This week, Kadokawa confirmed, through a new teaser visual, the long-awaited second season of the anime ‘Trapped in a Dating Sim: The World of Otome Games is Tough for Mobs’. Scheduled to premiere later this year in 2026, the production brings back the main staff and voice cast from the first season, which captivated fans in 2022. The story follows Leon, a former office worker who is reborn inside a dating simulation game, where he uses his prior knowledge to subvert the rules of a world dominated by women. The announcement is highly significant, as the light novel series has already concluded in Japan, fueling fans’ expectations for a complete and faithful adaptation.
Studio ENGI will once again handle the animation, with Kazuya Miura directing. Additionally, Kenta Ihara returns for the scripts, while Masahiko Suzuki remains in charge of character design. Thus, the team ensures visual and narrative continuity for the new season, which promises to adapt the subsequent arcs of Leon’s journey in search of a peaceful life in the countryside. Crunchyroll, which streamed the first season in Brazil, is expected to retain the streaming rights, although there is still no official confirmation regarding the exact release date or a Portuguese dub.
From Light Novel to Manga: An Expanding Universe
The franchise’s success extends far beyond the anime. The original light novel, written by Yomu Mishima, concluded with its 13th volume in March 2024. Meanwhile, the manga adaptation has undergone some interesting changes. Last August, the series was relaunched in the Monthly Dragon Age magazine with a new art team and a subtitle focused on an “Exchange Arc.” The original author, Jun Shiosato, explained that the change was not due to disagreements, but rather because he himself decided to “raise the white flag” and pass the baton so new talents could draw the future developments of the story.
For fans who wish to consume the entire story, publisher Seven Seas releases both the light novels and the manga in English. In addition to the main material, there are also spin-off novels that explore other perspectives within the same universe, showing that the world created by Mishima has room for many stories. Therefore, with the solid foundation of the source material and a consistent production team, the anime’s second season arrives in 2026 with the mission to satisfy an already established fanbase and, perhaps, win over new viewers with its sharp humor and social critique disguised as an isekai comedy.
