GATE fans, the sequel is finally moving from “eh, is this really happening?” territory into something more concrete. GATE 2: Tides of Conflict has revealed a new key visual, and the production is also doing something pretty interesting for its ending theme: letting a worldwide Vocaloid contest decide the song.
The new visual was shared by anime platform Oshi, which is involved in the project alongside Kasagi Labo and GENCO. The anime is currently planned to air on TV in 2027, so this is still a long wait, but at least we are now getting clearer signs that the sequel is actively in production.
The most fun bit here is the music angle. GATE 2 is collaborating with VOCALOID Collection Summer 2026, and the winning song from that event will become the anime’s ending theme. Submissions are open globally, meaning creators outside Japan can also take a shot. For SEA Vocaloid producers and utaite scene people, this is the kind of opportunity that usually feels super far away — but this one is actually built around worldwide participation.
There is one extra twist: the contest entries will use Vocaloid synthesized vocals, but the final winning song will later get a new version with a different vocalist. That vocalist will be selected through a separate collaboration with the Utaite Collection event in fall 2026. Basically, the ending theme starts from a Vocaloid creator contest, then gets transformed into an anime-ready version with a selected singer.
For Malaysian anime fans, this is worth watching even if you are only casually into GATE. Anime theme songs are already a huge gateway into fandom culture here — just look at how many anisong covers, karaoke sessions, and con performances happen around KL, Penang, and Johor events. A major anime using a global Vocaloid-linked contest gives indie creators and cover scene fans a more direct reason to pay attention.
Oshi will also bring GATE 2 to its booth at Anime Expo, where production materials will be shown. The platform is positioning itself as a place where fans can take a more active role in anime production, with behind-the-scenes access and collaboration between creators, rights holders, licensees, and fans. Oshi is still in soft launch, so we will have to see how much of that becomes genuinely useful versus just another “fan engagement” promise.
On the staff side, Tōru Takahashi is directing the anime at Studio M2. Tatsuhiko Urahata, who worked on the first GATE anime, is back as writer. Shigeru Fujita is handling character designs, while Yoshiaki Fujisawa returns to compose the music.
For anyone who needs a refresher: GATE 2: Tides of Conflict adapts Takumi Yanai’s sequel light novel series, following the original Gate: Jiei-tai Ka no Chi ni te, Kaku Tatakaeri novels. The first GATE TV anime aired in 2015, followed by another season in 2016, with Crunchyroll streaming both. The franchise also has manga adaptations, including Satoru Sao’s long-running manga and newer adaptations tied to GATE 2 and the prequel GATE 0.
So yeah, 2027 is not exactly around the corner, but this rollout is already more interesting than the usual “new visual dropped, please clap” anime news cycle. If the Vocaloid contest lands properly, GATE 2 could end up with an ending song that feels genuinely community-powered — and maybe, just maybe, someone from SEA gets into the mix.
Source: Anime News Network