Crunchyroll Gets Fan-Favorite Romance Manga Adaptation
Anime seems to be taking a turn when it comes to popular genres. While there are still plenty of superheroes and transmigration anime out there, simple slice-of-life and romance stories are gaining more attention. Such is the case with an upcoming anime adaptation of Honey Lemon Soda.
A Social-Life Killing Habit
In Honey Lemon Soda, Uka Ishimori (Kana Ichinose) is nicknamed “Stone” due to her unfortunate habit of freezing up when other people try to talk to her. This habit led to a horribly tough middle school experience full of bullying.
Now, she’s in high school and is desperate for people to see her in a different light. Unfortunately, it doesn’t look like high school will be much better when, in the first week, she’s covered in lemon soda by a man with lemon-colored hair.
Honey Lemon Crush
Kai Miura (Shougo Yano), the student with bright yellow hair, appears to be the complete opposite of Uka and everything she wants to be. Despite their differences, the two slowly become friends, and Kai works to help Uka grow and help her when moments get tough. Unfortunately, as Honey Lemon Soda progresses through the school year, Uka realizes that friendship with Kai might not be the only thing she wants.
The Manga Is Going Strong After Almost A Decade
Honey Lemon Soda was originally a manga, written and illustrated by Mayu Murata. It started in 2015, and now consists of 25 volumes, though it is still ongoing. In 2022, the manga was picked up by Yen Press for English publication.
It is a popular manga, with over 12 million copies of Honey Lemon Soda in circulation. In 2021, the series was ranked 45th in the shoujo category in the Kodansha Manga Awards.
Not The Only Adaptation
Honey Lemon Soda is set to release in January 2025. It will be animated by J.C. Staff (Bakuman.), and directed by Hiroshi Nishikiori (Planet of the Beast King). Akiko Waba (Blue Reflection Ray) is in charge of the scripts for the series and Akira Kosemura (Summer Ghost) is handling the music.
This isn’t the only adaptation of Honey Lemon Soda. In 2021, it was also released as a live-action film. The film met a mixed audience, earning a 5.6 out of 10 on IMDb.
However, getting an anime adaptation is big news. Shoujo, stories made for young female audiences are few and far between when it comes to anime. Unfortunately, even when they are adapted, it’s rare for them to get more than one season, as seen with Ouran High School Host Club and Maid Sama!
Coming To Streaming Next Year
The genre is growing more popular amongst anime viewers, as My Happy Marriage and A Sign of Affection reveal their recent popularity after being adapted into an anime. Hopefully, with its ever-growing popularity, Honey Lemon Soda will become a popular series, and get more than one season.
Though the release date for the manga is still a ways out, fans already know where to go to watch the show. Crunchyroll has announced that when Honey Lemon Soda airs, it will do so on their platform. While the release is in January, the exact date isn’t yet known.
