Goblin Slayer was first released to some controversy in 2018, when Crunchyroll mistakenly put a PG label on season 1. We should probably state this at the start; Goblin Slayer is not in any way suitable for children!!! This is made abundantly clear within the first 10 minutes of the first episode!
The series is controversial even for anime where fighting and bare skin is a staple. As a woman, it is hard not to have issues with how the women were treated in Goblin Slayer. However, as the writer tries to be unbiased, there are some compelling storylines and beautifully written characters in the series. The criticism around the story at the beginning of the anime did die down quickly, and Goblin Slayer became one of the anime that fans were eager for season 2 to be made.
Table of Contents
Goblin Slayer is based on a light novel written by Kumo Kagyu. The story is not always easy to read and does have some darker moments but they are outnumbered by the compelling story, comedic moments and strong characters.
Let’s begin with the all-important question, who is Goblin Slayer?
Season 1 introduces us to Goblin Slayer (no one has real names; they have job titles. I would have to change mine to Ghost Writer which is cool!)
Following the destruction of his village and the loss of his whole family at the hands of Goblins, he is understandably not the biggest fan of goblins in general. In fact, it would be fair to say he hates them with a passion. Escaping his destroyed village, he joins an Adventurer Guild and his journey as Goblin Slayer begins.
Goblin Slayer lives by the motto that there are no such things as good goblins, stating,
“Maybe. If you looked hard, you might be able to find one. But in the end, the only good goblins are the ones who never show their faces to the light of day.”
Season 1 follows his journey of revenge which, after rescuing Priestess from becoming a victim of the goblins, also now includes protecting her at all costs. His main hobbies include protecting the Priestess, disposing of goblins, planning new ways to dispose of goblins, and cleaning his armour. This boy has a one-track mind!
As information regarding Season 2 is thin on the ground. We will look at predictions and the hopes that are held for Season 2 by the fans of Goblin Slayer.
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Table of Content
RELEASE DATE
At present, information on a confirmed release date is hard to find. However, in January 2021 it was announced by GA Bunko at GA FES 21 that Season 2 was in the process of being made. They released a poster and announcement trailer, but no new footage was revealed. This could mean that at that point, series development was still in its initial stages.
There are rumours all over the net that it is likely that Season 2 will be released sometime between April – July 2022, the beginning of the 2022 season of new releases.
Latest news has suggested that White Fox Studio will no longer be the studio responsible for Goblin Slayer. This would mean that a new studio will be starting from scratch and could give a possible hint at the delay in providing a trailer for Season 2.
CHARACTER OVERVIEW
Before we look at the predicted cast, let’s remind ourselves of some of the characters from Season 1!
Goblin Slayer
“I am to goblins what goblins are to us.”
A silver ranked adventurer whose sole purpose in life is to hunt goblins in revenge after the loss of his family. Although an adventurer, he will not take any other job other than hunting goblins.
Priestess
“Please protect us, the weak with the power of the earth.”
Rescued by Goblin Slayer at the beginning of Season 1, Priestess is a regular member of his party who uses miracles given to her by Mother Earth in defense and support of her friends.
High Elf Archer
“Ignorance is bliss, for learning is the highest joy.”
A 2000-year-old elven silver ranked adventurer with a hot temper, usually mad at Dwarf Shaman and has a low alcohol tolerance. She has an innocence about how dark the world can be.
Dwarf Shaman
“We shouldn’t cause a commotion on enemy ground.”
A cheerful, typically happy character who likes to tease the High Elf Archer but is always there for her when she is upset. He has a fondness for fire wine.
Lizard Priest
“There’s nothing like a meal enjoyed together.”
The names are literal in Goblin Slayer – he is a lizard man who is a priest. A calm and composed character who has a love for cheese, calling it nectar.
Spearman
“I won’t make friends tomorrow with an enemy I respect. I’ll do it today.”
A silver ranked adventurer who is partnered with Witch. He has a powerful sense of justice and constantly tries to impress Guild Girl.
Cow Girl
“It can be hard to say you’re ‘sorry’ sometimes.”
The childhood friend of Goblin Slayer who also lost her parents to a goblin attack. She now lives with her uncle on his farm. She is an athletic, calm, and cheerful character with a crush on Goblin Slayer.
Guild Girl
“How can you go adventuring without pen and paper?”
In charge of handing out quests, she is an empathic character who hates seeing the weaker adventurers taking on jobs that cause them harm. She has no time for over-the-top people but all the time in the world for Goblin Slayer.
