KONOSUBA is a popular anime series known for its comedic take on the isekai genre, following Kazuma Satou and his quirky party in a fantasy world. The third season aired in 2024, and now, fans are excited about the upcoming OVA.
The OVA, “KONOSUBA Season 3 -BONUS STAGE-,” includes two episodes and will have a limited two-week theatrical run starting March 14, 2025, in Japan. It will be available on Blu-ray and DVD from April 25, 2025, with a bonus original text story by Natsume Akatsuki.
KONOSUBA: God’s Blessing on This Wonderful World! is a Japanese light novel series written by Natsume Akatsuki and illustrated by Kurone Mishima, first published in 2013 and concluding in 2020 with 17 volumes.
The series, known for its satirical take on the isekai genre, follows Kazuma Satou, a high school student who dies and is reborn in a fantasy world.
He forms a dysfunctional party with Aqua, a useless goddess Megumin, a wizard obsessed with explosion magic and Darkness, a masochistic knight. The anime adaptation, starting in 2016, has gained a strong following for its humor and character dynamics.
The first two seasons, aired in 2016 and 2017, were produced by Studio Deen, while the 2019 film, “Legend of Crimson,” was handled by J.C. Staff. The third season, broadcast from April to June 2024, marked a shift to Studio Drive, directed by Yujiro Abe, with Makoto Uezu on series composition and Koichi Kikuta on character designs. This season adapted the sixth and seventh light novel volumes, streaming on Crunchyroll internationally.
Trailer Release and Content
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— アニメ『このすば』公式アカウント (@konosubaanime) February 27, 2025
✨🎬本予告公開🎬✨
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『この素晴らしい世界に祝福を！３ーBONUS STAGEー』本予告を公開いたしました🌈
2025年3月14日（金）より
全国劇場にて2週間限定上映🎥
ぜひぜひ劇場にてご鑑賞ください‼
🔽YouTube🔽https://t.co/jhJaJufsC3#このすば pic.twitter.com/dKMCCGtLwm
The teaser trailer was released on December 12, 2024, via YouTube, with a main trailer following on February 27, 2025, shared on the official KONOSUBA X account (KonoSuba X post). The trailers showcase snippets from the unreleased episodes, depicting the village in an emergency state due to a new antagonist, with the team summoned to neutralize the threat.
The main trailer features the third season’s opening theme, “Growing Up” by Machico, enhancing the nostalgic and anticipatory feel. Descriptions suggest a focus on comedy and action, with elements like a beach romp and the team’s typical chaotic dynamics.
Release Details and Special Features
The theatrical run, from March 14 to March 28, 2025, allows audiences to experience the OVA on the big screen, with Blu-ray and DVD available for purchase at theaters a month before the general retail date of April 25, 2025.
A notable addition is a bonus original text story, “Fuyu Shogun Returns (Winter Shogun Returns),” written by Natsume Akatsuki, included in the home video release, enhancing collector value.
Cast and Crew Continuity
The main cast, including Jun Fukushima as Kazuma, Sora Amamiya as Aqua, Rie Takahashi as Megumin, and Ai Kayano as Darkness, are reprising their roles, ensuring familiar voices. The staff from Season 3, including director Yujiro Abe and composer Masato Koda, are expected to return, maintaining the series’ artistic consistency under Studio Drive.
Comparative Context with Previous OVAs
Previous seasons had OVAs, such as Season 1’s “God’s Blessing on This Wonderful Choker!” and Season 2’s “God’s Blessings on This Wonderful Piece of Art!,” both released with light novel volumes and focusing on standalone comedic adventures.
The Season 3 OVA follows this tradition, likely offering non-canonical but entertaining side stories, as suggested by the episodic structure and trailer content.
Market and Fan Reception
Given Season 3’s strong reception, with an 8.37/10 score on MyAnimeList from over 170,000 votes, the OVA is anticipated to draw significant interest. The theatrical release strategy, combined with early home video access and bonus content, caters to both casual viewers and collectors, potentially boosting sales and streaming numbers on platforms like Crunchyroll.
