Hiroto Ida’s popular comedy manga series, Omae wa Mada Gunma o Shiranai (You Don’t Know Gunma Yet), is set to receive a new “light anime” adaptation titled Omae wa Mada Gunma o Shiranai ~Reiwa-ban~ (You don’t know GUNMA yet. ~Reiwa Version~). The announcement was made by publishing and anime production company IMAGICA Infos, with the series slated to premiere in January 2026. The new adaptation will be broadcast on SKY PerfecTV!’s Tetsudō Channel.
Reviving the Gunma Charm with a New Format
This upcoming “light anime” marks a fresh take on the beloved series, which previously inspired both live-action and traditional anime adaptations. The new production method aims to bring more manga stories to the screen efficiently, catering to a growing demand for diverse anime content.
What is “Light Anime”?
“Light anime” is an innovative production method developed by Dai Nippon Printing (DNP) designed to significantly cut down on the time and cost associated with conventional animation. Unlike traditional anime, which involves drawing entirely new animation frames, “light anime” utilizes the original manga manuscripts as its foundation. This process involves digitally removing speech bubbles and other elements from the manga panels, then coloring them and adding necessary actions to create an animated sequence. This approach allows for the adaptation of a greater number of manga titles that might otherwise be deemed too costly or time-consuming for traditional animation, while also preserving the distinct artistic style of the original work. IMAGICA Group and DNP have entered a business partnership for the full-scale production of “light anime,” indicating a growing trend in the industry.
The Enduring Appeal of “You Don’t Know Gunma Yet”
Hiroto Ida’s Omae wa Mada Gunma o Shiranai manga chronicles the comedic misadventures of Nori Kamitsuki, a high school student who moves from Chiba Prefecture to a fictionalized version of Gunma Prefecture, located northwest of Tokyo. Before his relocation, Kamitsuki’s perception of Gunma is largely shaped by its fearsome online reputation. Upon arriving, he quickly encounters locals who possess an intense pride and love for Gunma’s unique culture, leading to humorous cultural clashes and discoveries.
Manga Origins and Previous Adaptations
The original You Don’t Know Gunma Yet manga was written and illustrated by Hiroto Ida. It began its serialization online through Shinchosha’s Kurage Bunch website in October 2013 and concluded in May 2019, compiled into a total of 11 tankōbon volumes.
The series has seen multiple adaptations across different media prior to this new “light anime” project:
- Live-Action Television Series: A four-episode live-action TV drama aired in March 2017, starring Shotaro Mamiya as Nori Kamitsuki.
- Live-Action Film: A live-action film adaptation followed, released in July 2017, also featuring Shotaro Mamiya.
- Anime Television Series: A 12-episode anime television series, produced by Asahi Production, aired from April to June 2018. Crunchyroll streamed this series to international audiences under the title You Don’t Know Gunma Yet.
The upcoming Omae wa Mada Gunma o Shiranai ~Reiwa-ban~ aims to continue the comedic exploration of Gunma’s distinctive culture, leveraging the “light anime” format to bring Ida’s storytelling to fans in a fresh, timely manner. Fans can look forward to its debut in January 2026.
