New series starring Takahiro Sakurai to follow mischievious sextuplets after they became adults

Studio Pierrot opened a website on Monday to reveal that Fujio Akatsuka's (Akko-chan, Tensai Bakabon, Hennako-chan) Osomatsu-kun gag manga is getting a third television anime series. The new series, titled Osomatsu-san , will be the first television anime in 27 years, and it follow the characters after they've become adults.

The staff are creating the new anime to commemorate what would have been Akatsuka's 80th birthday (Akatsuka passed away in 2008 at age 72).

Takahiro Sakurai (Code Geass' Suzaku, Mononoke's Medicine Seller, K's Izumo Kusanagi) will play the titular character Osomatsu (pictured below).

Studio Pierrot is again returning to animate the third series. Yoichi Fujita ( Gintama anime franchise) will direct the series, and Shū Matsubara (Gintama) is handling series composition. Naoyuki Asano (Saint Young Men, Shiranpuri) is designing the characters.

Additional staff members are as follows:

Art director: Seiki Tamura (K-ON, The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya)

Color key: Yukiko Kakita (Gurren Lagann, Hanamaru Kindergarten)

Director of photography: Toru Fukushi (Sgt. Frog, Fullmetal Alchemist)

Editing: Kumiko Sakamoto (Deadman Wonderland, Noragami)

Music: Yukari Hashimoto (Toradora!, Penguindrum)

Music Production: Avex Pictures

Sound director: Hiromi Kikuta (Magi - The Kingdom of Magic, Haikyu!!)

Sound production: Rakuonsha

The original manga and "high tension comedy" TV anime centered on the Matsuno household, which has six naughty and mischievous sons (who are sextuplets). All of the sextuplets, including the eldest Osomatsu, are all in love with the same girl, Totoko. The original series followed the family when the sons were 10 years old.

Other classic characters from the original manga such as Iyami, Chibita, Dekapan, Hatabō, and Dayōn will appear in the new series.

The first 56-episode series aired in Japan in 1966-1967. Akira Shigino (Time Bokan: Royal Revival, Marude Dameo, Crayon Shin-chan: Otakebe! Kasukabe Yasei Ōkoku) directed the series, and Mainichi Broadcasting, Studio Zero, and Children's Corner produced the series. Studio Pierrot animated the second 86-episode series, which aired from 1988-1989. Shigino served as chief director.

Akatsuka launched the Osomatsu-kun manga in Shogakukan's Weekly Shonen Sunday magazine in 1962, and the manga ran in the magazine until 1969. The manga then ran in Weekly Shonen King from 1972-1973, and then in Comic Bonbon from 1987-1990. The compiled manga volumes have more than 10 million copies in print.

Sources: animeanime.jp, Comic Natalie

Image © Fujio Akatsuka / Osomatsu-san Production Committee