released, looks awesome despite studio changes
Scout Corps now accepting recruits for upcoming Attack on Titan Real Escape Games
Taiwanese parody of Attack on Titan explores larger than life possibilities, hilarity ensues
Live-action Attack on Titan confirmed for 2 films
Attack on Titan’s creator estimates manga will end in three years
Oi! Attack on Titan-inspired anime jewelry is an attack on our wallets!
Sinisterly delicious wine from Attack on Titan anime now on sale in real-world Japan
Attack on Titan bag and shawl let you gear up for fighting giants, fashionable dates