by “It’s the Reiwa era now, right?” Japanese fans are saying as one of the most recognizable comedy anime from the Heisei era makes an unexpected return in video-game form.
More than 35 years after the original Kyatto Ninden Teyandee anime first premiered in Japan, a brand-new 2D action RPG based on the classic series is finally playable. The game, officially titled ** Kyatto Ninden Teyandee: Fukkatsu no Nyankii! Yappari Ashita wa Nippon Bare! **, is making its world premiere playable demo appearance at Tokyo Game Show 2026.
The demo is available at the Red Dunes Games booth in Hall 7 during Tokyo Game Show 2026, which runs from September 17 to September 21 at Makuhari Messe in Chiba. The project is being developed by Dutch studio BLAST ZERO and distributed worldwide by UAE-based Red Dunes Games.
For longtime viewers, however, the biggest attraction is not simply the gameplay. It is the fact that familiar characters such as Yattaro, Sukashi, Pururun, Karamaru, and Otama are returning, with several members of the original Japanese voice cast involved in the new project.
After more than three decades, the world of Kyatto Ninden Teyandee is moving again.
A 35-Year-Old Anime Is Getting a New Game.
Kyatto Ninden Teyandee is a science-fiction action-comedy anime produced by Tatsunoko Production. It originally aired in Japan from 1990 to 1991, running for 54 episodes.
The series takes place in Edoropolis, a fictional city populated by animal-shaped robots. At the center of the story is the secret ninja team known as the Nyankee, who protect the city while battling the evil Karakara clan.
The anime combined colorful character designs, ninja action, science-fiction elements, slapstick comedy, exaggerated expressions, and extremely fast-paced jokes. That unusual combination helped make it stand out from many other television anime of its era.
Internationally, the series became particularly well known under the localized title ** Samurai Pizza Cats**. The Western version became famous for its energetic comedy and heavily localized dialogue, giving the franchise an additional identity outside Japan.
Now, more than 35 years after the Japanese series began, the characters are returning in an entirely new interactive adventure.
The New Game Makes Its World Premiere at Tokyo Game Show 2026
The playable demo of the new Kyatto Ninden Teyandee game is being shown to the public for the first time at Tokyo Game Show 2026.
The event began on September 17, with business days running before the general public days beginning September 19. The game is being showcased at the Red Dunes Games booth in Hall 7.
Unlike a simple trailer or promotional video, the TGS presentation allows visitors to actually play the game and experience its combat system for themselves.
The demo lets players switch between three playable characters: Yattaro, Sukashi, and Pururun. Each character can participate in battles against familiar enemies while exploring the game’s version of Edoropolis.
This makes the Tokyo Game Show appearance especially important for fans who have been waiting to see whether the new game can successfully recreate the fast-moving energy of the original anime.
The First Teaser Already Created Nostalgia
Before the playable demo arrived, the developers released a teaser showing footage from the upcoming game.
One of the most talked-about moments shows what appears to be Yattaro facing his longtime rival Karamaru.
For fans who grew up watching the original anime, simply seeing the two characters animated again after roughly 35 years was enough to generate a strong nostalgic response.
The teaser immediately raised questions about how Karamaru will fit into the new story and whether the game will feature more substantial encounters between the two characters.
The new footage also attempts to reproduce the visual feeling of 1990s animation, making the project look intentionally different from many modern, highly polished 3D anime games.
New Animation Was Created for the Game
One of the most interesting aspects of the project is that the developers did not simply reuse footage from the original anime.
According to information revealed around the Tokyo Game Show demo, the animation footage used in the game is newly produced by BLAST ZERO.
The developers have deliberately created these sequences to evoke the appearance and atmosphere of 1990s cel animation. The result is intended to feel like a continuation of the original visual identity rather than a complete redesign of the characters.
MANTANWEB also reported that the new footage does not simply recycle old scenes. BLAST ZERO created the animation specifically for the game and paid attention to small details within the world, including background elements and characters around the Pizza Cat setting.
That attention to detail is one reason fans have described the project as feeling surprisingly close to the original era.
The Original Scriptwriter Is Back
Perhaps the most important connection to the original anime is Satoru Akahori.