PREDICTED CAST
As confirmed information is hard to find, it is hard to say for certain who the cast will be. For the purposes of this blog, it is probably safe to predict that the voice actors from Season 1 will be returning for Season 2. To recap, let’s look at both the Japanese and English voice actors and the characters they give voice to.
JAPANESE CAST
The Goblin Slayer
A popular voice actor, Yuichiro Umehara is the voice of The Goblin Slayer. He is part of Arts Vision and has provided voices for some of the biggest anime franchises out there. He is known for providing voices for Goro in Darling in the Franxx, Mars in Black Clover and Shidero in My Hero Academia: World Heroes Mission.
Onna Shinkan (Priestess)
Yui Ogura is a woman of many talents, not only as a voice actor but as a member of Team Dekaris and a J Pop duo with Kaori Ishihara. She provides the voice of Priestess in Goblin Slayer. Her previous work has included Alice Kurobane in Shadowverse, Minori Hanasato in Petit Seka and Nasse in Platinum End.
High Elf Archer
Nao Toyama provides the voice for High Elf Archer in Goblin Slayer. A popular voice actor with an impressive resume behind her, Nao has provided the voices for Pixy/Pixi in The Irregular at Magic High School, Ruka Sarashina in Rent-a-Girlfriend and Eguchi Yume in Strike the Blood. She is also a singer and provides voices for games.
Dwarf Shaman (Priest)
Yuichi Nakamura is a popular YouTuber and video game dubber alongside his work as a voice actor. He provides the voice of Dwarf Shaman in Goblin Slayer. He is also known for providing the voices of Gray Fullbuster in Fairy Tail (my first anime love!), Mumen Rider in One Punch Man and Hawks in My Hero Academia. Yuichi has a voice that works well for playing a range of ages from teenage boys to older men in their 30’s. He is known for his clear and calming voice which makes him a popular voice actor.
Lizard Priest
Another popular voice actor, Tomokazu Sugita has had many roles over the years. He provides the voice for Lizard Priest in Goblin Slayer. He is also known for roles such as Gintoki Sakata in Gintama, Joseph Joestar in JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure and Escanor in Seven Deadly Sins.
Spearman
Yoshitsugu Matsuoka is the voice behind Spearman in Goblin Slayer. He is a popular voice actor who also provided voices for Kirito/Kazuto Kirigaya in Sword Art Online, Inosuke Hashibira in Demon Slayer, Takashi Mitsuya in Tokyo Revengers, and Pet Cat in The Way of the Househusband. Yoshitsugu also holds a Guinness World Record since 2019 for the World Record for the largest number of lines by a single voice actor in a mobile game. He provided his voice to Is It Wrong to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon: Memoria Freese.
Cow Girl
Yuka Iguchi is a popular voice actor and singer and provides the voice for Cow Girl, who in my humble opinion, has the best outfit in the series. You gotta love a girl overalls! As with all the characters, she is known by the name of what she does – she lives on a farm so Cow Girl. Yuka also provides voices for characters such as Shelia Blendi in Fairy Tail, Mine Karama in Fruits Basket and Mitsuba Sangu in Seraph of the End.
The Witch
Another popular voice actor and singer, Yoko Hikasa is the voice for The Witch in series one and predicted to be returning for season 2. She has also provided voices for Irene Adler in Moriarty the Patriot, Utahime Iori in Jujutsu Kaisen, Rias Gremory in High School DxD and Emilia Justina (Emi Yusa) in The Devil Is a Part Timer.
Sword Maiden
Aya Endo provides the voice for Sword Maiden in Goblin Slayer. She is also the voice actor behind characters such as Shoko Ieiri in Jujutsu Kaisen, Silky/Wooly Bugs in The Ancient Magnus Bride and is the Official Japanese Voice for Minnie Mouse, following the passing of fellow voice actor, Yuko Mizutani. Aya took over a number of Yuko’s roles following her passing.
Guild Girl
Maaya Uchida is a voice actor and singer who provides the voice for Guild Girl in Goblin Slayer. She is also known for the voices of Cobalt Police in The Way of the Househusband, Liliruca Arde in Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girl in a Dungeon and Melty Q. Melromac in The Rising of the Shield Hero.
Heavy Warrior
Daiki Hamano is the voice actor for Heavy Warrior in Goblin Slayer. He is also known as the voice for characters such as Matheus Johan Weiss in Saga of Tanya the Evil, Merman Teacher in A Centaur’s Life and one of the voices of Goro in Darling in the Franxx.
