Ask John: Will There Be More D.Gray-Man Anime?

Question:
Will the D.Gray-Man anime resume? i.e. have a third season? There is no info anywhere!

Answer:
Since the D.Gray-man television series concluded very recently, after 103 episodes, it may be still too early for predictions about the future of the franchise. The TMS animation studio may not have reached any decision yet regarding the possibility of developing new D.Gray-man anime. However, my personal instinct is to believe that after such a long broadcast run, the series has reached its definitive conclusion.

The TMS studio has a long history of developing television anime and working on long running franchises including Lupin III, Detective Conan, and Anpanman. But TMS’ work on long running franchises has been primarily animation for movie and OVA spin-offs rather than the primary television episodes. TMS has produced a number of lengthy television anime series including Hamutaro, Gallery Fake, Angel Heart, Snow Queen, Project Arms, and Tenshi na Konamaiki, but TMS productions of over 100 episodes are a rarity, and long running TMS productions with sequels or revivals are a rarity.

While certain long running anime television series like Ranma, Maison Ikkoku, City Hunter, Oishinbo, and Hokuto no Ken have been extended by sequels, spin-offs, and revivals, there are an equal number of long running shows like Maicchingu Machiko-sensei, Sailor Moon, and Inuyasha that have not, in practical terms, continued beyond their original television series.

In effect, there’s probably even odds for the development of further D.Gray-man anime, but I can’t shake the feeling that after 103 episodes, the D.Gray-man series has run its course.