Will There Be a Sequel to This?

|211x300px|An exception to the rule: Slayers Revolution

How likely is it for an anime series to get a sequel?

I get asked this question a lot on YouTube: ''Hey, I'm a big fan of Show X, and I heard they're making another season. Is it true?''

Or, similar but related: Hey, I'm a huge fan of Show Y. What do you think are the chances they'll make a second season?

Here's the thing:  In Japan, production crews come together for each individual season of a show. If it's popular, they'll stay together to work on another season or a spin-off, or the company that owns the rights will commission another season.

However, if a couple years pass with no new seasons, the series is probably passe. Things move fast over there.

The monkey-wrench in this? Us Americans. Shows that made only a minor splash in Japan (like Trigun and Cowboy Bebop) will come over here and do well enough to prompt the Japanese owners to commission new works (like the movies for both those shows).

And, of course, there are the occasional surprises, like Hellsing Ultimate and Slayers Revolution. But they are very few and very far between.

Basically, keep an eye on AnimeNewsNetwork.com for announcements, and beyond that, who can say?

I'd like to know: Has your experience been different?