Special Panel Stage Confirmed for AnimagiC 2026! Featuring the World Premiere of the Main Cast and The First Trailer
An anime adaptation of Just Like Mona Lisa (Original Title: Seibetsu “Mona Lisa” no Kimi e), the project previously unveiled under the codename “Project M,” has officially been announced, with the teaser visual released alongside the announcement. The upcoming series is set to portray the story’s sensitive emotions and vivid world through expressive new animation.
Animation production will be handled by SHAFT Inc., the acclaimed animation studio celebrating its 50th anniversary since its founding. Internationally renowned for its avant-garde visual expression and distinctive direction style, the studio has produced globally celebrated works such as Puella Magi Madoka Magica, the Monogatari Series, and March Comes In like a Lion. With its unique artistic sensibility, SHAFT is set to beautifully and delicately bring the world of the original masterpiece to life in animated form.
Furthermore, to commemorate this milestone, author Tsumuji Yoshimura, has shared an exclusive newly drawn celebratory illustration alongside an official comment.
Just Like Mona Lisa has also confirmed its participation in AnimagiC, one of Europe’s largest anime, manga, and gaming conventions, held in Mannheim, Germany. A special panel stage is scheduled to take place on Saturday, August 1, 2026, starting at 13:00 (CET/CEST), which will host the highly anticipated world premiere of the main voice cast and the very first trailer. Fans worldwide are encouraged to stay tuned for future updates.
■ Introduction to Just Like Mona Lisa
What if everyone were born genderless, who would you fall in love with?
The highly anticipated TV anime adaptation of Just Like Mona Lisa by Tsumuji Yoshimura, a series that has surpassed a cumulative 1 million copies sold, is finally here.
Hinase, the main character who continues to live genderless.
Childhood friends Ritsu and Shiori, who have already chosen theirs.
What is “love”? What does it mean to have something you want to cherish above all else?
Their classmates and the adults around them struggle and hesitate alongside them, weaving the story together.
What choice will Hinase make?
A breathtaking triangle of first love and youth, now brought to life in beautiful animation by SHAFT, one of Japan’s leading animation studios.
・Official Website: https://monalisa-anime.com
・Official X: @anime_mona_lisa (https://x.com/anime_mona_lisa）
■ Special Comment & Illustration from Author Tsumuji Yoshimura
■ Confirmed for AnimagiC 2026!
To World Premiere Main Cast and the First Trailer
A special panel stage for “Just Like Mona Lisa” has been confirmed for AnimagiC, Europe’s premiere convention celebrating anime, manga, and Japanese pop culture in Mannheim, Germany. This exclusive stage will host the special live drawing session by Author, alongside the global unveiling of the main voice cast and the world premiere of the first trailer.
Event: AnimagiC
Special Panel Schedule: Saturday, August 1, 2026, starting at 13:00 (CET/CEST) *Local German Time
Location: Mannheim, Germany
Address: Congress Center Rosengarten (Rosengartenplatz 2, 68161 Mannheim, Germany)
Special Stage Highlights:
– A live drawing session by author Tsumuji Yoshimura
– The world premiere of the first trailer
– A special talk show with Tsumuji Yoshimura (Original Creator), Mitsutoshi Kubota (SHAFT Inc. CEO), and Manami Kabashima (CyberAgent anime Producer)
AnimagiC Official Website: https://animagic.de/
*For the latest information, please visit AnimagiC official website.
Story
In a world where everyone is born genderless.
Their bodies shift toward their desired gender when they reach around twelve years old.
Yet Hinase alone had not changed at all and had now reached the age of eighteen.
Arima Hinase, a third-year high school student, carries the quiet unease of being the only one around them genderless, yet simply spends unchanged days with childhood friends Ritsu Kaga and Shiori Takayama, and that alone had been enough.
Then one day, when Ritsu and Shiori confess their feelings towards Hinease, their everyday life begins to change.
“Something is about to change. Their eighteenth spring has arrived.”
Staff
– Original Story: Tsumuji Yoshimura’s “Just Like Mona Lisa” (Published by Square Enix “Gangan Comics ONLINE”)
– Animation Production: SHAFT Inc.
Original Manga Information
・Publisher: Square Enix Co., Ltd.
・Author: Tsumuji Yoshimura
・Volumes: Volumes 1–8, along with spin-off volumes “X” and “Y,” totaling 10 volumes now available.
Media & Press Inquiries
CyberAgent, Inc. Corporate Communications / PR Team: Mika
E-mail: animeip_pr@cyberagent.co.jp
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