News Reporting

TATSUKI & Yaoyorozu Not Working on Kemono Friends Season 2


It looks like this saga doesn’t have that heartwarming happy ending.

Earlier today, Yaoyorozu president Keiyo Fukuhara took to Twitter to announce that neither his studio, nor director TATSUKI will be involved with the second season of Kemono Friends.

In a series of tweets, Fukuhara apologized for not speaking sooner. He explained that negotiations for the second season has failed to produce an agreement between the studio and Kadokawa. “This will be our final report in regards to being removed from the the second season, but we were unable to reverse [Kadokawa’s decision],” he stated, “We’ve worked hard to meet your expectations with Managing Director Inoue, but we were defeated. I am truly sorry to report that we were unable to make it happen.”

The tweets, plus translations, are below:

I’m sorry for the inconvenience, for for making you all uneasy. This will be our final report in regards to being remove from the second season [of Kemono Friends]. We’ve worked hard to meet your expectations with Managing Director Inoue, but we were defeated. I am truly sorry to report that we were unable to make it happen.

In March, we had a request to work on season 2, and begun actual production on the run. But at a meeting between core members [at Kadokawa], we were told that there would be no further work on the series with Yaoyorozu. I’ll be honest in saying that I was puzzled, and wasn’t able to really convey how dissatisfied I was with the sudden notice.

As for sharing information that was shared in the September 27 announcement, the 1.21 report was produced after talking to the committee. We made collaboration movies with each company under a formal request by the committee. Yoshizaki-sensei received permission to produce a doujinshi for Comiket, which was distributed under the proposal at the time, and was clearly stated as a “special license.”

In particular, the collaboration movies had strict conditions attached, but the production staff worked hard to deliver on fan service. I’m very sorry that I became subject to doubts, some of which I was unable to mention in the Kemono Friends official [announcement].

I’m deeply appreciative of Managing Director Inoue, and very grateful for his quick survey and adjustment [of the situation]. I am sorry to deliver such a regrettable report. Our time together was short, but I am prou that we could join you. Finally… thank you.

This ends an ongoing saga that began in September, when Kemono Friends anime director TATSUKI announced that he was no longer attached to the project. Kadokawa Dwango President Nobuo Kawakami reported that he was concerned about the incident and that discussions were going on between Dwango and Kadokawa.

On September 27, the Kemono Friends website posted a notice, which stated that Yaoyorozu “made use of the franchise without sharing information, or reaching out to all relevant parties” through the proper channels and that Yaoyorozu left production due to being unable to comply with these terms in advance.

The entire incident prompted outrage among the fan and creator communities, alike.

Kemono Friends began life as a smartphone game from publisher Nexon, which launched in March 2015. The game ended service on December 14, 2017, ahead of the anime’s January 10 première. In February, Nexon announced that, despite the anime’s popularity, the game wouldn’t return. A spokesperson softened the message later, stating that it’s “possible” for a revival of the game.

The Kemono Friends anime is based on said smartphone game. TATSUKI directed the show at Yaoyorozu, with Shigenori Tanabe (Danchi Tomoo) writing and overseeing the show’s scripts. Sgt. Frog creator Mine Yoshizaki is credited with the original character concept designs.

Crunchyroll streamed Kemono Friends as it aired in Japan. They describe the show as:

About The story takes place in Japari Park, an enormous integrated zoo built somewhere in this world. A mysterious substance found there, called “Sand Star,” causes the animals to turn into humanoid beings called “Animal Girls”! These new creatures spend every day peacefully with the zoo’s visitors… but after some time, a lost child turns up in the park. The child’s attempt to find the way home turns into a great adventure with the Animal Girls!

A Kemono Friends stage play is in the works, along with an unspecified “new screen project” that’s separate from the previously-released “Episode 12.1” special. A second season of the series was unveiled in July with the release of the show’s of
ficial guidebook.

Source: Anime! Anime!

About the author

Samantha Ferreira

Samantha Ferreira is Anime Herald’s founder and editor-in-chief. A Rhode Island native, Samantha has been an anime fan since 1992, and an active member of the anime press since 2002, when she began working as a reviewer for Anime Dream. She launched Anime Herald in 2010, and continues to oversee its operations to this day. Outside of journalism, Samantha actively studies the history of the North American anime fandom and industry, with a particular focus on the 2000s anime boom and bust. She’s a huge fan of all things Sakura Wars, and maintains series fansite Combat Revue Review when she has free time available. When not in the Anime Herald Discord, Samantha can typically be found on Bluesky.

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