School romantic comedies add a new contender to the fray. In an official announcement by DMM Pictures, the production committee confirmed that the popular manga Kusunoki-san wa Koukou Debut ni Shippai Shite Iru (known in English as Kusunoki’s Flunking Her High School Glow-Up), written and illustrated by Mitsuki Mii, will finally get the long-awaited animated adaptation.

The story follows Keisuke Shizuki, a young man who successfully reinvented himself after a disastrous and embarrassing middle school experience. His plan for a peaceful high school life is shattered when he reunites with Shizuka Kusunoki, an ex-classmate who seems to have achieved the ultimate glow-up and is now considered the most beautiful girl in their grade. However, Kusunoki’s perfect facade hides an extremely awkward teenager who has no idea how to hold a simple conversation. To help her fit in, they agree to a peculiar temporary friendship that inevitably transforms into a genuine and chaotic teenage romance.

A promising production team

To ensure this endearing franchise comes to life with top quality, production has been entrusted to a collaboration between the studios Passione and Hayabusa Film. The director’s chair will be occupied by Midori Yui, who will also oversee the series’ scripts. For the aesthetic design, the talented Koji Haneda will handle the character designs, while the acclaimed composer Hyadain (known for his work in Rent-A-Girlfriend) will create an unforgettable soundtrack. The production has already revealed the first members of its voice cast.

Cast

• Yuto Uemura as Keisuke Shizuki.
• Tomori Kusunoki as Shizuka Kusunoki.

Given that Passione studio has a great knack for animating romantic comedies with impeccable visuals, do you think they’ll fully capture the charm of these two awkward teens, or will it get lost among the many school series in the current market?