N Lite and Kodansha Partner to Launch 'Mfinda' Prequel Manga in 2026
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U.S.-Japan anime studio N Lite has entered a co-development partnership with Japanese publisher Kodansha to produce a serialized manga based on the feature film 'Mfinda'. The manga, a prequel expanding on Congolese mythology, is scheduled to debut in Kodansha's Biblio Sirius Magazine in 2026. This serialization is the first phase of a global rollout designed to build audience reach ahead of the film's production.
Facts First
- Partnership between N Lite and Kodansha to co-develop a serialized manga.
- Manga serves as a prequel to the 'Mfinda' feature film, expanding on Congolese mythology and a sacred forest.
- Scheduled debut in 2026 in Kodansha's Biblio Sirius Magazine.
- Creative team led by N Lite founder Christiano Terry (writer) and studio art director Tom Lintern (illustrator).
- Deal brokered by anime consultancy Henshin, Inc.
What Happened
U.S.-Japan anime studio N Lite and Japanese publishing company Kodansha have entered a co-development partnership to produce a serialized manga based on the feature film 'Mfinda'. The manga is scheduled to debut in Kodansha's Biblio Sirius Magazine in 2026. N Lite founder Christiano Terry is writing the manga, and studio art director Tom Lintern is illustrating it. The deal was brokered by anime consultancy Henshin, Inc.
Why this Matters to You
If you are a fan of manga, anime, or global mythology, this partnership may introduce you to a new story world rooted in Congolese mythology. The collaboration represents one of the first instances of a major Japanese publisher co-developing manga from an original intellectual property (IP) conceived by a global studio for its local readership. This could signal a more open pipeline for international stories to enter the mainstream manga market.
What's Next
The Biblio Sirius serialization is the first phase of a global rollout designed to build audience reach before the production of the 'Mfinda' feature film. N Lite and Kodansha will jointly supervise the creative team for an expected multi-volume manga run. The feature film project involves producer Masao Maruyama and director Gisaburō Sugii, with a story written by Christiano Terry and Congolese-American artist Patience Lekien.