Obocchama-kun REBORN Anime Airs in 2027, Kamishiro Chie Returns as Chama

Kobayashi Yoshinori’s legendary gag manga Obocchama-kun is returning as a completely new anime, Obocchama-kun REBORN, set to air in 2027. The announcement comes as the manga marks 40 years since its serialization began, bringing the Showa-era comedy icon into the Reiwa era. Kamishiro Chie will reprise her role as the protagonist, Gobou Chama, and a teaser visual and teaser PV have been released.

From Monthly CoroCoro Comic to a National Phenomenon

Obocchama-kun began serialization in Monthly CoroCoro Comic in 1986. Created by Kobayashi Yoshinori, it became one of the defining gag manga of the Showa and Heisei eras. The story follows Gobou Chama, heir to the world-class wealthy Gobou Zaibatsu, as his extraordinary riches and outrageous gags drag everyone around him into slapstick comedy.

Alongside his family and classmates, Chama encounters a cast of strong personalities. The series grew beyond simple gags, with episodes full of friendship and warmth that quickly captured children’s hearts. In 1989, an anime adaptation began airing on TV Asahi, becoming a national hit and a social phenomenon.

The protagonist’s unique speech, known as Chama-go, also sparked a craze among children. Phrases such as "Ohayogurt" and "Sonna banana" were imitated in classrooms and on street corners. The series won the children’s category at the 34th Shogakukan Manga Award.

A New Anime Sparked by an Indian Hit

Since the anime ended in 1992, fans have waited for more. Obocchama-kun REBORN is now being produced as an entirely new anime. In 2021, the older anime series became an explosive hit in India during the COVID-19 pandemic, and a passionate offer from the region set the new project in motion. The new anime will include famous episodes from the original manga that were never animated, along with many original stories fully supervised by Kobayashi.

Kamishiro Chie Returns as the Voice of Chama

Kamishiro Chie, who has voiced Gobou Chama since the 1989 anime began and has been described as the very soul of Chama, will reprise the role. When offered the part, she reportedly accepted right away, saying, "I can still go strong! I want to do it!"

Reflecting on recording, Kamishiro said that her increased experience allowed her to work more deeply with the staff and create the series together. She called the recording studio so fun it felt precious. She also shared a message for fans: "Pokkun is back, bai! Everyone, watch and kurikuri!"

Original creator Kobayashi Yoshinori praised her voice: "The power of her voice is not normal. Voice actors really are amazing. There is no anime with such a clear voice. Chama’s voice is too intense. It’s amazing that she can still perform it with the same voice."

Teaser Visual and PV Show Chama Riding Back Into Reiwa

The teaser visual and teaser PV have also been revealed. Chama is known for traveling on a member of the Norikame-tai, his turtle squad, and the visual shows him arriving on a turtle. On a stage raining money and koban coins, he wears an energetic expression. The copy beside him reads "KAMEBACK.", signaling that the legendary figure who ran through Showa and Heisei has returned in Reiwa.

In the teaser PV, a helicopter arrives at an island, moves through a jungle, and explores a cave. After flames appear in Chama’s eyes, the doors of a mansion open. The same Chama appears, greeting viewers with "Gobusatango" in Chama-go. The footage shows his unpredictable behavior and ends with a barrage of Chama-go, including "Ohayogurt."

Kobayashi Yoshinori Looks Ahead to Reiwa

Kobayashi expressed great joy at the announcement. For children in Reiwa, he said, "I’m very much looking forward to what kind of feeling they’ll have and how they’ll accept it."

He added that Obocchama-kun may feel fresh to today’s children, who might discover that a manga can make them laugh so purely. He hopes some of them will be inspired to aim to become gag manga artists themselves. In that sense, he said, it is very meaningful for Obocchama-kun to survive.

Obocchama-kun REBORN is scheduled to air in 2027 on TV Asahi and its affiliates. Forty years after the original was born, the legendary gag work is drawing attention across generations and borders once again, ready to create a new whirlwind in Reiwa.

Full Comments

Kamishiro Chie as Gobou Chama

No matter how many years pass, Obocchama-kun has lived in the memories of many people, and Chama has always lived inside me.
The voice and energy from back then can still go strong! I want to do it!
Thanks to having more experience than I did then, I was able to become more deeply involved with the staff and create the work together! The recording studio was so fun it felt precious!
I can hardly wait for the broadcast!
"Pokkun is back, bai! Everyone, watch and kurikuri!"

Original Creator: Kobayashi Yoshinori

The generation that knows Obocchama-kun well is around 40 to 50 years old. Children of that generation watch old manga and anime, and in fact there are already kids who are fans of Obocchama-kun. When I do live events, children sometimes come with their parents to the dressing room. One child brought a worn-out paperback of Obocchama-kun, and it was so cute. If the anime airs, they will be able to watch a new work. I’m very much looking forward to what Reiwa children will feel and how they will accept it.

Recently, people aiming to become gag manga artists have disappeared. For today’s children, Obocchama-kun may seem fresh. They might think, "There is a manga that lets you laugh this purely." If possible, I hope people emerge from that who aim to become gag manga artists themselves. In that sense too, I think it is very meaningful that Obocchama-kun survives.

When I reread my old Obocchama-kun paperbacks, they are still extremely funny. I love making people laugh. Even at serious events, I believe laughter is necessary. I end up thinking about how to lead into a laugh, and I try to make people laugh. In any situation, I get ideas from Obocchama-kun. If this were an Obocchama-kun setup, this could happen, and ideas keep coming.

I think Chama’s appeal is that he looks cute. His eyes are round and cute. And he acts very honestly toward "desire." That is one of his charms. It is REBORN, after all. He is reborn once more. I hope people recognize again that gag manga existed in this world. I wish for a hit so big that I can no longer go outside!

TV Asahi International Business Development Department: Sumida Maiko

Obocchama-kun REBORN originally began in India.
In 2021, when the anime Obocchama-kun was developed in India, it became an explosive hit as an incredibly bright gag anime in a country suffering from the COVID-19 pandemic. Pushed by voices saying they absolutely wanted to see a sequel, the project started. Soon after, executives from an Indian broadcaster came to Japan to meet Kobayashi Yoshinori. Moved by their passion, an all-new anime worthy of the REBORN name was born as a Japan-India co-production! Now, crossing time and borders, it returns to Japan with "KAMEBACK." We hope both longtime Obocchama-kun fans and REBORN fans will enjoy it.

Broadcast and Staff Information