Kimengumi, the famous manga and anime series from the 80s, is officially returning to screens in January 2026 with big news for nostalgic fans. The welcome comes from none other than Kenichi Ogata, who is reprising his iconic role as Principal Sakio Kochō after almost four decades. The new version, however, will not be a simple repeat. Meanwhile, the team behind the project decided to update the comedy for modern times, transporting the antics of the student group from the Showa period to the modern Reiwa era. The premiere took place last Friday, January 9th, in Fuji TV’s Noitamina block, with the aim of captivating both those who grew up with the original series and a new generation of viewers.
The return of a classic like High School! Kimengumi is relevant because it marks a growing movement in Japan to revive beloved franchises with a new look. In this way, the production seeks to balance nostalgia and innovation. The plot continues to focus on the group of five eccentric students who form the “Funny Faces Club” and their adventures to get closer to the most popular girls in school. On the other hand, the entire context and cultural references will be updated, which promises to generate fresh humor connected to the youth of 2026. Despite this, the essence of the slapstick comedy and caricatured characters, which made Motoei Shinzawa’s manga famous in Weekly Shonen Jump between 1980 and 1987, remains intact.
A Heavyweight Team Behind the Scenes
To lead this revival, the production has brought together experienced and new talents. Kazuaki Seki, known for his work on live-action projects and music videos for artists like Perfume, is taking on anime direction for the first time. He will be supported by Animation Studio Seven. Additionally, Shigeru Murakoshi, screenwriter of hits like Zombie Land Saga, will be responsible for the series’ scripts. The soundtrack also receives special attention, with producer Night Tempo in charge of the music. In this way, even the classic opening theme, “Ushiroyubi Sasaregumi,” will get a re-recorded and rearranged version for modern times, performed by Haruka Shiraishi and Ikumi Hasegawa.
The release of the new anime coincides with a moment of rediscovery for the original work. This is because, last summer, REMOW made the episodes of the 1985 series available with English subtitles on YouTube. Therefore, fans all over the world, including in Brazil where otaku culture is strong, had the chance to revisit or discover for the first time the origins of Kimengumi. With this strategy, the new project not only pays homage to the past but also builds a solid bridge to the future, proving that good stories and charismatic characters are truly timeless.
