The highly anticipated anime adaptation of Afro’s four-panel manga, mono, has officially announced its premiere date for April 2025. This news comes alongside the reveal of additional cast members, further exciting fans of the manga and the works of Afro, best known for the popular Laid-Back Camp series.
April Premiere and New Cast Member
The anime series, produced by Soigne, will debut in April, bringing Afro’s charming characters and slice-of-life narrative to the screen. The latest promotional video unveiled that Maki Kawase will voice Kako Komada. Kako is a free-spirited individual who, after becoming disillusioned with her corporate job, quit to pursue her passion for motorcycle riding and video blogging. This character’s inclusion adds a new layer of dynamism to the already vibrant cast.
Main Cast and Characters
The series boasts a talented voice cast, which includes:
- Haruna Mikawa as Satsuki Amamiya: The main protagonist, a high school student searching for her passion. She is part of the Cinephoto club and is often seen using various cameras and gadgets.
- Aoi Koga as An Kiriyama: A second-year student and avid fan of Satsuki, An joined the Cinephoto club despite not having a specific interest in photography or cinema. Her character is known for her obsession with Satsuki, often having her photo folder filled with pictures of her.
- Hikaru Tohno as Sakurako Shikishima: A second-year student and former president of the Film Studies Club, Sakurako appears expressionless at first but is known to be lively and energetic.
- Reina Ueda as Haruno Akiyama: A manga artist who asks the girls to be the main characters for her latest work centered around action cameras.
The Production Team
The anime adaptation is directed by Ryota Aikei, who previously served as an assistant director on Jujutsu Kaisen. The character designs are created by Takuya Miyahara, while Yoko Yonaiyama, known for her work on A Sign of Affection, is handling the script. The animation is produced by Soigne, and Aniplex is responsible for production.
What is mono About?
mono is a four-panel manga series created by Afro, launched in Houbunsha’s Manga Time Kirara Carat in March 2017. The story centers around a group of high school girls who are members of the “Cinephoto” club. This unique club merges the elements of cinema and photography, leading the girls to explore their surroundings through their lenses, using cameras tied to kites, action cameras, and drones.
Plot Details
The series follows the everyday adventures of Satsuki, An, and Sakurako as they navigate their high school lives, explore their passions, and capture the beautiful sights of Japan. The girls are also involved with a manga artist, Haruno, who incorporates the girls into her latest manga that revolves around action cameras. The manga has a total of four compiled book volumes, with the most recent published in April 2024.
Afro’s Other Works
Afro is most famously known for creating Laid-Back Camp (Yuru Camp), a manga series that began in 2015. It follows the story of a group of high school girls who enjoy camping, highlighting the beauty of the Japanese outdoors and the joys of friendship. Laid-Back Camp has been adapted into a successful anime series, with multiple seasons and a film, further solidifying Afro’s position as a beloved manga artist.
Laid-Back Camp Anime
The Laid-Back Camp anime premiered in January 2018, with Crunchyroll streaming the 12-episode series as it aired. It gained considerable popularity for its calming atmosphere, beautiful scenery, and heartwarming characters. The series continued with a second season in January 2021, and a third season premiered on April 4, 2024. An anime film based on the manga was released in July 2022 and later streamed on Crunchyroll.
mono Manga and its themes
mono began as a one-shot in Manga Time Kirara Miracle in May 2017 and was then serialized in the magazine’s July issue of the same year. After Manga Time Kirara Miracle ceased publication, the series moved to Manga Time Kirara Carat. The manga explores themes of friendship, self-discovery, and the joy of capturing moments. It also incorporates elements of technology with its use of various cameras and drones.
English Publication
Yen Press is set to publish the English translation of the mono manga, with the first volume expected to release in November 2024. This will allow English-speaking fans to experience Afro’s newest work.
Afro Samurai and Takashi Okazaki
It is important not to confuse Afro with the artist Takashi Okazaki, who is known for creating the manga series Afro Samurai. Okazaki’s work is an action-packed story about a samurai seeking revenge, which is far different in tone and genre from Afro’s works. Takashi Okazaki’s Afro Samurai is a seinen manga series, that began as a dōjinshi and follows the titular character on his quest for vengeance. The manga was adapted into an anime miniseries in 2007 and a television film sequel in 2009.
Takashi Okazaki’s Work
Takashi Okazaki, born in 1974, is also a visual and graphic designer. His work on Afro Samurai is influenced by hip hop and soul music. Beyond Afro Samurai, Okazaki has contributed to character designs for other anime and games, including Batman Ninja.
Conclusion
The upcoming anime adaptation of Afro’s mono is highly anticipated by fans for its slice-of-life genre and unique story. With a talented cast and crew, the series is set to be a major success when it premieres in April 2025. The addition of Maki Kawase as Kako Komada further enhances the excitement for the series. Fans of Afro’s previous work, especially Laid-Back Camp, will be sure to find the same heartwarming charm and visual appeal in mono.