ENGLISH CAST
The Goblin Slayer
Brad Hawkins has a lot of skills from voice acting, acting on TV shows, to singing rock and roll country music. He provides the voice of The Goblin Slayer and has also provided voices for Matsuri Washu in Tokyo Ghoul: re, Edgar Piston in Ace Attorney S2 and Diamante in One Piece.
Onna Shinkan (Priestess)
Hayden Daviau provides the voice for Priestess in Goblin Slayer. A Canadian voice actor and YouTuber, Hayden has done work for FUNimation and has provided voices for characters such as Yasuko Koenji in The Helpful Fox, Senko in San, and the younger voice for Izumie Naoto in Gleipnir.
High Elf Archer
Mallorie Rodak is an American voice actor who has worked for FUNimation and OktraTron 5000. She provides the voice for High Elf Archer in Goblin Slayer. She has also provided voices for Helen in Kuma Bear, Freezing Astaroth in Combatants Will Be Dispatched and Miyo Takano in Higurashi: When They Cry – Sotsu.
Dwarf Shaman (Priest)
Barry Yandell is an American theatre director and voice actor who also has connections with FUNimation and is the voice behind Dwarf Shaman in Goblin Slayer. He has also provided the voices of Biagio Busoni in A Certain Magical Index II, Kami in Love Tyrant and Yoki in Full Metal Alchemist. Like many voice actors he has also provided additional voices alongside his credited work to series such as Overlord and One Piece.
Lizard Priest
Josh Bangle is another American voice actor who has worked for FUNimation and is the voice behind Lizard Priest in Goblin Slayer. He was also the voice behind Zaryusu Shasa in Overlord II & III as well as providing additional backing voices for characters in series such as Attack on Titan, Black Clover and Date A Live.
Spearman
As well as his work as a voice actor, Kyle Igneczi is a well-known stage actor. He provides the voice of Spearman in Goblin Slayer. He has also provided voices for Rokuan in The Vampire Dies in No Time, Kozo in Sk8 the Infinity and Carbo in Dr Stone.
Cow Girl
Brittany Lauda is a well-known casting director, voice actor and provides voices for video games and the Official My Little Pony Apps. She is the voice of Cow Girl in Goblin Slayer. Her previous work has included F.F./Foo Fighters in JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure, Nao in The World Ends With You and Yuzuriha Ogawa in Dr Stone.
The Witch
Amanda Gish is an American voice actor, model, singer and cosplayer who provides the voice for The Witch in Goblin Slayer. She has ties to FUNimation, Okratron 5000 and Sound Cadence Studios. Her other work includes voices for characters such as Hina Togu in Tokyo Ghoul: re, Aisha Schubert in Saga of Tanya the Evil and Shemage/Kinoko Komori in My Hero Academia.
Sword Maiden
Meg McClain is the American voice actor behind the voice of Sword Maiden in Goblin Slayer. With links to FUNimation and OkraTron 5000, she is also known as the voice behind characters such as Megumi Kirifu in A Certain Scientific Railgun T, Azura in Dr Stone and Abel in Fairy Tail.
Guild Girl
Sara Ragsdale is the English dub voice for the character Guild Girl in Goblin Slayer. She is also known for voicing the characters Riko Saikawa in Miss Kobayashi’s Dragon Maid, Queen Elizabeth in Azur Lane (a series which I refuse to watch to in dub for the painfully bad English accents, it made my toes curl as a person from England) and Saya Endo in Dadashi Kashi.
Heavy Warrior
Chad Halbrook is an American voice actor responsible for voicing the character of Heavy Warrior in Goblin Slayer. His other work includes the voices for characters such as Chikai Kuji in Sarazanmai, Brain Unglaus in Overlord and Toby Olorta in Fairy Tail.
Staff
With the news that White Fox Studio will no longer be responsible for the production of Season 2, whether the staff from Season 1 will return is not guaranteed anymore. However, for Season 1 the team included:
Takaharu Ozaki (Director)
Also known for working on Cowboy Bebop, Re: Zero and Steins Gate.
Masayuki Sakoi (Episode Director)
Also known for working on Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood, Noragami and Sword Art Online Alternative: Gun Gale Online.
Kazuomi Koga (Storyboard and Episode Director)
Also known for working on Re: Zero, Akame ga Kill and Steins Gate.
Yuusuke Kubo (Storyboards, Episode Direction and Key Animation)
Also known for working on Banana Fish and Re: Zero
A change in studio and direction team could give Season 2 a quite different animation style when compared to Season 1. We will have to wait for official announcements to find out what the future holds!
