"The Gender of Mona Lisa": Teaser PV and Main Cast Revealed – Chika Anzai Voices Hinase Arima

A teaser PV has been released for the TV anime "The Gender of Mona Lisa" (Japanese: Seibetsu "Mona Lisa" no Kimi e.). Along with the release, the main cast and key staff positions were announced. The protagonist Hinase Arima will be voiced by Chika Anzai, known for roles such as Chisato Nishikigi in "Lycoris Recoil" and Reina Kousaka in "Sound! Euphonium." The trailer had its world premiere on August 1, 2026, at the anime convention AnimagiC in Mannheim, Germany, and was subsequently made available online.

As early as mid-June 2026, CyberAgent had announced the adaptation and shown a first teaser visual. The animation is being produced at Studio SHAFT, which celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2025 and is known for productions such as "Puella Magi Madoka Magica," the "Monogatari" series, and "March Comes in Like a Lion." Direction is handled by Kana Shundo, who previously served as assistant director on "Youjo Senki" and made her directorial debut with "Apocalypse Hotel." Nobuhiro Sugiyama, known for "Nisekoi" and "March Comes in Like a Lion," is responsible for character design and as chief animation director. The music is composed by Yuki Hayashi, whose works include "My Hero Academia," "Haikyu!!," and "Medalist." CyberAgent heads the production committee.

The original work by Tsumuji Yoshimura was serialized from 2018 to 2022 on Square Enix's Gangan Online platform and comprises ten compiled volumes. The total circulation exceeds one million copies; on the Manga UP! platform, the manga is published in English under the title "The Gender of Mona Lisa."

The story is set in a world where people are born without a gender. At around the age of twelve, the body begins to change according to the inclination of the heart until gender is determined. Hinase is in the third year of high school and is the only one who, at 18, still lives without a gender. When childhood friends Ritsu and Shiori – who have long made their choice – fall in love with Hinase and confess their feelings, the protagonist's previously quiet life is thrown into turmoil. The plot is described as a love triangle and coming-of-age story about first love, identity, and the question of what it means to be oneself.

The teaser relies on the turquoise color characteristic of the source material, which in the manga visualizes feelings that remain hidden in everyday life. Director Kana Shundo explained that translating the original's use of two-tone coloring into moving images was a particularly rewarding task. Composer Yuki Hayashi said he designed the music to accompany the story's delicate emotions about a self-determined life and interactions with others. Chika Anzai expressed in a statement that she was deeply impressed by the source material: the story made her think about Hinase, about herself, and about what it means to be human, and she is grateful to lend her voice to the character. She also emphasized that the work offers comfort, humor, and heart-pounding moments. The voice recordings are being done in close coordination with the team; author Tsumuji Yoshimura regularly visits the recording sessions. A broadcast date has not yet been announced.