The highly anticipated anime adaptation of Yu Hibari’s romantic comedy light novel series, “Tenkō-saki no Seiso Karen na Bishōjo ga, Mukashi Danshi to Omotte Issho ni Asonda Osananajimi Datta Ken” (The Neat and Beautiful Girl at My New School Was My Childhood Friend Whom I Thought Was a Boy and I Played Together With), has released its latest promotional visual and a teaser video. These new assets offer fans a glimpse into the upcoming series, which is officially slated for a 2026 premiere.
A First Look at the ‘Tenbin’ Anime Adaptation
The recently unveiled teaser video and visual serve as the latest promotional materials for the anime, often affectionately shortened to “Tenbin.” These releases have generated considerable excitement among fans eagerly awaiting the adaptation of the popular light novel and manga series. While specific details about the content of this “2nd” teaser (if distinct from the initial one) are not widely differentiated in recent public searches, the available information points to the promotional efforts made in late August 2025 that confirmed the series is indeed on track for its television debut.
The Teaser Video: Setting the Tone
The teaser video provides an initial auditory and visual introduction to the world of Hayato Kirishima and Haruki Nikaido. Such teasers typically aim to establish the anime’s art style, animation quality, and the overall mood. For a romantic comedy, this often includes showcasing character designs, snippets of key interactions, and perhaps a hint of the comedic misunderstandings or heartwarming moments that define the series. Previous discussions around the initial teaser indicated its role in building anticipation for the full series.
The Promotional Visual: Capturing the Essence
Accompanying the video, the new promotional visual is designed to encapsulate the core premise of “Tenbin.” It likely features the two main protagonists, Hayato and Haruki, perhaps highlighting Haruki’s “neat and beautiful girl” persona juxtaposed with her true, more boisterous personality revealed only to Hayato. Visuals are crucial in conveying character dynamics and the romantic comedy genre elements at a glance, drawing in potential viewers.
The Story of Rediscovered Childhood Friendship
“Tenkō-saki no Seiso Karen na Bishōjo ga, Mukashi Danshi to Omotte Issho ni Asonda Osananajimi Datta Ken” centers on the charming and humorous tale of childhood friends Hayato Kirishima and Haruki Nikaido.
Plot Overview
The narrative begins with Hayato transferring to a new school in the city. There, he encounters a beautiful girl named Nikaido. What starts as a seemingly new acquaintance quickly turns into a delightful realization: this elegant girl is, in fact, Haruki, his childhood friend whom he had mistakenly believed to be a boy. Seven years prior, the two friends were separated when Haruki moved away, but they had promised to remain close. Now reunited, the series explores their journey as they navigate their rekindled friendship and blossoming romantic feelings, especially as Haruki, who is considered the most unapproachable “class idol” at school, reveals her true, unreserved self only to Hayato. The story delves into whether their bond and promises from childhood have endured the passage of time and the changes they’ve both undergone.
Origins: Light Novel and Manga
The anime adaptation draws its source material from a popular light novel series and its subsequent manga adaptation.
The Light Novel Series
Written by Yu Hibari and illustrated by Shiso, the “Tenkō-saki no Seiso Karen na Bishōjo ga, Mukashi Danshi to Omotte Issho ni Asonda Osananajimi Datta Ken” light novel series first began online serialization on the user-generated novel publishing website Shōsetsuka ni Narō in June 2020. Kadokawa Shoten later acquired the series, publishing it under their Kadokawa Sneaker Bunko imprint with illustrations by Shiso, beginning in February 2021. As of August 2025, nine volumes have been released.
The Manga Adaptation
A manga adaptation, illustrated by Kina Ōyama, was serialized online by Fujimi Shobo via the Niconico Seiga website as part of the Dra Dra Flat brand. It ran from September 2021 to June 2025, with seven tankōbon volumes collected and released.
Anticipation Builds for 2026 Release
The announcement of the anime adaptation was made during Kadokawa’s “Sneaker Bunko 35th Anniversary Festa!” livestream on September 24, 2023. Since then, confirmation has solidified that the series will be a television production, with its premiere firmly set for 2026. Fans are eagerly anticipating further details regarding the production staff, voice cast, and a more precise release window as the 2026 debut approaches.
