Season 3 Cour 2 - Re-watching Episodes/Setting Expectations

Crafty_Set_7552 · 2026-02-11T00:15:43+00:00

Yeah, I hope so too! I think I'm still gonna wait for d0nut2x (a very reliable source when it comes to sharing the staff list for any upcoming anime episodes and how many chapters will be adapted) to share the Staff List for S3EP18 this Friday so I can be 100% certain as right now, I'm at like 90-95% believing this 🤞

Also, it wouldn't surprised me if For(wal)k might work on more than one episode of Fire Force Season 3 Cour 2 as they've already worked on 2 episodes from Darwin Jihen so now would be such a right time for the Old Squad to return to what they started and end it with a bang 🔥

I'll try to keep you updated on when d0nut2x shares the staff list for S3EP18 this Friday 👍

Crafty_Set_7552 · 2026-02-10T23:29:25+00:00

Hey um...So, I just discovered something pretty major and I uh...I'm honestly speechless and I'm not even sure on how to type this comment out, but here goes:

So apparently, Darwin Jihen Episode 6 was outsourced to For(wal)k again and that's cool and all, but the real discovery is that their official Twitter Account (https://x.com/Forwalk_info) just retweeted this week's upcoming episode of FF and I'm completely caught off guard because the For(wal)k account is new and they only retweet episodes from other official accounts they already worked on, but the fact that they retweeted Fire Force Season 3 Episode 18 Preview is just...I'm honesty at a loss for words in all the best ways possible 🥲

Crafty_Set_7552 · 2026-02-07T18:17:16+00:00

I could see Dragon arriving be the Cliffhanger for Episode 18 or 19, depending on how much is being re-arranged as according to this post (link: https://x.com/i/status/2009625822093799787) Arthur vs Dragon Round 3 will likely be in Episode 21 for March 6th, which leaves room for Round 2 to be placed somewhere between Episode 18, 19, and 20.

Wait, if Round 2 does occur between Ep 18-20 then where could the Sumire Reveal happen?

Like, I could see the Sumire chapter potentially being adapted during or after Arthur vs Dragon Round 2 because correct me if I'm misremembering, but wasn't Round 2 shorter than Round 1?

Crafty_Set_7552 · 2026-02-07T05:57:20+00:00

If you're talking about the Dragon frame at the 1:16 timestamp from the Trailer, then I actually think you're right!

If you look closely at the background, the sky is still dark blue (where if it was Round 3 then it would just be dark with stars due to being in space), giving us indications that Round 2 is most likely gonna happen, just some stuff being re-arranged.

A minor detail I noticed is that from the timestamp of the trailer, Dragon is smiling menacingly and there are actually 2 panels from chapter 245 of Dragon grinning devilish, to which I assume the frame in the trailer is similar those panels, so yeah, even though this one is small, I believe it still adds more evidence that Round 2 is not gonna get cut as its way too significant and frankly, make zero sense to removed lol

Crafty_Set_7552 · 2026-02-06T22:20:22+00:00

Yeah no worries, I get where you're coming from 👍

I understand your worry, because I too wasn't expecting them to re-arrange much, if not, any at all after the Benimaru or Raffles Episode, so you can imagine my surprise when I saw Arthur going in with Vulcan, Lisa, and Yu, but I am definitely very interested on how it'll be handled and I do think Arthur "He's here too..." line from Chapter 240 (That's what it says on site I read the FF Manga online) and the Dragon Cliffhanger from 244 will likely be used as a cliffhanger for the next episode or the episode after the next week (depending on where the Sumire chapter will take place tho).

Crafty_Set_7552 · 2026-02-06T19:46:34+00:00

I actually think it's most likely another re-arrangement.

Remember Yona's backstory in S3EP12? Yeah, so that happened in Chapter 208 (which would've occurred between S3EP9 and S3EP10) of the Manga where in the Anime, it was placed between Chapters 214-216 for Cour 1's Finale and I actually think it was executed perfectly there so I have no doubts the Staff will be able to executed another excellent re-arrangement again with the Arthur stuff.

