The year 2024 has been a great time for fans of isekai anime, and anticipation continues to build for the upcoming January release of a series as it returns for its second season.
Fans of the hit isekai series Ishura can look forward to its highly anticipated return to Hulu in January 2025, when Season 2 will debut. According to the streaming service’s schedule for January, Ishura Season 2 will be available starting January 8, 2025.
Isekai fans can’t miss the return of Ishura as it explores power and morality in a charming new season (Photo: Hit Isekai Anime/WIT Studio and Warner Bros. Japan)Since its original premiere on January 3, 2024, Hulu, along with Disney+, has been the only major streaming platform in the U.S. to offer the show.
Initially based on a light novel series by Keiso, Ishura is an action-fantasy narrative that centers on a group of demigods known as “Shuras,” who are competing for power in the wake of the Demon King’s defeat.
Among the challengers are formidable swordsmen, gladiators, mages, and various “heroes,” each vying for the title of “True Hero.” As they battle for supremacy, they must also confront their internal conflicts and distorted moralities.
Renowned for its intricate world-building and exploration of dark themes such as power, corruption, and moral ambiguity, Keiso’s light novel series garnered a loyal following and eventually inspired a manga adaptation, which has been serialized in Kodansha’s Monthly Shōnen Magazine since 2021.
The anime adaptation of Ishura was produced through a collaboration between animation studios Passione (known for High School DxD: Hero and Citrus) and Sanzigen (famous for Arslan Senki and Black Rock Shooter), with Season 1 launching in January 2024.
Critics have offered mixed reviews regarding the series; while many commend its battle sequences and strong opening, others argue that the complex ensemble cast and a decline in world-building in later episodes make the narrative challenging to follow.
Although Ishura is geared toward an older audience that enjoys darker action themes, it has clearly established a dedicated fan base on Hulu, attracting both original fans and new viewers alike. Currently, Ishura Season 1 is available for exclusive streaming on Hulu/Disney+, with Season 2 set to premiere on January 8, 2025.