Akahori was involved in the original series’ composition and scriptwriting, and he is now participating in the new game by writing its Japanese demo script.
That means the project is not simply using the Kyatto Ninden Teyandee name and characters for nostalgia. Someone directly involved with the original anime is helping shape the new material.
Akahori himself described his return after 35 years as something close to a miracle and praised the quality of the new project.
For longtime fans, his involvement gives the new game a particularly strong connection to the original anime.
Familiar Voice Actors Return
The voice cast is another major reason the game has attracted attention.
The new project features:
- Kappei Yamaguchi as Yattaro
- Seiichiro Yamashita as Sukashi
- Ai Orikasa as Pururun
- Koichi Yamadera as Karamaru
- Satomi Koorogi as Otama
- Kenyu Horiuchi as the narrator
The casting also includes a notable change. Seiichiro Yamashita takes over the role of Sukashi from Jurota Kosugi for the new game.
Meanwhile, Koichi Yamadera returns to the role of Karamaru, while Satomi Koorogi takes part as Otama.
Yamadera’s return is particularly nostalgic because he is one of Japan’s most recognizable veteran voice actors, and hearing him perform Karamaru again after decades has become one of the project’s biggest talking points.
Kappei Yamaguchi Is Excited to Be Yattaro Again
Kappei Yamaguchi, who returns as Yattaro, has also shared his enthusiasm for the project.
His comments emphasize how unusual it is to see these characters together again after such a long gap. He expressed happiness at being able to revisit the world of the Nyankee and encouraged fans to enjoy watching the characters run around freely once again.
For younger viewers who may know Yamaguchi primarily from his other famous roles, this project offers a chance to hear him return to one of his earlier characters.
A New Game, Not a Simple Remake
For beginners, it is important to understand that this project is not a remastered version of the 1990 anime.
It is a new 2D action RPG based on the franchise, featuring new gameplay, newly produced animation, and new scripted material.
Players can switch between Yattaro, Sukashi, and Pururun during the demo and fight familiar enemies within Edoropolis.
The developers have also emphasized that the goal is not simply to reproduce the anime scene-for-scene. Instead, they want to create a new adventure that feels true to the original’s spirit and humor.
That distinction is important because the project is being positioned as a continuation of the franchise’s identity rather than simply a digital archive of an old anime.
Why the Samurai Pizza Cats Connection Matters
Many international fans may recognize the name ** Samurai Pizza Cats** more easily than Kyatto Ninden Teyandee.
The Japanese original and the international version have an unusual history.
When the anime was localized in the early 1990s, the overseas Samurai Pizza Cats version became known for its highly comedic, heavily adapted dialogue. This helped the series develop a distinctive reputation outside Japan.
The new game is being developed with that international history in mind.
BLAST ZERO has previously discussed working with the original Japanese scriptwriter while also wanting the English and Japanese versions of the game to retain humor appropriate to their respective versions of the franchise.
That makes the game particularly interesting for longtime international fans who remember the show as Samurai Pizza Cats.
Why Does the Game Look So Much Like a 1990s Anime?
One of the first things fans notice about the new footage is its deliberate retro appearance.
The characters are colorful, the animation has a hand-drawn feeling, and the newly produced scenes are designed to resemble the visual language of the original anime.
This is not an accident.
Rather than completely modernizing the character designs or turning the project into a realistic 3D action game, BLAST ZERO appears to be emphasizing the exaggerated movement and bright visual style that made the original series recognizable.
For fans who remember watching the anime during the Heisei era, this creates an unusual effect: the game is technically a modern production, but its visual presentation intentionally feels like something that could have come from the 1990s.
Fans Are Asking, “Is This Really From the Reiwa Era?”
The announcement quickly produced nostalgic reactions from Japanese fans.
Some longtime viewers have expressed surprise that a series they watched as children is suddenly receiving a completely new game.
Reactions include sentiments such as:
“It’s so nostalgic. I watched it when I was a kid.”
Other fans have joked about the generation gap, asking how a 1990s anime can suddenly receive a new game in the Reiwa era.
