It finally happened. For over a decade, fans of the crude, hyper-stylized chaos that is Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt were left clutching a cliffhanger that felt more like a middle finger than a "to be continued." Then, Anime Expo 2023 changed everything. Trigger stepped onto that stage and confirmed what felt impossible: the Anarchy sisters were coming back.
The wait was agonizing. Seriously. Thirteen years is a lifetime in the anime industry. Entire genres have risen and fallen since the first season aired in 2010. To understand why new Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt episodes are such a massive deal, you have to look at the messy, legal, and creative divorce that happened behind the scenes at Studio Gainax.
The Long Road Back from Gainax Hell
Most people don't realize how close we came to never seeing this revival. The original series was a Gainax production. But if you’ve followed anime history, you know Gainax basically imploded. The creative DNA of that studio—the people who actually made the show—fled to form Studio Trigger. Hiroyuki Imaishi, the madman director behind the series, was at Trigger, but the rights to the IP were stuck in the decaying carcass of Gainax.
It was a stalemate.
Trigger couldn't make more without the rights. Gainax couldn't make more because they had no staff. For years, Imaishi would drop cryptic hints or "New PSG" sketches at conventions, but it always felt like wishful thinking. The breakthrough came when Trigger officially bought the rights from Gainax. They didn't just license it; they own it now. This is a rare move in an industry where production committees usually hold all the cards. It means the creators have total control over the new Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt episodes without some corporate suit telling them to tone down the filth.
What We Actually Know About the New Season
The title is officially New Panty and Stocking with Garterbelt. Simple. Direct. Maybe a little lazy? Or maybe it's a parody of the "New" branding we see in everything from video games to soft drinks.
The PV (promotional video) released by Trigger gave us exactly what we wanted: the same thick outlines, the American-cartoon-on-acid aesthetic, and the return of the Anarchy sisters. But things look... different. There’s a shot of multiple "Pantys" and "Stockings" falling from the sky. Are we getting a multiverse? Is this a soft reboot? Trigger is notorious for being unpredictable. They aren't the kind of studio to just give you a "Season 2" that feels like a retread.
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Honestly, the most shocking part of the teaser wasn't the art—it was the tone. It feels even more aggressive. With the move to Trigger, the animation looks more fluid, utilizing the "limited animation" style that Imaishi perfected in Promare and Cyberpunk: Edgerunners. We’re talking about high-octane, seizure-inducing visuals that make the 2010 original look tame by comparison.
The Return of the Original Staff
You can't have this show without the specific brand of insanity that Hiroyuki Imaishi provides. He’s back in the director's chair. Shigeto Koyama is back on character design. This is the "Dream Team" that redefined what TV anime could look like.
The voice cast is also a major point of contention for fans. While the Japanese cast is expected to return, the English dub is where the show arguably gained its cult status in the West. Jamie Marchi and Monica Rial's performances as the titular duo were legendary for their improvisational feel and sheer foul-mouthed energy. While nothing is set in stone for the dub yet, the fact that Trigger is so aware of their Western fanbase (they basically exist because of us) makes it highly likely they’ll try to keep that continuity.
Addressing the "Cliffhanger" and Fan Theories
Remember that ending? The one where Stocking reveals she’s actually a demon, slices Panty into 666 pieces, and eats them like a dessert?
Yeah. People were mad.
For years, fans debated if that was a joke or a legitimate plot point. In the years since, "Season 1.5" (the short "Geek Boat" shorts) and various art books have hinted that the story actually continues right from that betrayal. The new Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt episodes have the monumental task of explaining why Stocking turned, or if she’s even the "real" Stocking.
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There’s a popular theory circulating in the sakuga community that the new season will involve a literal "Hell-run," where Stocking has to retrieve Panty's pieces from the underworld. It fits the Trigger vibe. It allows for episodic monster-of-the-week chaos while maintaining a high-stakes overarching plot.
The Cultural Shift Since 2010
Let’s be real for a second. The world is a very different place than it was in 2010. Panty & Stocking was a product of an era where "edgy" humor was the default. Today, the internet is more sensitive, and the anime landscape is dominated by Isekai and wholesome "slice of life" shows.
Can a show this vulgar still work?
Probably. In fact, it might work better now because it’s such an outlier. While everything else is trying to be "precious" or "safe," Panty & Stocking is a middle finger to safety. It’s an homage to Western animation like Drawn Together and Ren & Stimpy, but filtered through a Japanese lens. Trigger knows their audience isn't looking for a sanitized version of these characters. They want the chaos.
Technical Specs and Production Quality
Expect a bump in visual fidelity. While the show mimics a "cheap" Western style, the actual animation behind it is incredibly complex. Trigger has been experimenting with a mix of 2D and 3D (CGI) that doesn't look like garbage. If you saw Cyberpunk: Edgerunners, you know they’ve mastered the art of "style over realism."
The soundtrack is another massive pillar. TeddyLoid, the musical genius behind the original OST, has been heavily involved with Trigger projects recently. If the new Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt episodes don't have a banger-heavy soundtrack filled with dirty house music and frantic techno, fans will riot. The music wasn't just background noise; it was the heartbeat of the show.
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What to Do While You Wait
The wait for the premiere isn't over yet. While Trigger has been showing off clips at private events and conventions, a global release date is still the "Golden Fleece" we're chasing.
To prep for the return, there are a few things you actually need to do:
- Watch the "Geek Boat" shorts. Most people missed these. They were released as part of a Blu-ray box set and actually bridge some of the gap between the seasons.
- Follow the "Trigger Night" events. Studio Trigger is surprisingly transparent. They do live streams where they drink beer and talk about production. This is where the real leaks happen.
- Lower your expectations for "logic." This isn't Attack on Titan. There isn't going to be a perfectly woven narrative. It's going to be loud, stupid, and beautiful.
The return of this series is a victory for creator rights. It proves that even when an IP is dead and buried in legal paperwork, the original creators can claw it back if they're stubborn enough. We aren't just getting more content; we're getting the version of the show that was supposed to exist before the studio system got in the way.
Keep an eye on official Studio Trigger social media channels for the next trailer drop. History suggests they like to drop major news during the big summer conventions, so keep your July clear. This isn't just another sequel—it's a thirteen-year-old debt finally being paid in full.
Actionable Next Step: Go back and re-watch the final episode of Season 1, specifically the post-credits scene. Most viewers turned it off early and missed the actual setup for the "Demon Stocking" arc. Understanding that specific betrayal is going to be essential for the first ten minutes of the new season. After that, check the official Studio Trigger "Panty & Stocking" website (which they recently updated) to see the new character sheets for the "New" designs. It’ll give you a much better sense of the visual direction they’re taking compared to the 2010 run.