Oh my gawd, the character designs are . . . they've been given an unnecessary facelift. They look the same but they're more bishounen-ified. This looks like a shonen anime aimed at shoujo.
It doesn't seem like much time has passed since the last movie and the first episode already introduces pretty much all the players from the original series.
Losers acting all haughty.
Tezuka still looks like a god and is probably invincible even now. His quote is intact as well, "Let's proceed without weakening our guard".
Yup, he's still got those mean condescending eyes
Echizen on the other hand seems to have gotten taller but still looks like a midget in front of his seniors who all seem to have an average basketball player height. He too quotes his trademark line "Mada mada da ne".
I wonder if Echizen's girl Sakuno is in this series. She added a little sugar to the ubiquitous sausage fest.
Still, the first episode reminds me of how ridiculous this series was yet equally addictive. Can't wait to see Momo-chan sempai face off against that brute who actually looks like a old wrinkled hag.