On Sunday, the who’s who of animation descended upon France for the 2026 iteration of the Annecy Animation Festival, and so far, there’s been much to get excited about. The festivities kicked off on Sunday with the world premiere of Minions & Monsters, followed by a preview of Warner Bros‘ upcoming animated slate, including the first footage from the Batman film Dynamic Duo coming in 2028. Tuesday is now Netflix‘s time to shine with a bevy of announcements and new looks at shows from across its anime slate and spanning from original works to manga adaptations and other related projects. Among those titles teased was the much-anticipated sophomore season of an Emmy-winning action epic that’s been waiting three years for its next installment.
Blue Eye Samurai was ordered for Season 2 at the end of 2023 after a bloody and brutal first installment that drew near-universal acclaim in addition to four statuettes and an armload of Annie Awards. Created by Michael Green and Amber Noizumi, it introduced the mixed-race master of the blade named Mizu (Maya Erskine), who sets out in Edo-period Japan to take revenge on the white man who forcibly fathered her and made her a “creature of shame.” Her hunt began with Abijah Fowler (Kenneth Branagh), one of the four individuals who illegally remained in Japan after the closing of its borders to foreigners. Vengeance was not allowed to women, though, so she took on the guise of a man, carving a path to the ruthless Irish smuggler and becoming a monster in the eyes of her enemies. Season 1 ended with her bound for London, where the other men await, and Fowler’s connections and resources could come in handy to flush them out.
Production on Season 2 has been in full swing since last year, but a show as lauded for its painting-like animation as Blue Eye Samurai naturally takes time. All indications are that the scale is bigger, between Mizu’s search for vengeance and identity in London and the stories of the people she met, like Ringo (Masi Oka), Akemi (Brenda Song), and Taigen (Darren Barnet) back in Japan, and more heartwrenching than ever as the titular swordswoman approaches her target. A new image shown at Annecy proves her anger and determination have not cooled since Season 1 ended, showing Mizu against a dark and stormy backdrop, presumably aboard the ship she got from Fowler.
‘Blue Eye Samurai’ Season 2 Will Force Mizu to Confront Her Demons
An official logline for the return of Blue Eye Samurai teased that Mizu will come face-to-face with “new friends, old foes, and her own demons” in Season 2, something both Green and Noizumi previously hinted at themselves. In the featurette marking the beginning of production, they further said there could be appearances by people thought dead, adding a bit of intrigue to the story. While Mizu’s quest continues, Akemi and Taigen will be busy navigating the ins and outs of Edo Castle and a new, more dangerous Shogun. The former sees an opportunity to use her newfound position to gain some modicum of power and control for herself and the people around her in Japan after the Season 1 finale, even though it means not choosing a life with Taigen. Ringo is also in search of a new purpose, believing Mizu to be dead and seeking opportunities for true greatness. Blue Spirit is back as the animation studio to continue weaving this tapestry into being for whenever it arrives.
Collider‘s Steve Weintraub got a first look at Season 2 at the Annecy Animation Festival, and said:
Blue Eye Samurai Season 2 has no release date yet.
via Collider