Acclaimed mangaka Uoto, best known for the philosophical historical drama Orb: On the Movements of the Earth (Chi: Chikyū no Undō ni Tsuite), has announced two brand-new serialization projects slated to debut across major publishing houses.
A Dual Return to Serialization
The first title, titled Hallucination Meat, will run in Shogakukan's Weekly Big Comic Spirits magazine. While an exact launch date remains unconfirmed, Uoto indicated that the series is expected to debut later this year. The creator previously teased the project online with an enigmatic scientific diagram depicting a methane molecule.
The second project sees Uoto teaming up with illustrator Kyo Yoneshiro (Ageku no Hate no Kanon, Ōjōgiwa no Imi o Shire!) for Test Taker/Cheaters. Uoto will handle the original story while Yoneshiro provides the artwork. The psychological thriller is slated for Kodansha's seinen flagship Monthly Afternoon, targeting an early next year launch following a cryptic preview image of a pencil set against a handgun.
At just 24 years old, Uoto made industry history in 2022 as the youngest creator ever to receive the prestigious Grand Prize at the Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prizes for Orb: On the Movements of the Earth. That milestone manga, which concluded its eight-volume run before inspiring a high-profile television anime adaptation by studio Madhouse, established Uoto as one of the most distinctive philosophical voices in modern seinen manga. His track record expanded further with Kenji Iwaisawa's animated feature adaptation of 100 Meters, making this upcoming double serialization one of the most anticipated literary returns of the season.
