When they first came out 20 years ago (!) in 1996, Tamagotchis were what every kid wanted. Those who were able to convince their parents to get them one will remember the beeping call of their very own Tamgotchi who needed to be fed, cleaned, and played with just like any other pet. They even pooped and, when neglected, died.

Even though the Tamagotchi series is still a popular game for kids, they’ve changed drastically since their old school, pixely days. But on April 8th, Japanese toymaker Bandai re-released the original version of Tamagotchi for grownups to relive their nostalgic childhood memories.

Source: YouTube

The original Tamagotchi is back!

The re-released classic Tamagotchi brings back the 6 designs it all started with along with 6 of our favorite characters from the past — Mametchi, Kuchipatchi, Oyajitchi, Nyorotchi, Masktchi, and a Secret Character. The only thing that’s different about the “new” old Tamagotchi is its size, which comes much smaller than the original, standing just 4 cm (1.5 inches) tall. Maybe this is for the better, since they’ll be much easier to conceal in our pockets or under the table at the office...

Souce: Bandai

Source: YouTube

Size comparison: 1996 version vs. 2017 version

Source: YouTube

These mini original Tamagotchis are now sold in stores in Japan as well as online on sites like Amazon and Yodobashi Camera. The suggested retail price is 1,500 yen (US$13.55), but prices look to be higher depending on the retailer. For more information on the product, watch the video below or head over to Bandai's product page!


By - grape Japan editorial staff.