Get ready to slay some Titans, anime fans. After a long wait, it looks like Attack on Titan is making its long-awaited comeback. The beloved (and insanely brutal) series will be returning for its second season in April 2017 according to Kodansha Comics.

UP NEXT: Attack on Titan Season 2 Confirmed

The publisher confirmed the series’ return with their most recent publication of Attack on Titan. The manga’s 21st volume featured a special wraparound jacket band that proclaimed the heralded release. For fans, this news is something they have been waiting for now. The critically acclaimed series was originally meant to make its comeback sooner, but delays were made in order to give animators more source material from Hajime Isayama’s thrilling manga.

When it comes to the second season, Season 1 episode director Masashi Koizuka will be moving up to helm this next installment of Attack on Titan. Director Tetsuro Araki will still be involved with the project as chief director.

Of course, fans have known for some time now that a second season of Attack on Titan would be on its way. The confirmation was made back in November 2014, and plans at that time estimated the new season to debut in 2016. Clearly, those plans did not pan out as expect, leaving fans to revisit the original Attack on Titan episodes in a fit of nostalgic desperation.

Since Attack on Titan’s first season wrapped, the series has become an international hit amongst audiences. The first 25-episode season debuted in 2013 and can be streamed online at sights like Hulu. As fans waited for a second season to come around, Attack on Titan has been busy expanding itself into a full-on franchise. The manga has since been adapted into various side manga series, light novels, and even live-action films. In Japan, the first of two films based on the post-apocalyptic series debuted in July 2015 with the second following in September.

Fans are undoubtedly excited to hear that Attack on Titan is now moving forward in the right direction. However, the April 2017 date is one which many long-time anime fans had expected simply because of Japan and its television structure. When it comes to Japan, there network programming operates in a very particularly fashion. Instead of spring and fall premieres, Japanese television has four cycles wherein new programs are premiered. Each cycle, which is called a cour, runs for three months to follow the four seasons. For anime series, one cour usually churns out 12-13 episodes, so the first season of Attack on Titan premiered over two cours with its 20+ episodes.

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Fans were already told earlier this year that Season 2 of Attack on Titan would return in spring 2017. Wit Studio teased the comeback July at a Shingeki Matsuri event in Japan and even released a staff list to accompany the announcement. The new season has been in development since November 2014, but its original release slated for 2016 was pushed back to give the Attack on Titan manga room to expand its storylines.

So, are you excited to see Attack on Titan make its long-awaited return? Let us know if you will be watching the Survey Corps take on more behemoths in the comments below!

[H/T] Anime News Network