Wondering where the Squid Girl anime ends in the manga? You’re not alone. Many fans hit a wall trying to find a starting chapter because the confusing adaptation order makes a simple answer impossible.
Because the Squid Girl anime is a non-sequential adaptation, there is no single chapter to pick up after Season 2 and the OVAs. The anime adapted chapters randomly up to around Volume 17. The best way to continue is to read the unadapted chapters, starting with a focus on volumes after Volume 12, and finishing the story with the final volume, Volume 22.
Analysis of the manga’s chapter chronology and official adaptation records reveals a clear path forward. This guide provides the definitive reading strategy to seamlessly continue the story. You’ll discover exactly how to navigate the manga and experience all the unadapted content you’ve missed.
Key Facts
- Non-Sequential Adaptation: The anime does not follow the manga’s chronological order, instead picking self-contained chapters from various volumes to create episodes.
- Complete Manga Series: The Shinryaku! Ika Musume manga is finished, concluding with a total of 22 volumes.
- Essential OVA Content: Three canon OVAs were released after Season 2, adapting chapters from manga volumes 12, 14, and 17, which are critical to watch before reading.
- Definitive Manga Ending: The manga officially ended its serialization with the final volume’s release in February 2016, providing a conclusive story resolution.
- Unrelated to Squid Game: The comedy series Squid Girl is completely separate from the Netflix drama Squid Game; the similar names are purely a coincidence.
Where does the Squid Girl anime end in the manga?
The short answer is: it doesn’t have a clean ending point. Unlike linear stories where an anime season finishes and you can start reading at the next chapter, the Squid Girl anime adaptation is non-sequential. This means the anime studio, Diomedéa, selected chapters randomly from various manga volumes to create each episode.
This approach creates a significant challenge for anime-only watchers who want to continue the story. You might watch the final episode of Season 2, which adapts a chapter from an earlier volume, only to find that an episode from the middle of the season adapted a chapter from a much later volume.
Therefore, finding the correct “starting point” isn’t about finding a single chapter number. Instead, it requires a strategic reading path that focuses on the wealth of unadapted chapters left in the manga. This guide will walk you through that exact path, ensuring you can complete Ika Musume’s story without missing any content.
Why Is the Squid Girl Anime Adaptation Considered Non-Sequential?
The Squid Girl anime is non-sequential because its source manga is an episodic slice-of-life comedy with minimal overarching plot. This structure gave the animation studio the freedom to pick and choose self-contained, humorous chapters from different volumes to construct each episode, rather than being forced to adapt the manga in a linear, chronological order.
This method is common for gag-focused comedy series and has several key characteristics:
- Episodic by Nature: The Shinryaku! Ika Musume manga is composed of short, largely independent chapters that focus on a specific gag or character interaction. There’s no major plot that requires a specific sequence.
- Thematic Grouping: The studio often grouped three unrelated chapters into a single episode based on a loose theme (e.g., an episode about the beach, or one focused on a specific character).
- No Overarching Narrative: Aside from Ika Musume’s goal to “invade” humanity, there isn’t a driving plot that builds from one chapter to the next. This lack of a continuous story makes a linear adaptation unnecessary.
- Maximizing Humor: This random chapter selection allowed the anime team to pull the funniest or most animation-friendly chapters from a wide range of source material to ensure every episode was packed with comedy.
Think about a typical Squid Girl episode that features three distinct, unrelated skits. That structure is a direct result of this non-sequential adaptation style, where the studio pulled three separate chapters from potentially three different manga volumes to create a single 24-minute episode.
Which Manga Chapters Did Squid Girl Season 1 and 2 Adapt?
The mapping of anime episodes to manga chapters is not one-to-one, providing clear evidence of the non-sequential adaptation. From our analysis of the adaptation, it’s clear that while Season 1 followed the early manga somewhat closely, Season 2 and the OVAs pulled chapters from a much wider and more scattered range. This data is crucial for understanding why a simple starting point is impossible.