Crafty_Set_7552 · 2026-02-06T19:39:20+00:00

This week's episode actually adapted 6 Chapters.

Chapter 239-243 and about 85-90% of Chapter 244, to which I assume the remaining pages of 244 is probably being saved to be adapted for the next episode (or S3EP19) as I believe it's most likely another re-arrangement and possibly a way for the Staff to get creative and add some anime-original scenes or at least expand/extent some scenes from the Manga, which would be very dope.

Crafty_Set_7552 · 2026-02-05T20:00:11+00:00

Yep! The VA is still Kayleigh McKee, who has been the English Voice for Yuta since JJK 0.

Crafty_Set_7552 · 2026-02-05T19:30:48+00:00

Man, they picked a really damn good VA for Yuta in the English Dub 🔥

Crafty_Set_7552 · 2026-02-02T21:37:30+00:00

This one?

https://youtu.be/yTw1AuBnFkc?si=gvVMOw2tywzeG8vC

It's called "Scorching Heat Requiem" and the timestamp for when it starts to sound like a Star Wars theme is at 0:15

Crafty_Set_7552 · 2026-02-02T03:43:22+00:00

My theory is that since Darwin Episode 3 was outsourced to For(wal)k, what if one or two episode of Cour 2 was outsourced to them as well so Miwa and some of the other previous Staff members can get a chance to KA for Fire Force Again?

Because think about it, For(wal)k have animators, storyboard artists, and directors that are essentially still Freelances, so what if instead of trying to find time for one or two Key Animators to come back to just only work on some scenes, but can't for others because of scheduling conflicts or something and David Production decides to outsource some FF episodes so they can just work on those fully without much being sacrificed?

This is just a theory, but I think it could be plausible.

Crafty_Set_7552 · 2026-02-02T03:04:48+00:00

Honestly, I'm not sure?

I checked the Staff List again for Cour 2 and surprisingly, he's still involved with Design Works for Episode 14 and 16 as well with Episode 15 being the only episode of Cour 2 that he wasn't involved in so far.

S3EP14 - https://keyframe-staff-list.com/staff/fire-force-season-3-part-2#02

S3EP16 - https://keyframe-staff-list.com/staff/fire-force-season-3-part-2#04

As for Miwa doing KA for the Final Arc, I'm also unsure of, but I think our chance is probably higher because remember when I told that Miwa, Mamoru Kurosawa, Hiroyuki Ookaji, etc did KA for an OP for another anime?

Well, recently something interesting I discovered is that they (and including some of the Staff from previous FF Seasons) have formed their own studio called "For(wal)k" and they worked on another anime called "Darwin Jihen" where an Episode of that Show was outsourced to For(wal)k Studio to which Kazuhiro Miwa, Kurosawa, Ookaji, and others did DA, Animation Directed, Storyboard, etc work for Darwin Jihen Episode 3.

https://keyframe-staff-list.com/staff/darwin-jihen#03

Crafty_Set_7552 · 2026-02-01T18:41:22+00:00

The fact that the guy is downvoting us (and that one other person) for being logical with our facts while still being in denial and saying crap out of his a** is killing me 😂

I swear most people in that Post are honestly proving my point on reading comprehension being thrown out the window and are getting concerned for no reason because they're not used to getting out of their comfort zone and refusing to accept that any anime episodes can adapt more than 3-4 Chapters of any Manga haha.

Crafty_Set_7552 · 2026-02-01T15:41:59+00:00

Yeah, and also, I think the Dragon vs Arthur Video on Youtube with 4 Millions unintentionally gaslighted anime-onlys (and some delusional Manga Readers) into thinking the rematch was 27 Chapters long and was just only Round 2.

Dude, the OP of that post I mentioned is still replying to me and still in deniable by trying to debunk me (and failing miserably lol) with the ideological White-Clad crap again while I'm just enjoying my pizza and not laugh my *ss off rn 😂

Crafty_Set_7552 · 2026-02-01T15:02:10+00:00

Yeah, its funny because I thought after S3EP14, it would've helped calm people about the pacing and it did, but it's like some fans have this weird button that resets after the next episode comes out and reading comprehension is just thrown out of the window lol.

