Ask John: Will There be More Full Metal Panic Anime?

Question:
I was wondering if there is going to be any more Full metal Panic?

Answer:
Viewers who have watched the entire 24 episode Full Metal Panic TV series frequently want to see more about Sagara Sousuke’s adventures with Mithril and learn more about the mysterious “Whispered.” While the original TV series did have a satisfactory conclusion, it also left many unanswered questions. Rather than continue the story from the original TV series, the second Full Metal Panic TV series, titled “Full Metal Panic! Fumoffu?”, focused exclusively on the high-school hijinks aspect of the original series. As a straightforward comedy, the second TV series was far more effective than the first, but it left many fans hungry for more mecha and dramatic military action.

The Japanese home video release of Full Metal Panic! Fumoffu?, the second FMP TV series, will include a bonus not-aired-on-television episode. The bonus DVD included with the December 2003 cover dated issue of Japan’s Newtype Magazine contains extensive preview footage of the home-video-only Full Metal Panic! Fumoffu? episode. Beyond that, there have been no announcements yet of plans for new Full Metal Panic anime. But considering that the second TV series concluded only a few weeks ago, there’s still a possibility for a third TV series. The vast majority of anime sequels are announced within a year of the conclusion of the prior series. For example, the Full Metal Panic! Fumoffu? anime was first announced to the public 11 months after the final episode of Full Metal Panic aired on Japanese television.

However, roughly one year seems to be the make or break point. On average, anime series in Japan that don’t have new animation announced within a year of the conclusion of the immediately prior series rarely ever get new animation. In most cases, considering how much anime as is released in Japan, after more than a year, most anime titles have dropped off the radar for average Japanese viewers and are no longer popular enough to support new animation.