{"rewrite":{"id":"r_2339519c8e3bb5fc3f770fa7","clusterId":"c_f38a25e0d226806ac3b12cfc","slug":"just-like-mona-lisa-anime-by-shaft-reveals-trailer-cast-staff","model":"deepseek-v4-flash:free","headline":"Just Like Mona Lisa Anime by SHAFT Reveals Trailer, Cast, Staff","summary":"The television anime adaptation of Tsumuji Yoshimura's manga Just Like Mona Lisa unveiled its first trailer, lead cast member, and main staff on Saturday, August 1, during a stage panel at the ANImagic convention in Mannheim, Germany. Chika Anzai will voice Hinase, the protagonist who lives without a gender. Kana Shundo, known for Apocalypse Hotel, is directing the series at SHAFT, with CyberAgent managing production. Nobuhiro Sugiyama, whose credits include Arakawa Under the Bridge and March Comes in Like a Lion, is designing the characters and serving as chief animation director, while Yuki Hayashi, composer for My Hero Academia and Medalist, is writing the music. The manga, which ran on Square Enix's Gangan Online website from May 2018 to December 2022, has surpassed 1 million copies in circulation. The series consists of eight main volumes plus companion volumes X and Y. The announcement also included a live drawing session by Yoshimura, with SHAFT CEO Mitsutoshi Kubota and CyberAgent producer Manami Kabashima in attendance.","whyItMatters":"The production coincides with SHAFT's 50th anniversary year, and the studio's involvement signals a high-profile adaptation of a manga that has already sold over 1 million copies.","webCardHtml":"\u003cp\u003eThe anime was first announced by CyberAgent under the codename Project M, and this trailer marks the first public look at the project. SHAFT is the studio behind Puella Magi Madoka Magica, the Monogatari series, and March Comes in Like a Lion, and this new work arrives as the studio celebrates its 50th anniversary.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAnzai commented on her role, saying she will never forget the impact the story had on her when she first encountered it during the audition. She noted that the original creator, Jun Yoshimura, is present at every recording session, which she called reassuring. She also described the series as having serious themes but also heartwarming, funny, and romantic moments.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe manga\u0026#39;s story asks what would happen if everyone were born genderless, and follows Hinase, who continues to live without a gender, alongside childhood friends Ritsu and Shiori, who have already chosen theirs. Square Enix publishes the manga in English digitally through Manga UP! Global and in print through Square Enix Manga \u0026amp; Books, which released the 10th volume on May 19.\u003c/p\u003e","blueskyPost":"Chika Anzai voices Hinase, a protagonist without a gender. SHAFT's casting choice puts a nonbinary lead at the center of a mainstream adaptation, a rarity that may test how the industry handles gender-neutral characters.","twitterPost":"Chika Anzai voices Hinase, a lead without a gender. SHAFT's choice puts a nonbinary protagonist at the center of a mainstream anime.","threadsPost":"Chika Anzai voices Hinase, a protagonist who lives without a gender. SHAFT's casting puts a nonbinary lead at the center of a mainstream series, a rarity that may test how the industry handles gender-neutral characters in adaptation.","newsletterBlurb":"The Just Like Mona Lisa anime revealed its first trailer, lead cast, and staff at ANImagic. Chika Anzai stars as Hinase, with SHAFT animating and CyberAgent producing.","attributionJson":"[{\"source\":\"Anime News Network\",\"url\":\"https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2026-08-01/just-like-mona-lisa-anime-teaser-unveils-lead-cast-member-staff/.240173\",\"title\":\"Just Like Mona Lisa Anime's Teaser Unveils Lead Cast Member, Staff\"},{\"source\":\"Anime Corner\",\"url\":\"https://animecorner.me/just-like-mona-lisa-anime-by-studio-shaft-reveals-first-trailer-main-staff-and-cast/\",\"title\":\"Just Like Mona Lisa Anime by Studio SHAFT Reveals First Trailer, Main Staff and Cast\"}]","lintFlagsJson":null,"lintHits":0,"costUsd":0,"inputTokens":5953,"outputTokens":991,"status":"published","repairAttempts":0,"nextRepairAt":null,"factsAttemptedAt":1785842007,"createdAt":"2026-08-04T11:02:46.000Z","publishedAt":"2026-08-04T11:07:23.000Z","updatedAt":"2026-08-04T11:02:46.000Z"},"cluster":{"id":"c_f38a25e0d226806ac3b12cfc","canonicalTitle":"Just Like Mona Lisa Anime by Studio SHAFT Reveals First Trailer, Main Staff and Cast","representativeArticleId":"a_470f39931cde422c46cade5a","sourceCount":2,"writtenSourceCount":2,"writeAttempts":0,"isSolo":false,"entitiesJson":"{\"anime_titles\":[\"Just Like Mona Lisa\"],\"manga_titles\":[\"Just Like Mona Lisa\"],\"work_titles\":[],\"studios\":[\"SHAFT\"],\"people\":[\"Chika Anzai\",\"Tsumuji Yoshimura\"],\"type\":\"announcement\",\"domain\":\"anime\",\"is_roundup\":false}","contentType":"news","status":"published","firstSeenAt":"2026-08-01T13:45:13.000Z","lastSeenAt":"2026-08-01T15:50:32.000Z","updatedAt":"2026-08-04T11:07:23.000Z"},"attribution":[{"source":"Anime News Network","url":"https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2026-08-01/just-like-mona-lisa-anime-teaser-unveils-lead-cast-member-staff/.240173","title":"News\nJust Like Mona Lisa Anime's Teaser Unveils Lead Cast Member, Staff"},{"source":"Anime Corner","url":"https://animecorner.me/just-like-mona-lisa-anime-by-studio-shaft-reveals-first-trailer-main-staff-and-cast/","title":"Just Like Mona Lisa Anime by Studio SHAFT Reveals First Trailer, Main Staff and Cast"}],"entities":{"anime_titles":["Just Like Mona Lisa"],"manga_titles":["Just Like Mona Lisa"],"work_titles":[],"studios":["SHAFT"],"people":["Chika Anzai","Tsumuji Yoshimura"],"type":"announcement","domain":"anime","is_roundup":false},"keyFacts":["Chika Anzai voices Hinase in the Just Like Mona Lisa anime.","Kana Shundo directs the series at SHAFT, with CyberAgent managing production.","The manga surpassed 1 million copies in circulation and consists of eight main volumes plus companion volumes X and Y.","The manga ran on Square Enix's Gangan Online website from May 2018 to December 2022.","The trailer premiered at ANImagic in Mannheim, Germany, on August 1, 2026."]}