There has also been excitement about hearing Kappei Yamaguchi’s voice as Yattaro again and seeing the familiar characters animated in a style that recalls their original appearance.
The overall reaction has been driven heavily by nostalgia, but the positive attention is also focused on the apparent care being put into the project.
The Project Was First Announced in 2025
Although the playable demo is making headlines at Tokyo Game Show 2026, the game itself was first announced earlier.
In February 2025, BLAST ZERO and Red Dunes Games revealed the new Samurai Pizza Cats action RPG, announcing plans for a 2026 worldwide release.
At the time, the project was described as a 2D action RPG coming to major platforms, including PC. The initial announcement immediately attracted attention because of the age of the original anime and the decision to revive it as a modern game.
The first promotional material also helped demonstrate that the project was taking the original series seriously rather than using the name simply as a nostalgia-driven brand.
What Can Players Do in the Demo?
The Tokyo Game Show demo provides a first practical look at the game’s gameplay.
Players can switch between Yattaro, Sukashi, and Pururun, allowing the three members of the Nyankee team to take part in battles.
The game combines traditional 2D action with role-playing elements and places the characters inside the familiar world of Edoropolis.
The demo also includes encounters with recognizable enemy characters and newly produced animated sequences.
This means fans attending Tokyo Game Show are getting more than a short technical demonstration. They can experience how the classic characters have been adapted into a modern playable format.
Worldwide Release Is Planned for 2026
The game is currently planned for a worldwide release in 2026.
It is being developed by BLAST ZERO, a Dutch studio known for its action-oriented projects, while Red Dunes Games, based in the United Arab Emirates, is handling worldwide distribution.
Current listings identify the game for PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S, although platform availability and release details can vary by region.
A Steam page is already available, while the broader release rollout is still being finalized.
As of the Tokyo Game Show 2026 demo, a precise worldwide release date has not been announced.
Why This Revival Is Different
There are plenty of anime revivals based on older franchises, but Kyatto Ninden Teyandee has several unusual advantages.
First, the original anime’s creative team is represented through Satoru Akahori.
Second, several familiar Japanese voice actors have returned.
Third, the new animation is deliberately designed to resemble the visual style of the original series.
And fourth, the project is being developed internationally, with a Dutch studio and UAE-based publisher bringing a Japanese 1990s property to a modern worldwide gaming audience.
That combination makes the project more than a simple nostalgia release.
A New Generation Can Discover the Nyankee
For people who watched Kyatto Ninden Teyandee during its original television run, the game is an opportunity to revisit a beloved part of their childhood.
For younger players, however, this may be their first introduction to the franchise.
That could be one of the most interesting aspects of the revival.
The original anime’s basic premise is easy to understand: a team of heroic animal robots with ninja abilities protects Edoropolis from villains while getting caught up in absurd situations and fast-moving comedy.
The colorful characters, action-heavy battles, and comedy remain accessible even for viewers who have never watched the original 54 episodes.
The new game therefore has the potential to serve both audiences: longtime fans looking for nostalgia and newcomers discovering the world for the first time.
Kyatto Ninden Teyandee Is Back After 35 Years
The biggest story here is ultimately the passage of time.
The original Kyatto Ninden Teyandee anime belongs to the early Heisei era. Its original audience has now grown up, while the characters themselves have remained largely frozen in the memories of those viewers.
Now, in the Reiwa era, Yattaro and the Nyankee are moving again.
A new international development team has rebuilt the world as a 2D action RPG, original-series talent has returned, veteran voice actors are back at the microphone, and newly animated scenes are being created with the visual spirit of the 1990s in mind.
The Tokyo Game Show 2026 world premiere playable demo is therefore more than just another game-show announcement. For fans of Kyatto Ninden Teyandee and Samurai Pizza Cats, it represents the first opportunity in decades to step back into Edoropolis and control these characters themselves.
Whether the full game can live up to the enormous nostalgia surrounding the franchise remains to be seen, but the first response to the playable demo suggests that BLAST ZERO and Red Dunes Games have successfully captured the most important ingredient: the feeling that these characters still belong in this world.
After 35 years, the Nyankee are finally back.
And this time, you get to control them.
