Studio CloverWorks has officially announced the production of Bocchi the Rock! Season 2, set to be directed by Yusuke Yamamoto, who previously served as assistant director and episode director for the acclaimed first season.
The announcement, made on February 15, 2025, during the Kessoku Band concert at Zepp Haneda, marks a new chapter for the beloved anime series while retaining much of its core creative team.
A New Vision Under Yusuke Yamamoto
Yusuke Yamamoto steps into the role of series director for Season 2, succeeding Keiichiro Saito, who helmed the first season.
While Saito’s absence may surprise fans, Yamamoto brings a wealth of experience from his contributions to Season 1, including directing pivotal episodes such as Episode 3 (“Rolling Kita”) and Episode 11, which showcased his flair for blending surreal humor with emotional depth.
His prior work as an animation director on Wonder Egg Priority (2021) and assistant director on Oshi No Ko (2023) further underscores his capability to balance stylistic experimentation with narrative cohesion.
Yamamoto’s familiarity with the series’ production pipeline particularly the hand-drawn concert sequences and hybrid 2D/CG techniques positions him to maintain the show’s signature aesthetic.
As Shota Umehara, the animation producer, noted in a 2022 tweet, Yamamoto’s collaborative dynamic with live director Yusuke Kawakami was instrumental in crafting Season 1’s iconic performances.
Continuity in Production and Storytelling
The second season will retain key staff members, ensuring continuity:
Erika Yoshida returns as series composer, having masterfully adapted the 4-panel manga into a structured anime narrative.
Tomoki Kikuya reprises his role as music composer, preserving the series’ energetic rock soundtrack and diegetic instrumental arrangements.
CloverWorks remains the animation studio, with Kerorira (character designer) and Yusuke Kawakami (live performance director) continuing their roles.
The main voice cast Yoshino Aoyama (Hitori “Bocchi” Goto), Sayumi Suzushiro (Nijika Ijichi), Saku Mizuno (Ryo Yamada), and Ikumi Hasegawa (Ikuyo Kita) will also return, ensuring consistency in character portrayals.
Fan Reactions and Expectations
The announcement has sparked enthusiastic yet cautious responses. Reddit users celebrated the news, one fan commented,
“Only took 50 years but we’re here”
Another fan commented,
We Are So Back
I can see it’s not the same team as season 1, Yusuke Yamamoto will be directing in place of Keiichirou Saitou who is busy I guess.
Though some expressed concern over Saito’s departure. However, Yamamoto’s deep involvement in Season 1 has tempered skepticism, with fans noting his “incredible directorial manpower” in balancing comedy and character growth, as one fan mentioned in comment,
Oh, seems like the director for S1, Saito Keiichiro, won’t be director S2 (probably still busy with Frieren S2). New director is Yusuke Yamamoto, who has done work on Bocchi S1 previously.
While I’m kinda sad that Saito couldn’t come back for S2, at least Yusuke isn’t a total newcomer and can hopefully recreate that same magic from S1 for this new season.
The Legacy of Season 1 and Future Prospects
The first season (2022) received widespread acclaim for its empathetic portrayal of social anxiety, earning an 8.3/10 on IMDb and topping Anime Trending’s 2022 awards. Its compilation films, released in 2024, reintroduced the series to theaters with new animation and songs, solidifying its cultural footprint.
With Season 2, Bocchi the Rock! aims to build on its success by retaining the heart of its predecessor while embracing Yamamoto’s fresh perspective,a philosophy likely to guide the new season’s production. As producer Umehara stated on X (Formally twitter) in 2022,
The live animator for “Bocchi the Rock!” is Yuki Ito. Yuki was present from the motion capture stage, and worked with the director, Yusuke Kawakami, and Yusuke Yamamoto to come up with the live scene animation. The live scene is the culmination of Yuki’s time spent trial and error!!
Recently Umehara shared on X (Formally twitter) he will be participating in the second season,
“I will be participating in the second season of Bocchi the Rock!”
Bocchi the Rock! Season 2 promises to deliver the same blend of heartfelt storytelling and visual ingenuity that made the original a standout.
While Keiichiro Saito’s absence marks the end of an era, Yusuke Yamamoto’s proven track record and the returning staff’s dedication suggest the series remains in capable hands.
As the Kessoku Band gears up for new challenges, fans worldwide await another round of laughter, music, and Bocchi’s endearing struggle to rock on.
Stay tuned for updates on the release date and further production details.