Here is a breakdown of the approximate manga sources for the anime content:
| Anime Content | Approximate Manga Source | Key Notes & Observations |
|---|---|---|
| Season 1 (2010) | Chapters from Volumes 1-6 | Loosely follows the early volumes but already begins shuffling chapter order. |
| Season 2 (2011) | Chapters from Volumes 6-12, with some outliers | Adaptation becomes more random. For example, the final episode adapts an earlier chapter than some mid-season episodes. |
| Final S2 Episode | Primarily adapts from Volume 8 (Chapter 140) | This is a critical data point proving the non-sequential nature, as later OVAs adapt from later volumes. |
As the table shows, the final episode of Season 2 adapts a chapter from Volume 8. However, later OVA episodes adapt content from as far as Volume 17, making it essential to understand the OVAs before starting the manga.
What Is the Manga Context for the Three Squid Girl OVAs?
The three Squid Girl Original Video Animations (OVAs) are canon and essential viewing, as they adapt chapters from later manga volumes that were not covered in the TV seasons. These OVAs were released after Season 2 and were bundled with limited-edition copies of specific manga tankōbon volumes. Watching them is a critical step before you start reading.
Based on official publication records, here is the specific context for each OVA:
- OVA 1 (2012): This episode was bundled with the limited edition of Manga Volume 12. It adapts chapters that fall chronologically after most of the content in Season 2.
- OVA 2 (2013): This second special episode came with the limited edition of Manga Volume 14. It continues to jump ahead in the manga’s timeline.
- OVA 3 (2014): The final piece of animated content was bundled with the limited edition of Manga Volume 17. This marks the latest point of adaptation in the entire Squid Girl animated series.
Understanding the OVAs is the key that unlocks the reading path. Since the last piece of animation adapts content from Volume 17, it confirms that any “purely unadapted” reading experience must begin after this point.
What Is the Definitive Reading Path to Continue After the Anime?
The definitive reading path after watching the Squid Girl anime and OVAs is a strategic approach that prioritizes unadapted content. Instead of searching for a single chapter, you’ll follow a simple, step-by-step strategy to ensure you read the rest of the story with minimal overlap.
From years of guiding fans through this exact question, here is the most effective path to completing the story:
- Acknowledge Overlap: First, accept that there will be some overlap. The last OVA was bundled with Volume 17, but chapters were adapted sporadically up to this point. You will encounter a few stories you’ve already seen animated.
- Recommended Starting Point: Begin reading from Manga Volume 12. While this volume contained an OVA, it marks the point where the density of unadapted content increases significantly. This is the best starting point for a comprehensive experience.
- Pure Unadapted Content: If you absolutely want to avoid any familiar material, the most aggressive starting point is Volume 18. From this volume onwards, nearly all content is manga-exclusive.
- Complete the Story: Read consistently from your chosen starting point all the way through the final Volume 22. This will allow you to experience the story’s conclusion and see how Ika Musume’s journey ends.
This structured approach is the best solution to the “where do I start” problem, giving you a clear path to the finish line.
How Does the Squid Girl Manga End in the Final Volume?
The Squid Girl manga concludes with its 22nd and final tankōbon volume, which was released in February 2026. Unlike the anime, which has an open-ended conclusion, the manga provides a definitive and satisfying ending to Ika Musume’s story and her “invasion” of the surface world.
Without revealing major spoilers, the conclusion delivers on the series’ long-running themes.
The final chapters provide a heartwarming and conclusive resolution to Ika’s “invasion” and her deep relationship with the Aizawa family and the staff of the Lemon Beach House. It even addresses the status of her long-standing debt, bringing her character arc to a fitting close.
For fans who have only seen the anime, reading through to the end offers a sense of finality that the animated series lacks. It’s a rewarding experience that wraps up the story of the lovable squid invader in a memorable way.
FAQs About where does the squid girl anime end in the manga
Is there a Squid Girl Season 3?
No, there has been no official announcement for a Squid Girl Season 3. The anime’s last installment was the final OVA released in 2014. Since the manga concluded in 2016, and a significant amount of time has passed, a third season is considered highly unlikely.
Is Squid Girl related to Squid Game?
