Beastars, anime's answer to the question "what if Disney's Zootopia had romance, anxiety, and more murder?", just dropped a trailer for its 2nd season and yep, it's definitely Beastars. The trailer is Japanese only, reflecting the currently absent release date for other territories, but considering the popularity of season 1, it's likely only a matter of time.
"I came this far to be forgiven," wolf protagonist Legoshi monologues, "for being a carnivore. For falling in love with you." It's clear right off the bat that this is no light hearted romp with cute animal characters. The teenage Legoshi spent the first season coming to terms with how the world sees him, and season 2 looks like it will expand on that in dark and potentially tragic ways. Drama is clearly still the name of the game here, and based on how well season 1 was received, that's what will bring audiences back.
Through flashes of suspense and action, the trailer teases just enough to whet the appetites of fans while intriguing those new to the series into possibly checking out the first season. As the second half of the trailer showcases a new opening theme by Japanese music duo YOASOBI, it also drives home the fact that Beastars is definitely still anime through and through. True to form, the song has that "everything is very energetic and fun but also there's tons of murder" feel to it.
Even just with the subtitles, any newcomer will easily see the Zootopia comparison in this trailer. Anthropomorphized animal characters, a certain taboo surrounding carnivores, criminal organizations, a bunny; the similarities almost seem intentional, and that's probably a good thing. Sometimes a retelling of a previous idea can be more compelling than a completely original story, and Beastars goes all in on playing the idea straight. Even the strangest ideas can work if they're taken 100% seriously.
Stories like Beastars are great for escapism, since their premise catches people off guard enough to really reel them in when the emotion comes out in full force. Right now, many people can use as much of that as they can get, and even though the tale of a social outcast just trying to find his place in a world that vilifies him for his appearance might hit a little close to home for some in this day and age, the surprisingly well-crafted experience serves that role nicely.
Again, there is unfortunately no confirmed English release date for the new season, so fans might have to settle for binging the available episodes once again in the mean time. Though it's also a good opportunity for any interested newcomers to check out the current season so they're ready when the rest finally drops. So if this trailer piqued any interest, check out Beastars over on Netflix. Just remember this DEFINITELY isn't the cute, cheerful world of Zootopia.
Source: Crunchyroll