The upcoming television anime adaptation of Just Like Mona Lisa (Seibetsu "Mona Lisa" no Kimi e.) made its presence known at the ANImagic convention in Germany this weekend. The production team debuted a teaser video, confirming that Chika Anzai will step into the role of Hinase, the series' central character who navigates a world where gender is not determined at birth.
Studio SHAFT is spearheading the project, with Kana Shundo, known for Apocalypse Hotel, taking the director's chair. The visual direction is in the hands of Nobuhiro Sugiyama, whose previous work on March comes in like a lion and Arakawa Under the Bridge suggests a strong stylistic alignment for this character-driven drama. The production is being managed by CyberAgent, with YÅ«ki Hayashi, a veteran of My Hero Academia and Medalist, handling the musical score.
The series, based on Tsumuji Yoshimura's manga which concluded in 2022 after 10 volumes, explores complex themes of identity and affection. As Hinase watches childhood friends Ritsu and Shiori settle into their chosen gender identities, the narrative delves into the personal and social struggles of defining one's own path. With over 1 million copies in circulation, the property has already established a significant following, and Western audiences can currently access the source material through Square Enix Manga & Books.
