The highly anticipated second season of the television anime adaptation of Nigojū and Umibōzu’s light novel series, The Detective is Already Dead (Tantei wa Mō, Shindeiru.), is officially set to premiere in 2026. Kadokawa confirmed the returning principal cast and staff, alongside unveiling a new teaser visual on Tuesday, July 22, 2025.
Key Details of the Upcoming Season
The announcement comes after the second season was initially greenlit in July 2022, with a “super teaser visual” released in September 2024. Fans can expect a continuation of the mystery-solving adventures with their favorite characters.
Returning Cast Members
The original voice cast will be reprising their roles for the second season. This includes:
- Arata Nagai as Kimihiko Kimizuka
- Saki Miyashita as Siesta
- Ayana Taketatsu as Nagisa Natsunagi
- Kanon Takao as Yui Saikawa
- Saho Shirasu as Charlotte Arisaka Anderson
Confirmed Production Staff
The core production team from the first season will also be returning to bring the second installment to life.
- Director: Manabu Kurihara will once again helm the project at animation studio ENGI.
- Series Composition: Deko Akao is returning to handle the series scripts.
- Character Design: Yōsuke Itō is once again in charge of designing the characters.
ENGI, the studio behind the first season, will continue to be responsible for the animation production.
The Legacy of The Detective is Already Dead
The first season of The Detective is Already Dead premiered in July 2021 with a one-hour special and aired for 12 episodes. Funimation streamed the anime, including an English dub.
Story Premise
The series centers on Kimihiko Kimizuka, a young man who, after a chance encounter on a hijacked plane, becomes the assistant to the brilliant, globe-trotting detective Siesta. Their adventures lead them to solve numerous mysteries. However, Siesta mysteriously dies, leaving Kimihiko and others to navigate a world shaped by her legacy. The narrative explores how Kimihiko and others are impacted by Siesta’s will and the cases that follow.
Light Novel and Manga Origins
The Detective is Already Dead is based on the popular light novel series written by Nigojū and illustrated by Umibōzu. The first volume of the light novel was published in November 2019 under Kadokawa’s MF Bunko J imprint and won the 15th MF Bunko J newcomer award in 2019. Yen Press is publishing the original novels in English. The series also inspired a manga adaptation by Mugiko, which ran from May 2020 to October 2023. As of July 2025, Kadokawa is set to release the 13th volume of the light novel.
