Just Like Mona Lisa Anime Sets 2027 Premiere, imase Ending Theme
The production credits pair a director whose previous series was Apocalypse Hotel with a studio in its 50th anniversary year, and the cast announcement held back the roles, leaving the character assignments as the next thing to watch.
Key Facts
- Just Like Mona Lisa will premiere in 2027, with Kana Shundo directing at SHAFT and CyberAgent managing production.
- imase performs the ending theme song "Mayoi wa Hikari," previewed in the anime's first main trailer.
- Seven cast members were added to Just Like Mona Lisa: Yoshino Aoyama, Nobuhiko Okamoto, Daisuke Sakuma, Chiharu, Kakeru Hatano, Haruna Mikawa and Shion Wakayama.
- Chika Anzai voices protagonist Hinase Arima in Just Like Mona Lisa.
- Tsumuji Yoshimura's Just Like Mona Lisa manga ran on Gangan Online from May 2018 to December 2022 and ended in its 10th compiled volume.
Reporting from 2 sources: Anime News Network, Anime Corner.
The television anime of Tsumuji Yoshimura's Just Like Mona Lisa manga received its first main trailer and main visual on Wednesday, and the official website confirmed a 2027 premiere. The trailer announces and previews the ending theme "Mayoi wa Hikari" by singer-songwriter imase. Seven cast members were added: Yoshino Aoyama, Nobuhiko Okamoto, Snow Man member Daisuke Sakuma, Chiharu, Kakeru Hatano, Haruna Mikawa and Shion Wakayama. The site did not say which characters they voice. Chika Anzai plays protagonist Hinase Arima, a third-year high school student still genderless at eighteen. Character visuals went out for Hinase and classmates including Shiori Takayama, Ritsu Kaga, Aoi Shirogane, Chiaki Kurokawa, Tamaki Beppu, Rui Kinosaki and Mahiro Goshiki. Kana Shundo directs at SHAFT, with CyberAgent managing production. Nobuhiro Sugiyama designs the characters and shares chief animation director duties, Yuki Hayashi composes, and Katsuhiko Takayama oversees series scripts.
Seven cast members join without role assignments: Yoshino Aoyama, Nobuhiko Okamoto, Snow Man member Daisuke Sakuma, Chiharu, Kakeru Hatano, Haruna Mikawa and Shion Wakayama. The site posted character visuals for Hinase and the class roster, with personalities attached:
- Shiori Takayama, serious and fond of drawing, has feelings for childhood friend Hinase.
- Ritsu Kaga, a cheerful tennis club member, also has feelings for Hinase.
- Aoi Shirogane struggles with her tall height and has known Chiaki since kindergarten.
- Chiaki Kurokawa is a bit of a jester with a straightforward streak and exaggerates his height.
- Tamaki Beppu is honest and acts like a big sister to everyone.
- Rui Kinosaki is considerate and skilled at handicrafts.
- Mahiro Goshiki is gentle and easygoing, with a passion for making sweets.
The staff list adds assistant director Kōji Matsumura, chief animation director Kazuya Shiotsuki alongside Nobuhiro Sugiyama, main animator Yoshiaki Itō, art director Yukako Ogawa of KLAS, color key artist Yasuko Watanabe, CG directors Kentaro Sasaki of BUEMON and Hisato Shima, photography director Rei Egami, editor Rie Matsubara and sound director Kōhei Yoshida.
The manga ran on Square Enix's Gangan Online from May 2018 to December 2022, ending at 10 volumes, and has passed 1 million copies in circulation. Square Enix Manga & Books published the 10th volume in print on May 19. CyberAgent first announced the adaptation under the codename "Project M." SHAFT's directing credits include Puella Magi Madoka Magica, the Monogatari series and March Comes in Like a Lion, and the production falls in the studio's 50th anniversary year.
Synthesized by Yomimono from the 2 cited sources below, including Japanese-language reporting where cited, then editorially reviewed before publishing.