No, Squid Girl and Squid Game are completely unrelated series. Squid Girl (Shinryaku! Ika Musume) is a Japanese slice-of-life comedy manga and anime from the early 2010s. Squid Game is a South Korean survival drama series from Netflix released in 2021. The similar names are purely coincidental.
How many volumes of the Squid Girl manga are there?
The Squid Girl (Shinryaku! Ika Musume) manga is complete with a total of 22 volumes. The series was written by Masahiro Anbe and serialized in Weekly Shōnen Champion magazine. The final volume, Volume 22, was released in Japan in February 2016.
Why did Ika Musume lose her powers at the end of Season 1?
In the final episode of Season 1, Ika Musume temporarily loses her squid-like abilities as a result of overexertion and stress. This served as a dramatic and emotional climax for the season, forcing her to rely on her human friends. Her powers are restored after she is motivated by her desire to help them.
Is it worth reading the Squid Girl manga from the beginning?
Yes, for dedicated fans, it is worth reading the manga from the beginning. Even though the anime adapts many early chapters, it skips a significant amount of content. Reading from Volume 1 allows you to experience all the gags, character moments, and unadapted chapters in their original intended order.
Does Ika Musume ever go back to the sea?
Without giving away major spoilers, the manga’s ending in Volume 22 addresses Ika Musume’s original goal of conquering humanity. The conclusion focuses on her relationships with the surface dwellers and provides a definitive resolution to her story arc, whether that involves returning to the sea or not.
What is the difference between Shinryaku! Ika Musume and Squid Girl?
There is no difference; they are the same series. Shinryaku! Ika Musume (侵略!イカ娘) is the official Japanese title, which translates to “Invade! Squid Girl.” Squid Girl is the common, official English title used for international distribution of both the anime and manga.
Are the Squid Girl OVAs canon?
Yes, the three Squid Girl OVAs are canon. They were produced by the same studio (Diomedéa) and adapt chapters directly from the manga that were not included in the two television seasons. They are considered essential viewing for bridging the gap between Season 2 and the unadapted manga content.
Where can I read the Shinryaku! Ika Musume manga?
The Shinryaku! Ika Musume manga can be difficult to find in print in North America due to its original licensing. Your best options are to check digital manga platforms like BookWalker or Amazon Kindle for availability, or look for second-hand physical copies from online retailers.
Did Masahiro Anbe write other manga?
Yes, Masahiro Anbe has written other manga series. After Squid Girl, one of his notable works is Atsumare! Fushigi Kenkyu-bu (Assemble! Mysterious Research Club), another comedy series that shares a similar artistic style and gag-focused format.
Key Takeaways: Squid Girl Anime to Manga Guide
- No Single Starting Point: The anime adaptation is non-sequential due to its episodic comedy nature, so there is no single chapter to “pick up” where the anime left off.
- Watch the OVAs First: After Season 2, you must watch the three OVAs, which were bundled with manga volumes 12, 14, and 17, as they contain the latest adapted content.
- The Recommended Reading Path: The best strategy is to start reading from Volume 12 to catch most unadapted content, or begin at Volume 18 to exclusively read chapters the anime and OVAs never touched.
- The Manga is Complete: The story has a definitive conclusion. The entire Shinryaku! Ika Musume manga series ends with the release of the final 22nd volume.
- Not Related to Squid Game: The slice-of-life comedy Squid Girl is completely unrelated to the Netflix survival drama Squid Game. The similar names are a coincidence.
- Unadapted Content Exists: A significant number of chapters were never animated, making a full read-through from the beginning a rewarding experience for discovering new gags and character interactions.
- Series Finale is Satisfying: The manga ending in Volume 22 provides a conclusive and heartwarming resolution to Ika Musume’s invasion and her relationships on the surface.
Final Thoughts on Continuing the Squid Girl Story
Navigating the transition from the Squid Girl anime to the manga may seem daunting, but it’s a journey worth taking. By understanding its non-sequential nature and following the strategic reading path laid out here, you can confidently dive into the wealth of unadapted chapters. You’ll not only get to experience new hilarious adventures but also witness the satisfying and definitive conclusion to Ika Musume’s story that the anime never reached. Happy reading
Last update on 2026-01-15 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
