Thunder 3 is officially returning for Season 2 in 2027, with the announcement arriving shortly after the first season concluded. The news was confirmed by the anime’s staff on Thursday, September 30, giving fans of the parallel-world sci-fi series another chapter to look forward to.
The first season premiered in July 2026 and introduced viewers to a bizarre world where ordinary schoolboys become unexpectedly powerful after crossing into a parallel Earth. The anime is based on the manga created by Yuki Ikeda, who was recently revealed to be the pen name of Gantz creator Hiroya Oku.
The Season 2 announcement also came with a commemorative illustration from Ikeda, celebrating the continuation of the anime.
Thunder 3 Season 2 Follows a Wild Parallel-World Adventure
Thunder 3 centers on three ordinary boys who discover a DVD capable of opening a gateway to another universe. Their lives change when Pyontaro’s younger sister, Futaba, enters the parallel world and is kidnapped by aliens who have taken over that version of Earth.
The boys follow her into the strange dimension and discover that their cartoon-like bodies become incredibly powerful compared with the hyper-realistic inhabitants of the parallel world. Their mission then turns into a rescue operation against the alien forces controlling the alternate Earth.
The anime premiered on Fuji TV’s +Ultra programming block on July 8, 2026, with the broadcast technically beginning at 12:45 a.m. JST on July 9. It was also released internationally as a Netflix exclusive.
The confirmation of Season 2 comes at an interesting point for the franchise because the original manga has already reached its conclusion.
Manga Ends as Hiroya Oku’s Connection Is Revealed
Ikeda began Thunder 3 in Kodansha’s Monthly Shonen Magazine in May 2022. The manga entered its climax in January 2025 before going on hiatus in March due to Ikeda’s health. Serialization resumed in February 2026, with the manga ultimately ending on June 5, 2026.
Kodansha released the manga’s 10th volume on August 17.
The identity behind the Yuki Ikeda name was also revealed shortly before the Season 2 announcement. According to Anime News Network, Hiroya Oku confirmed on social media on September 24 that he created Thunder 3 under the pseudonym.
Oku explained that using another name helped preserve a major surprise in the manga’s opening chapter. Revealing his involvement beforehand could have weakened the impact of that twist for readers discovering the series for the first time.
The connection gives the anime an additional point of interest for fans of Gantz, Inuyashiki, and Oku’s other works.
What to Expect From Thunder 3 Season 2
No specific release date or additional production details have been announced for Thunder 3 Season 2 yet. The 2027 window is currently the confirmed information, with further details expected as production progresses.
The anime’s continuation will allow the adaptation to explore more of the story involving the boys, Futaba and the alien conflict across the parallel Earth.
Meanwhile, Oku is also working on Kanrekihime (The Sweet Sixty Princess), which began serialization in Shogakukan’s Big Comic Superior in December 2025. He previously told Courrier Japon that he plans to retire after completing that manga.