Creating the perfect romantic comedy requires more than imagination, especially when editors tell you your stories lack realism. That’s the premise of the animated adaptation of Now That We Draw (Kakunaru Ue wa), which has just unveiled its first full trailer and character visuals, confirming its release in January 2027.

The first video preview showcases the main couple and introduces the cast. Renowned actor Ayumu Murase will voice insecure Yuki Uehara, while Sayumi Suzushiro will play the outgoing and popular Niina Miyamoto. Together, they portray a chaotic relationship born from desperation to improve their drawing skills and understand real-life romance.

Animation is handled by studio ROLL2 under the direction of Shunsuke Ishikawa. Veteran Deko Akao oversees and writes the scripts, while Hiromi Nakagawa adapts the character designs. The team also includes sound director Fumiyuki Go, sound effects by Ryuta Nakahara, music by Yoshiaki Miura, and executive production by Infinite.

The original manga, written by Kyu Takahata and illustrated by Yuji Kaba, began serialization in Hakusensha’s Young Animal magazine in 2023. It gained a loyal following for its fresh take on couples with shared creative interests.

The story follows Yuki Uehara, a loner student aspiring to become a manga author. He believes he’s designed the perfect heroine for his work: shy, clueless, and unattainable. However, an editor shatters his confidence by calling his draft cliché and unrealistic. Amid his crisis, Yuki meets Niina Miyamoto, the class’s most beautiful girl, who also dreams of publishing her own stories and received the same harsh critique. Since neither has dating experience, Niina suggests a fake relationship to inspire each other, leading to constant clashes between their fictional ideals and chaotic reality.

What do you think of the premise of faking a relationship to write a better love story?