PREDICTED PLOT
So far, an official trailer has not been released so we can only speculate on the predicted plot for Season 2. We do know that Season 1 was based on volumes 1 and 2 of the source material and the standalone movie, Goblin Slayer: Golden Crown was based on volume 5. If they continue to use the source material, it would be logical to predict that Season 2 would use volumes 3 and 4 to fill in the gap between season 1 and the movie.
At the end of Season 1, Priestess says a line which fans have picked up on being a hint towards what may be coming in Season 2. She states that it is not clear what Goblin Slayer’s destiny will take him as he is not fully in control of it and that he is “a pawn” whose destiny is being controlled by “high authorities”. There seems to be strong opinions that Season 2 will look more at this premise.
As we have no confirmed news on the plot line, we will look at what it would mean for Season 2 if it is indeed based on volumes 3, 4 and possibly 6 of the light novels.
The following is a prediction of what may occur in Season 2 based on the light novels and is not confirmed by the official studio.
With Season 1 ending with the main characters at the farm, it is possible that this will continue into Season 2 as the starting theme for volume 3 focuses on the fact that it is now autumn. Autumn is a time for festivals and volume 3 begins with a festival. Goblin Slayer has a predicament on his hands as both Cow Girl and Guild Girl want to go to the festival with him and, as always, girls in anime don’t like to play nice and share.
So, right from the start we have the possibility of more romantic drama and entanglements for our hero!
Of course, Goblin Slayer would not be contested without goblins to dispose of and he feels evil lurking in the background. An exciting prospect about adapting volume 3 (published on 14th September 2016) is the introduction of a new character in the form of Dark Elf, a member of an evil sect, who describes himself as; “I am the apostle of anarchy, recipient of a handout from the very gods of chaos themselves!”
Sounds like a charming guy! Using a scout to cause a distraction he sends goblins into town. Goblin Slayer was on the money about the whole feeling bad vibes thing! Forced to fight, Goblin Slayer and his friends do what they do and fight both goblins and Dark Elf himself to prevent disaster.
At the end of volume 3, Goblin Slayer is bidding goodbye to Cow Girl and about to take on more goblin hunting. It is quite common to throw in some light material to draw fans back into a story so a festival would be great for doing that so maybe this would be perfect for the start of Season 2.
Volume 4 (Published 19th December 2017) could also be included in Season 2 as it continues with Goblin Slayer heading out to take on more goblins. However, in volume 4, Goblin Slayer, Spearman and Heavy Warrior are the only members of the party who head out on a quest to the Demon’s Castle. The rest of the party remain behind with Cow Girl, Priestess and Guild Girl taking time off.
This would be a delightful story split and a chance to see how Goblin Slayer fights without his normal party at his side. Will they be as effective without Priestess? It also allows for a split story with fighting and action at Demon’s Castle as well as character building back at town as High Elf Archer takes time to look back at her past and that of Dwarf Shaman and Lizard Priest. This could give background on the racial tensions and hatreds felt by the different races towards each other.
Some fans have also speculated that volume 6 may be covered towards the end of Season 2 as the movie was based on volume 5. Volume 6 brings a host of new characters and so if a series 3 is to be considered, maybe introducing it at the end of Season 2 would make sense.
All of this is speculation on my part, and we will need to wait for the release of an official trailer to get a real idea of where Season 2 will take us!
RELATED TWEETS AND POSTS
NEWS: GOBLIN SLAYER Season 2 Officially Announced at GA Fes 2021 ⚔️
— Funimation (@Funimation) January 31, 2021
Read on: https://t.co/qWoL4BY9rC pic.twitter.com/RuiI9Euadw
シリーズ累計700万部を突破した『ゴブリンスレイヤー』のTVシリーズ2期の制作が決定！
— 「ゴブリンスレイヤー」/ Goblin Slayer公式 (@GoblinSlayer_GA) January 31, 2021
最新のTVシリーズ2期制作決定ティザーPVとキャラクター原案の神奈月昇先生描きおろしのビジュアルも解禁！！
最新ティザーPVのURLはこちら。https://t.co/yzHBhOGWUH#ゴブスレ
Comment your thoughts!
At present, the situation surrounding the second series of Goblin Slayer is full of guesswork and fan predictions. It may turn out that these are remarkably close to reality once the studio finally releases its official trailer or more information about the release date and content. Having waited this long, the fans will have to wait patiently a few more months before we find out what lies in wait for Goblin Slayer and his friends down the road.
No matter what happens, I think, it is guaranteed that what we have to look forward to is more compelling storylines from this dark, isekai masterpiece.
