On April 12, 2025, the highly anticipated series Mono premiered with its first episode, showcasing the journey of Satsuki Amamiya as she embarks on her high school adventure. Eager to capture the essence of her experiences, she becomes infatuated with taking photographs of the Photography Club’s charismatic president. However, following the president’s graduation, Amamiya finds herself at a crossroads, lacking direction and purpose. In a bid to rekindle her passion, her friend Kiriyama suggests that they both invest in new cameras.
Trouble arises when Amamiya’s camera fails to arrive on time, prompting them to contact the seller. This twist sets the stage for a quirky turn of events, as the duo cleverly attaches a camera to a cat, which ultimately leads to their involvement as models in the seller’s upcoming manga series. Capturing the breathtaking night views of their city, Amamiya resolves to dedicate herself wholeheartedly to the Photography Club.
Disclaimer: This article may contain spoilers related to the Mono anime series.
Mono Episode 1: A New Chapter Begins as Models
The inaugural episode, titled Mono Trip, introduces us to Satsuki Amamiya, who recently transitioned from middle school to high school. On her first day, she is captivated by a senior who is diligently photographing everything around her. This enthusiastic senior is none other than the president of the Photography Club, which inspires Amamiya to join the club without hesitation.
A year later, we see Amamiya flourishing in the club, capturing thousands of photographs, predominantly of her beloved president. To her delight, she even wins an award for one of her standout photos. Yet, the bittersweet moment arrives as the president prepares to graduate, leaving Amamiya with a heavy heart and an overwhelming sense of loss.
In the aftermath of the president’s departure, Amamiya finds herself overwhelmed and exhausted, contemplating quitting the club entirely. This is when Kiriyama, her supportive classmate and fellow club member, intervenes with unwavering determination and proposes they acquire new cameras together. p>
In a fortunate turn of events, Amamiya wins a camera at an auction but is left disappointed when it fails to arrive. On the flip side, Kiriyama acquires an impressive lightweight camera but discovers it doesn’t quite meet her expectations. Together, they embark on a journey to reclaim Amamiya’s missing camera, leading them to a manga artist named Haruno Akiyama.
Haruno explains that her oversight during the auction was due to impending deadlines and agrees to make it up to them. During their visit, they bond over delicious okonomiyaki, and the unexpected arrival of a cat named Taishou sparks their creativity. Amamiya and Kiriyama decide to attach Kiriyama’s body camera to Taishou in anticipation of unique footage capturing the cat’s adventures across Japan. However, Haruno cautions that the cat won’t return for ten days.
Ten days later, Taishou returns home, albeit with minor injuries and Kiriyama’s camera suffering some damage. The footage collected primarily consists of Taishou’s playful tussles with other cats. Amid the wall of laughter during the viewing of the footage, Haruno proposes a bright new idea: to feature Amamiya and Kiriyama as models in her next manga edition.
Excited by the opportunity, the trio embarks on a thrilling adventure to capture stunning images of their city’s skyline. Despite a few harrowing moments caused by Haruno’s driving skills, they reach their destination. While Haruno and Kiriyama take a nap after enjoying a hearty meal, Amamiya stays awake to seize the perfect photograph, ultimately creating an ideal cover image for Haruno’s manga.