Ask John: Will Seirei no Moribito Get a Sequel?

Question:
Will Seirei no Moribito get a sequel? I found Seirei no Moribito to be the best anime series of the year, yet it was not rated very highly, nor did it seem to generate much interest. I was curious why that might be (older female protagonist, unpopular TV time slot, not enough marketing etc.) and, despite this, if Seirei no Moribito might get a sequel, given that there are several novels worth of material to draw from.

Answer:
I agree with your estimation that Seirei no Moribito was one of the year’s finest and most under-appreciated anime productions. Unfortunately, I think that the show may be a victim of circumstances. The series was a distinct contrast to conventional contemporary Japanese anime. And despite claims from American anime fans that they’re tired of routine “moe” anime, Lolitas, and harem shows filled with stereotypical wish fulfillment female archetypes, they show little interest when a strikingly unique series starring one of the most independent, self-sufficient, and strong-willed women in the entire history of anime makes an appearance. The show may not have be able to succeed in Japan because it’s too contrary to the tastes of the majority of Japan’s hardcore fan community. For contemporary Japanese fans, an appealing “strong” female character is a “tsundere” warrior character like Shana from Shakugan no Shana or Saber from Fate/stay night. Seirei no Moribito’s Balsa doesn’t fall into the “tsundere” (or either of the “tsun tsun” or “dere dere”) personality molds. Balsa is not especially aloof or standoffish (“tsun tsun”). Neither is she particularly sentimental, feminine, or affectionate (“dere dere”). And she’s definitely not a tender and romantic girl hidden beneath an unapproachable facade (“tsundere”). Balsa is an adult woman that has survived hardship and regret; a woman who values her principles above everything else in life. That makes her an independent, intellectually and emotionally mature woman. She’s not an impulsive and malleable child, and she’s not a young girl ideally suited to assuage the egos of self-absorbed young men. Balsa is not an accessory or toy for men; she’s an equal and a partner for men, and that may make her threatening or, at least, less gratifying for Japanese anime viewers.

I’m not trying to suggest that Japanese viewers are unprepared or unwilling to interact with mature and independent characters. Anime is, after all, an escapist entertainment, so there’s nothing wrong with enjoying or preferring wish fulfillment anime. Ultimately, that’s what anime is for. The very fact that the Seirei no Moribito anime was made in the first place implies that Japanese viewers aren’t totally opposed to watching an anime about a strong-willed adult woman, but the rarity of such anime does suggest that strong-willed women aren’t what Japanese viewers are most interested in watching.

Similarly, I suspect that many American anime fans have an unconscious tendency to justify their interest in anime by trying to convince themselves that they prefer dramatic and literary anime with artistic and cinematic value. But despite claims from Americans that they’re tired of harem anime and shows filled with young girls that serve as little more than visual condiments – predictable and familiar flavors – shows like Higurashi no Naku Koro Ni, Air, Lucky Star, Ah! My Goddess, and Suzumiya Haruhi continue to dominate American fan interest while Seirei no Moribito – a show that actually does fulfill the requisites that American fans claim to want – goes ignored. In reality, the tastes of average American anime fans may not be quite as different from those of Japanese fans as they think.

To return to the primary point, I think that additional Seirei no Moribito anime is unlikely for two reasons. First, the television series told a compelling story and concluded with a satisfying resolution. The Seirei no Moribito TV series doesn’t feel like it needs expansion or continuation. Second, and much more importantly, I don’t think there’s enough viewer demand for a second season to justify a production. I think that the first TV series was made because director Kenji Kamiyama and the animators of Production IG wanted to make the show. The first series is significant because it proves that it could be done. However, with the principle established by the existence of the first TV series, I suspect that a second series could only be made if there was adequate demand for a second series. If the first series was made on principle alone, its existence proves its point, and creation of a second series will require more than just a determination to do it because it could be done. I may be mistaken. If new Seirei no Moribito anime is produced in the future, I’ll be very anxious to see it. But my gut instinct is that we’ve seen all of the Seirei no Moribito anime that we’ll ever see.