The anime world is buzzing with excitement as the announcement of the highly-anticipated “Toilet-Bound Hanako-kun Reboot” is finally upon us. The series, which initially aired in 2020, is making a comeback, promising to offer a more faithful adaptation of the manga source material. Fans are eagerly awaiting the return of their favorite characters, Hanako and Nene, voiced by the talented Megumi Ogata and Akari Kito, who have reprised their roles for the reboot.
With the new season set to premiere in 2023, enthusiasts can hardly contain their excitement. As we wait for more details on the cast and the reboot’s release, let’s take a moment to look back at the history of the series and what we can expect from the forthcoming season.
A Closer Look at the Series
The original “Toilet-Bound Hanako-kun” anime aired in 2020, lasting for a total of 12 episodes. Produced by animation company Lerche and directed by Masaomi Ando, the show gained massive popularity during its run, even surpassing the likes of “Haikyuu! Season 4” to become the second most-watched series of the Winter 2020 season. While the anime received praise for its unique storyline and mesmerizing character design, some fans were disappointed with the deviations from the original manga. The series went on to win Best Character Design at the 2021 Crunchyroll Awards and Anime of the Season (Winter 2020) at the 2020 Anime Trending Awards. It even secured fourth place in the 2020 Anime of the Year Awards at Anime Corner.
New toilet bound hanako kun anime project coming in 2023!! pic.twitter.com/aiNChUUQ1G
— Toilet bound hanako kun official (@tbhk_official) December 23, 2022
A Glimpse into the World of the Manga
The manga series that inspired the anime, “Toilet-Bound Hanako-Kun,” was penned by AidaIro and started appearing in the Monthly GFantasy magazine in 2014. Since then, it has released 18 volumes, with work on the next installment currently underway. While the exact release date for the forthcoming volume remains a mystery, fans of the series can still enjoy the English translations of the manga, thanks to publisher Yen Press. The company acquired the English translation license in 2017 and initially published the manga online. The print edition wasn’t released until 2020, with the first 16 volumes already available and the 17th volume slated for release on February 21, 2023. In addition, Yen Press has also published Volume 0, a precursor to the story, and an official art book.
The goal is to offer a more accurate, if not better, production for the remake. It is unknown whether the original animation company, Lerche, will return to manage the reboot’s output.
Expectations from the Reboot
The official website for “Toilet-bound Hanako-kun” has confirmed that the popular anime is being “restarted,” with a new season set to launch in 2023. Although no information about the cast of the new adaptation has been released, a teaser trailer has already been produced as part of the first announcement. The trailer features the familiar voices of Megumi Ogata and Akari Kito, reprising their roles as Hanako and Nene.
During its initial run, the anime grew in popularity and surpassed Haikyuu! Season 4 to become the second most popular series of the Winter 2020 season. Despite some criticism for omitting parts of the manga, audiences largely liked the anime.
As we prepare to re-enter the enchanting world of “Toilet-Bound Hanako-kun,” let us hold on to our talismans and get ready to be captivated once again by the magic of Hanako and Nene. With the promise of a more faithful adaptation, fans can hardly wait to see their favorite characters come back to life in the upcoming reboot.
