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Keiichiro Saito, the director of Bocchi the Rock! season 1, has revealed the reasons behind his decision to step down for the anime’s second season.
Speaking during the special Bocchi the Radio! edition released after the Kessoku Band TOUR “We will B” live event, Saito explained that he felt the pressure of meeting fan expectations.
Saito stated that he had no plans for a sequel while directing season 1 and felt that season 2 required a stronger focus on music and performances, something he believed was best handled by someone else.
He felt Bocchi the Rock! season 2 was a big challenge and admitted that simply trying to replicate season 1’s success could lead to disappointment.
While he was excited by the opportunity, he also recognized the toll the production had taken on the staff and realized that simply repeating the same production model wouldn’t work.
He also emphasized that his decision was not due to scheduling conflicts or involvement with other projects, such as Frieren.
Despite stepping down as director, Saito confirmed that he would still be involved in the second season of the anime in a smaller capacity.
He also expressed confidence in Yusuke Yamamoto, who will take over as the new director, citing his work on episodes 3 and 11 as proof of his ability to handle the series.
It was also revealed that Yamamoto initially refused the offer to direct season 2, believing that Saito should continue leading the project. However, he ultimately accepted the role, acknowledging the difficulty of carrying the sequel forward while assuring fans that he would do his best.
Additionally, character designer Kerorira clarified that he will take a step back in season 2, with Keito Oda taking the lead on character design.
Kerorira noted that the decision was made because new talent was better suited for the position.
The production of Bocchi The Rock! season 2 was officially announced on Feb 15, 2025, during the Kessoku Band TOUR “We will B” event.
Season 1 of Bocchi The Rock! anime aired from October to December 2022.
A two-part compilation film was announced on May 21, 2023. The first film, BOCCHI THE ROCK! Re:, premiered in Japan on June 7, 2024, followed by BOCCHI THE ROCK! Re:Re: on Aug 9, 2024.
Bocchi the Rock! is a Japanese four-panel manga series written and illustrated by Aki Hamaji. It was initially serialized on Houbunsha’s Manga Time Kirara Max magazine on Dec 19, 2017, as a guest work. A full serialization started in the same magazine on March 19, 2018.
It has been collected into seven tankobon volumes as of October 2024.
Source: X
