The upcoming anime adaptation of Ghost Mikawa’s light novel series, My Friend’s Little Sister Has It In for Me! (Japanese title: Tomodachi no Imōto ga Ore ni Dake Uzai, also known as ImoUza), has revealed a brand new teaser trailer and visual, stirring excitement among fans. Set to premiere in October 2025, the series promises a delightful blend of romantic comedy and sibling rivalry. Here’s a breakdown of what we know so far:
What’s the Story About?
My Friend’s Little Sister Has It In for Me! centers around Akiteru Ōboshi, a high school student who prioritizes efficiency and avoids unnecessary relationships. He’s content with his simple life and only has one close friend, Ozuma Kohinata. However, his life takes a chaotic turn when Ozuma’s younger sister, Iroha Kohinata, starts constantly bothering him.
Iroha, known at school as a kind, diligent, and popular honor student, acts completely different around Akiteru, showing him nothing but playful scorn and teases. Adding to the complications, Akiteru’s uncle, who runs a powerful tech company called Honey Place Works, offers Akiteru and his game development group a spot in his company, but with a condition: Akiteru must pretend to be his cousin Mashiro Tsukinomori’s boyfriend.
This fake relationship throws Akiteru’s life into further disarray, especially concerning Iroha’s reaction. The story explores the dynamics between Akiteru, Iroha, Mashiro, and their group of friends as they navigate high school, creative projects, and unexpected romantic entanglements.
A Glimpse at the New Visual and Trailer
The newly released teaser trailer offers a sneak peek into the anime’s animation style and comedic tone. It showcases Akiteru’s interactions with Iroha, highlighting her teasing nature and his exasperated reactions. The trailer also introduces other key characters and hints at the developing relationships within the group.
The new visual features Iroha alongside Mashiro, teasing the love triangle (or perhaps more?) that will unfold throughout the series. Iroha’s mischievous expression perfectly captures her “annoying little sister” persona, while Mashiro’s presence suggests her growing importance in Akiteru’s life.
Meet the Characters
Here’s a quick rundown of the main characters:
- Akiteru Ōboshi (大星 暁輝): Voiced by Haruki Ishiya, Akiteru is the protagonist, a high school student who values efficiency and tries to avoid complicated relationships. He considers himself an average student but has a hidden side to him.
- Iroha Kohinata (小比奈 彩羽): Voiced by Sayumi Suzushiro, Iroha is Ozuma’s younger sister and a popular honor student at school. However, she’s known to be quite the tease, especially towards Akiteru. She aims to become a voice actress.
- Mashiro Tsukinomori (月ノ森 真白): Voiced by Tomori Kusunoki, Mashiro is Akiteru’s cousin and classmate. She’s a gentle person but shows a cold demeanor towards Akiteru, she is also a popular novelist who writes under the pen name Namako Makigai.
- Ozuma Kohinata (小比奈 逢羽): Voiced by Soma Saito, Ozuma is Iroha’s older brother and Akiteru’s best friend. He’s described as kind, caring, and a genius programmer.
- Sumire Kageishi (影石 菫): Voiced by Kana Hanazawa, Sumire is Akiteru’s teacher and the guidance counselor. She is secretly an illustrator under the pen name Shikibu Murasaki.
- Midori Kageishi: Voiced by Reina Kondou, Sumire’s little sister and a member of the theater club.
The Creative Minds Behind the Anime
The anime adaptation is being produced by studio BLADE, with a talented team of creators:
- Director: Kazuomi Koga (Rent-a-Girlfriend)
- Series Composition: Touko Machida (Lucky Star, Wake Up, Girls!)
- Character Design: Katsuyuki Sato (My Stepmom’s Daughter Is My Ex, Hokkaido Gals Are Super Adorable!)
- Music: Tsugumi Tanaka, Kaho Sawada, Kanade Sakuma, and Hanae Nakamura
From Light Novel to Anime: The Journey So Far
My Friend’s Little Sister Has It In for Me! began as a light novel series written by Ghost Mikawa and illustrated by Tomari. Published by SB Creative under their GA Bunko imprint, the first volume was released in April 2019. As of March 2025, the series has eleven volumes.
The light novel gained popularity, leading to a manga adaptation by Hira Hiraoka, which began serialization in Square Enix’s Manga Up! online web service in December 2019. The manga has been compiled into nine tankōbon volumes as of March 2025.
The anime adaptation was first announced in January 2021, generating considerable anticipation among fans of the series. Now, with the release of the teaser trailer and visual, the hype is building up even more.
Themes and Tropes
My Friend’s Little Sister Has It In for Me! explores several popular themes and tropes commonly found in romantic comedies and slice-of-life anime:
- The “Annoying Little Sister” Archetype: Iroha embodies this trope, constantly teasing and playfully tormenting Akiteru, creating humorous situations and romantic tension.
- Fake Relationship: Akiteru’s forced relationship with Mashiro adds another layer of complexity to the story, leading to comedic misunderstandings and potential romantic developments.
- Love Triangles: The dynamic between Akiteru, Iroha, and Mashiro hints at a classic love triangle, with each girl vying for Akiteru’s attention in their own unique way.
- Hidden Talents and Secret Identities: The characters possess hidden talents and secret identities, adding depth and intrigue to the story. For example, Mashiro is a popular novelist and Sumire is a subject teacher who secretly works as an illustrator under a pen name.
- Creative Pursuits: The “5th Floor Alliance,” a group consisting of Akiteru, Ozuma, Iroha, Mashiro and Sumire, collaborate on game development and support each other’s talents.
Where to Catch the Anime
My Friend’s Little Sister Has It In for Me! is scheduled to premiere in October 2025 on the NUMAnimation programming block on TV Asahi and its affiliates, as well as BS11.
Final Thoughts
With its charming characters, comedic situations, and a blend of romance and slice-of-life elements, My Friend’s Little Sister Has It In for Me! promises to be a delightful addition to the anime landscape in Fall 2025. The new teaser trailer and visual have only heightened the anticipation, and fans eagerly await the anime’s premiere to see how the story unfolds.