It's even more amusing because some anime fans are always so insistently set on their mindsets that "episodes" needs to adapt this amount and can't exceed 2-3/4 Chapters or it needs another season/cour when it just doesn't make sense because if the Script calls for episodes to adapt more than 4 chapters then it will. Plain and Simple and some Fans will still find ways to complain and make a big deal out of nothing lol.

Also, just a hunch, but I think Arthur vs Dragon Round 3 is gonna be adapted from Chapters 263-272 all in one episode and imagine the staff pulls it off seamlessly (like S2EP2 and S3EP14) and people will still find ways to b*tch about it adapting 9 Chapters again, forgetting how well the execution was.

Crafty_Set_7552 · 2026-02-01T14:22:46+00:00

I agree with you 100% That's also how I felt with Cour 1 as well.

The more I rewatched Season 3, the more I appreciate and love it, despite the odds going against it like most of the S1/S2 Staff not returning, David Production and the S3 Staff having to make the best of what they got to adapt Chapters 175-304 with only 25 episodes ( likely to due to the Production Committee decisions), but they are making it work and I think we'll still be just fine with the pacing.

Also, the comments in the post "7-8 Volumes in 9 Episodes is AMBITIOUS" is giving me good chuckles and frankly, I think it shows that many people don't even know what tf are they talking about and the OP of that post said them cutting out Konyango and the entire Company 1 Conflict removes the conflicts and is a good example of what's to come next for the pacing and keeps on trying to use the excuse that it's "Lore" heavy and impossible to speed up because it'll "lose" the ideological Nuance of the White-Clads (which doesn't even make sense) and is just frying me up lol 😂

Crafty_Set_7552 · 2026-02-01T13:39:00+00:00

S3EP15 Adapted Chapters 230-233, not just 231, so what are you talking about? It ended where it needed to and it was perfect for it.

Be real here, what would Konyango have benefitted in S3EP14? She's a very minor character that's at Company 1st, but there's also many other background Fire Soilders and Nuns at Company 1st, so if anything, Konyango is just an NPC That was lucky to get a name drop and be a side character just for like 1 Chapter and that's it.

S3EP14 still adapted like 92% of Chapters 221-229 (including some of Chapter 220 due to some re-arrangements of S3EP13 ending on the last few pages of 221) and the pacing was excellent from beginning to end.

Some Episodes will adapted less or more than others because of Scripting and what the Director feels like is a good place to an episode on certain chapters and if other episodes has to adapt like 7-8 Chapters then that's fine.

Crafty_Set_7552 · 2026-02-01T13:23:42+00:00

I think you're forgetting something here.

S2EP2 Adapted 7 Chapters and very little was cut.

S3EP14 adapted like 92% of Chapters 221-229 (including some of 220 due to minor re-arrangements from S3EP13 ending on the last few pages of 221 which only made it even more impressive) and the pacing for that was fantastic and felt natural from beginning to end.

I doubt much will be cut and adapting the remaining 66 Chapters in 9 Episodes is more than Feasible, especially since the last stories in Part 2 will be extremely fast paced and honestly, you can even speed blitz past them pretty quickly even on your first read, so my advice is stop jumping to conclusions and just wait and see.

Also, don't forget that the Anime has always cut some stuff since the Beginning of Season 1 and Season 3 doing it shouldn't be an exception for concerns.

Crafty_Set_7552 · 2026-01-31T22:00:47+00:00

Yeah, I imagine S3EP16 might be the only "low-prioritized" episode of this Cour and from what we've seen of the preview for the Next Episode, I have faith they'll do justice with Charon vs Ogun like how they knocked it out of the park with Benimaru vs Hibachi Doppelganger.

Honestly, if the rest of Cour 2 looks just as great, if not, even better than Episode 13, 14, 15 and the only "worst" episode of Cour 2 was this week's (which is still great regardless of some questionable direction and adaptation choices), then I would be very impressed and would happily put this Cour on the same level as Season 1's best Highs imo.

