Exploring the dilemma of love and identity from a completely unusual perspective is a formula that always captivates fans of good drama. The renowned work by Tsumuji Yoshimura, Just Like Mona Lisa (Seibetsu “Mona Lisa” no Kimi e.), has officially confirmed it will make the leap to television with its own animated adaptation. The news came with the first promotional trailer, the reveal of its main cast, and confirmation that acclaimed studio Shaft will handle the animation.

The story takes place in a fascinating reality where all humans are born without a defined gender. At age twelve, each person’s body naturally begins to change according to the sex they choose for their adult life. However, protagonist Hinase Arima reaches eighteen years old remaining neutral, feeling completely comfortable living without labels alongside his childhood friends, Ritsu and Shiori. All this apparent calm shatters abruptly when both friends confess their romantic feelings to him on the same day, forcing Hinase to reflect on what he truly wants and what it means to love someone.

Shaft’s talent backing the work

The project’s direction will be handled by Kana Shundo at studio Shaft, known for its impeccable art direction. Character design and main animation direction will fall to Nobuhiro Sugiyama, while talented Yuki Hayashi will compose the soundtrack, and CyberAgent will manage overall production. The original manga began publication in May 2018 via Square Enix’s Gangan Online portal, concluding in December 2022 with ten compiled volumes and over a million copies in circulation, already positioning itself as a true dramatic gem for the community.

Cast

• Chika Anzai as Hinase Arima.

Considering the deep narrative about identity search and the unique visual style Shaft typically brings to its works, do you think this adaptation will become one of the most acclaimed romances of its release year?