Having everyone tell you that you look like a model must be great, unless your real dream is to pursue makeup. That’s the situation of one of the protagonists of Bless, the manga by Yukino Sonoyama that is coming to TV. The production released its first full trailer and a new promotional image, confirming that the anime will premiere on January 8, 2027 under the animation of A-1 Pictures.

The trailer introduces Aia Udagawa and Jun Sumisaki, two students who share something in common: neither dares to pursue what they truly want. It also lets us hear a snippet of New Page, the ending performed by HIKKA, whose lyrics are inspired by the difficulties of finding one’s identity and gathering the courage to move forward.

The promotional image shows the protagonists within a composition resembling an eyeshadow palette, surrounded by various makeup products. A fitting choice for a story where cosmetics don’t just change someone’s appearance but also help them discover a new facet of themselves.

Bless will tell a story about makeup, fashion, and frustrated dreams

The story follows Aia Udagawa, a boy who has received comments about his looks and supposed future as a model since childhood. However, what he truly wants is to become a professional makeup artist, a dream he ended up hiding out of fear of others’ opinions.

On the other hand, we have Jun Sumisaki, a tall, freckled student who has been teased for her appearance. Although she would like to pursue modeling, her insecurities prevent her from imagining herself in front of a camera or walking a runway. Curiously, the two seem to have exactly what the other needs to start changing their lives.

It all begins when both are selected to participate in a fashion contest during the school festival. Initially, Aia was supposed to handle modeling and Jun the costumes, but they end up swapping roles. Thus, he will get the chance to showcase his makeup talent, and she can experience what it means to become a model.

That said, entering the fashion world won’t be as simple as discovering a hidden skill. The protagonists must confront their own insecurities, others’ expectations, and the competition of an industry where appearance is constantly judged.

Voice cast includes Tomohiro Ono as Aia Udagawa and Chiyuki Miura as Jun Sumisaki. Direction is by Shotaro Kitamura at A-1 Pictures, with Fukuro Kamiza handling the scripts and Honoka Yokoyama on character design.

The anime will air starting January 8 at 11:30 PM in the Noitamina block on Fuji TV. Additionally, Crunchyroll confirmed it will stream the series internationally, including Latin America, as part of its winter 2027 lineup.

It’s worth noting that the original Bless manga began publication in January 2022 and continues serialization in Kodansha’s Monthly Shonen Sirius. The work has already surpassed 1.25 million copies in circulation, a figure showing the interest this story about beauty, effort, and self-acceptance has generated.

Do fashion and makeup anime appeal to you, or are you more interested in seeing how Aia and Jun learn to stop living by others’ expectations?