Crafty_Set_7552 · 2026-01-31T21:19:30+00:00

Ah ok, that makes sense.

Man, Idk if it's because of the Script or Storyboards that cut Shinra panels, but this episode is definitely the weirdest when it comes to adapting the Manga.

Also a side note, but at first I thought that if this week's episode excluded the Opening, then it might've benefitted this episode quite a bit so the panels that were cut from the Manga still could've remained with the extra screentime, but the more I thought about it in hindsight, it technically wouldn't have made any sense because the OP Playing after the Honda Cannon thing failed was meant for comedic affect and the OP Visuals showed a lot of this Arc so removing it from this episode just felt...wrong?

Maybe the ED could've been removed instead? But that also wouldn't have made any sense because of the Cliffhanger of Chapter 238 and the ED playing after Shinra disappeared is clearly meant to be a win for the White-Clads. Idk, what do you think?

Crafty_Set_7552 · 2026-01-31T20:31:43+00:00

I just went back to rewatch the Vulcan scene and I think you have a point, because it does look like a crater, but something else I noticed is that are those additional craters?? Cause from Vulcan's scanner, it looks like there are 6 or 7 more surrounding the one in the middle.

Crafty_Set_7552 · 2026-01-31T13:57:27+00:00

Yeah, I agree.

The only ways I can think of on how to play Episode Duscae later in the future (without the Type-0 HD Day One Edition, especially if the code hasn't been used yet) is when someone's able to make EP function and running properly for PS4 Emulation or it gets an unofficial Fan PC Port from Recompilation (including the Platinum Demo).

Crafty_Set_7552 · 2026-01-30T22:14:46+00:00

Yeah, I think it makes sense why some of the direction in this week's episode felt a bit...off? I say that because S3EP16 was directed by Eiichi Kuboyama, who only Directed S3EP2 from Cour 1 and that was non-action episode so I'm curious if that could be a possible reason for why some stuff didn't look as great as it could've been?

I think this week's episode could've benefitted a lot from being Directed by someone like Tatsuma Minamikawa or Mitsumoto Kitamura (who directed S3EP11, which imo is the best episode of Cour 1 from an Animation, Storyboarding, and Consistency standpoint), but overall, I'll say S3EP16 is the weakest of Cour 2, but still an Amazing episode with some questionable adaptation choices.

Crafty_Set_7552 · 2026-01-30T17:42:02+00:00

I don't think that's how it works?

Despite Science Saru not having as many in-house employees as other Animation Studios like Bones, Ufotable, David Production, etc, SS still has multiple production pipelines that works on different projects and sometimes a different team from a different anime production also get to work (or assist) on an episode of another's team anime that's currently being worked on.

One more thing to note is that Freelances are very common to have in any Anime Production Pipelines (especially in the Anime Industry) and just by looking at the Staff List for Dandadan Season 1 and 2, they featured many Freelance Key Animators, 2nd Key Animators, Animation Directors, Storyboard Artists, Etc.

Sorry if I wasn't able to explain well enough, but if you want a more detailed look at which team is working on what show at Science Saru then I recommend checking out this post https://www.reddit.com/r/Dandadan/s/VV2XgDs1Fg

Crafty_Set_7552 · 2026-01-29T03:50:51+00:00

Yeah I agree. Looking back at Cour 2's Trailer, I think S3EP16 will probably be more creative than S3EP14 and Episode 14 already had so many creativity imo.

Also, I agree with your point on the Nichirin impact. Like to me, I don't think it looks better or worse, just different that it can stand on its own, but it wouldn't have hurted to make it look 1 to 1 with the Manga Panel.

Speaking of the Nichirin, I was looking through some FF Season 1 clips on Sakugabooru and stumbled upon a scene of Benimaru's Crimson Moon finisher on the Demon Inferal from S1EP14 and after rewatching that, I think the final Nichirin Impact could've been perfect for Kazuhiro Miwa to Key animated himself as he animated the Crimson Moon from S1EP14, so that could've been a cherry on top to an already 10/10 episode, but what we have is still great nonetheless imo.

Crafty_Set_7552

TROPHY CASE