Finding an anime that blends great action scenes, charismatic characters, balanced humor, and a touch of romance isn't easy. Noragami managed to deliver all of that and more.
Released in 2014, the anime adapts the manga by Adachitoka , which had over 24 published volumes. Produced by Studio Bones , it had two seasons, totaling 25 episodes and 4 OVAs. Internationally, the series gained a loyal fanbase, but in Japan the result was quite different.
Success outside of Japan
While Noragami gained prominence and became a benchmark in the genre abroad, in Japan the reception was lukewarm. The problem wasn't the story or the animation, but the factor that defined the future of many anime at the time: Blu-ray and DVD sales.
In the 2010s, before the dominance of streaming, the Japanese market used these sales figures as the main metric for success. The more fans who bought the physical media, the greater the chances of a new season.
The reason for the internal failure
Despite its worldwide popularity, Noragami sold poorly in Japan. The first two seasons did not reach numbers that justified an investment in a sequel. For the studios, this was a clear sign that the Japanese audience was not willing to financially support the project.
Even with plenty of material in the manga to adapt, the low financial return made a third season unfeasible.
Is there any hope?
Today, with streaming changing how anime is funded, there's a small possibility of reevaluation. Platforms like Crunchyroll and Netflix have already helped bring back older works, but in the case of Noragami, seven years after the series ended, there's no indication that Studio Bones has plans to revive it.
Still, the fan community keeps hope alive. After all, as the saying goes, "hope springs eternal.".
