Katekyo Hitman Reborn! brings back ‘88’ opening

Katekyo Hitman Reborn! is raiding its own archive for a 20th-anniversary celebration, and the latest official upload brings back one of the series’ most recognisable musical punches: LM.C’s “88”.

Anime Corner reports that the anime has released a creditless version of its fourth opening on the official YouTube channel. It is a neat bit of anniversary housekeeping, but for fans who have spent years hunting down theme sequences around the internet, an official upload is considerably less faff.

What's actually going on

The newly released opening uses “88” by LM.C, the song that accompanied Episodes 74–101 of the television anime. The video forms part of “REBORN! MUSIC MONTH”, a September project marking the series’ 20th anniversary. According to Anime Corner, the campaign is releasing creditless versions of past theme-song sequences daily on the official YouTube channel.

The campaign began on 1 September with an official 25-song playlist covering opening themes, ending themes and other music from the TV anime. These sequences had previously been available with physical releases, but had not been officially uploaded online. The latest release follows the special Episode 62 ending featuring “friend”, performed by Kyoko and Haru’s voice actresses Yuna Inamura and Hitomi Yoshida.

Why you should care

This is not a new episode, sequel announcement or secret reboot hiding behind a suspiciously dramatic thumbnail. It is archive material, and that is precisely why it matters. Reborn! ran for 203 episodes between 2006 and 2010, while Akira Amano’s manga finished with 42 compilation volumes. A proper official music archive gives longtime viewers an easy way to revisit the show without relying on fan uploads that can disappear whenever copyright’s mood changes.

It also makes the anniversary feel like an actual programme rather than a single nostalgic social post. The daily format gives fans something to check back for, while newer viewers get a compact tour through the series’ musical identity. “88” is a particularly good choice: it arrives from the period when Tsuna’s mafia apprenticeship was fully committed to melodrama, momentum and hair that defied several known laws of physics.

Our opinion

This is exactly the sort of anniversary content anime publishers should be doing: official, easy to watch and useful to fans rather than padded with vague promises. It will not convert a curious newcomer on its own, but it is a welcome reason to revisit Katekyo Hitman Reborn! — and a much better archive strategy than leaving the music scattered across unofficial uploads.

Recommendation: watch it if you already miss Reborn!; newcomers should start with the series rather than this opening alone.