Yukino Sonoyama

Description
Yukino Sonoyama is the creator of the manga series Bless, for which they serve as both the writer and illustrator. Bless, which began serialization in January 2022, is Sonoyama's debut manga and the primary work associated with their name in the industry. The series was first published in Kodansha's Shonen Magazine Edge before moving to Monthly Shonen Sirius in December 2023 following the discontinuation of the former magazine. As of late 2024, the ongoing series has been compiled into six tankobon volumes.

Bless is a shonen manga that centers on the worlds of fashion and beauty. The story follows Aia Udagawa, a young man who has abandoned his dream of becoming a makeup artist despite his past as a model, and his classmate Jun Sumisaki, a tall girl who is self-conscious about her freckles. Together, they enter a school runway contest, with Aia as her stylist, in an effort to reclaim their self-confidence and pursue their ambitions. Thematically, the work explores issues of talent versus hard work, self-definition, and the courage to pursue a passion. English-language publisher Kodansha describes the series as an inspirational fashion manga.

An anime adaptation of Bless has been announced. For this production, Yukino Sonoyama is officially credited as the original creator. The adaptation is being produced by the animation studio A-1 Pictures. While no specific release date has been confirmed, production details list Shotaro Kitamura as director, with Fukuro Kamiza handling series composition and script, and Honoka Yokoyama as character designer. The announcement of a high-profile anime adaptation for Sonoyama's debut work indicates immediate industry recognition and signals the creator's significance as an emerging voice in manga publishing.
Works
  • Topics: Anime overview