Square Enix has officially confirmed that the upcoming television anime adaptation of Tsumuri Yoshimura's acclaimed manga Gender Mona Lisa no Kimi e is slated for a 2027 broadcast. Along with the premiere window, production studio Shaft has released a striking main visual and the first official promotional video, giving audiences a first look at the unique turquoise-tinted aesthetic of this speculative youth drama.
The World of Hinase
Originally serialized in Square Enix's digital publication Gangan Online and boasting over one million copies in circulation, the narrative is set in a society where adolescents undergo a biological transition around age twelve, settling permanently into either male or female by age fourteen. The core conflict centers on Hinase, an eighteen-year-old high school senior who remains the sole individual unaffected, lingering in an unassigned, agender state while navigating identity, youth, and complex emotional currents alongside childhood friends Ritsu and Shiori.
The newly debuted promotional video highlights the distinctive visual direction helmed by animation powerhouse Shaft, underscored by the ending theme song titled "Mayoi wa Hikari" (Hesitation is Light), composed and performed by breakout musical artist imase. Reflecting on his contribution, imase noted how deeply he connected with Hinase's internal conflicts regarding future choices and the persistent weight of personal decisions.
Production Pedigree and Cast Additions
Alongside Chika Anzai, who anchors the production as protagonist Hinase Arima, the project has expanded its roster with seven newly announced voice actors: Yoshino Aoyama, Nobuhiko Okamoto, Daisuke Sakuma, Chiharu, Sho Hatano, Mizuki Mikawa, and Shion Wakayama. Specific character assignments for these additions remain under wraps as production moves forward.
The series is being brought to life by an exceptional creative lineup at Shaft. Kana Shunto sits in the director's chair, working alongside series composition writer Katsuhiko Takayama and character designer/chief animation director Nobuhiro Sugiyama. Additional key staff include sub-director Koji Matsumura, chief animation directors Kazuya Shiotsuki and Teruhisa Takano, main animator Yoshiaki Ito, and composer Yuki Hayashi, ensuring a deeply atmospheric treatment for Yoshimura's character-driven story.
