Synopsis
My name is Mikuri Tomokazu. My parents passed away when I was little, and I have been living with my cousin ever since. I’m a regular, boring freshman in high school. My height is about average, and so is my weight. My grades as well as my athletic ability are disastrous. My two favorite foods are hamburgers and curry rice. Up until now, I’ve never had a girlfriend. In a few days, I’ll be turning sixteen. Tomorrow I hope something good will happen. It definitely has to…
Review
Yumeria is based on the popular bishoujo Playstation 2 RPG and dating simulation game developed by Namco. The anime is scripted by Yousuke Kuroda, who participated in Onegai Sensei. The anime first aired in January 2004. Yume means dream or vision, so Yumeria is the anime about the land of dreams, Moera, named after the anime’s sponsor. When a person’s memory is filled beyond their capacity, that person dreams and exchanges information during that state. All the useless knowledge and unnecessary experiences combine and that the shape of the world of Moera. People’s negative emotions move on to create the nightmare known as Faydoom.
The anime’s site is located at http://www.bs-i.co.jp/anime/yumeria/ where you’ll find episode summaries, screen captures, character bios, and cast listing. http://www.yumeria.com is already taken by the PS2 video game, which has tons of screen shots and wallpapers.
The Breakdown
I ranked Yumeria a tenth of a point higher than Mahoromatic because of the ending.
» The Pros
Yumeria is categorized under the same genre as Mahoromatic. There is the growing relationship between Mikuri and the other girls: Mizuki, Nanase, Kuyo, Neneko/Nate, and Mone. There is not one girl that the anime leans towards. To have an actual romance Mizuki is the one. Mikuri is interested in Neneko because she is the mystery hunter and mysterious herself. Mikuri grew up with Kuyo promising to teach her how to swim, while Nanase raised and protected him. Mone steals the last frame of the anime. Mahoro fights alongside Slash while Mikuri fights with all the girls. Yumeria is also really, really ecchi. Close call as to who is more ecchi minded, Ishikari-sensei or Mikuri. Ishikari offered to give Mone 100% on her tests if she came to school in her pink bunny outfit. Mikuri possesses the power of Indefinite Quantum Selection, meaning all he has to do is touch one of the girl's bodies thus charging them and boosting their power levels. Even the girls lend themselves. Take the beginning of episode 5 when they are showing off their summer bikinis. Neneko - Onichan, I feel so hot for you, darling. In the first minutes of episode 6, Nanase loses an animal naming game to Mikuri then as a reward tells him to do anything he wants with her.
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» The Cons
The ideas in Yumeria may not be original. There are naked transformation sequences like in Sailor Moon. In episode 4, the girls pose in a formation that is like the Ginu Force from Dragon Ball Z. In the final episode, Mone combines everyone's weapons similar in fashion to Power Rangers. Going to the dream world to fight in the same as in Real Bout High School, even comparable to an old Nintendo game and movie Little Nemo the Dream Master. This is stretching it, but I like to call the henchmen belonging to the head family in suits, tie, and shades the Men in Black. The ending is like Dual! Parallel Adventure where the world is recreated to Mikuri and everyone's desires.
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» Animation
8.5 |
The anime begins with a talking clock similar to the one in Kanon. They should have used it again later in the series. Onto character design. Silk-san reminds me of Helba, the legendary hacker from the Hack//Sign series and video game. But her weapons are like Elly from Xenogears who uses Aerods to attack. How all that hair can fit in Silk-san's helmet is beyond me. The school teacher, Ishikari-sensei, is like Hayato from Rival Schools, the Playstation 1 and arcade game. Actually he is more like Shikijou-sensei from Mahoromatic. The art designs for the battle suits look like the alien outfits in Onegai Sensei/Onegai Twins, and also like Phantasy Star Online. Mone uses a PSO canon type weapon. Note that Neneko has purple eyes but when she turn into Nate she has green eyes and looks serious. The fighting animation, when the girls use their special moves, is recycled. I don't like the way Mizuki's mouth looks in the opening, off compared to Mone, Kuyo, and Neneko, nor the whole shaking of the hand thing. Nate's outfit in episode 12 looks like Freya (Dark Chi) in Chobits. |
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» Sound
8.5 |
The beloved Inoue Kikuko (Belldandy - Ah My Goddess, Mizuho - Onegai Sensei) plays the role as Nanase. The voice actresses for the two sisters in DNAngel, Riku and Risa, come back to work together in Yumeria. Asano Masumi (Risa) is Mizuki, and Nakayama Sara (Risa) is Kuyo. A minor role, Koneko the cat is voiced by Fukuen Misato, who was Amano Misao in Battle Programmer Shirase and always said Mau, Mau~! The opening theme called Jikan Aishiteru is as kiddy as they come. The ending theme is Precious Treasure, both opening and ending are in association with Sonic Dove. I prefer the ending theme to the opening, but listening to the opening enough times it'll grow on you. Ichibanaishiteru aishiteru is silly. Neneko sounds like Rebecca from Yugioh calling Mikuri Darling! Chocolate in Sorcerer Hunters calls Carrot darling as well. |
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» Story
9.0 |
Each episode gets more and more perverted. Every anime just has to have a festival episode where all the girls dress up in kimonos and fireworks. Yumeria also has a part time job episode where Mizuki and Mone work as idol stars. They don't sing though. The concept is interesting, going to sleep and ending up in your own private world. That world may even be a beach resort. Funny how they all fought in their bikinis. What is intriguing is Nate, the one who opposes destiny. She has been reincarnated from the future, a kind of reverse reincarnation to try to save the present world from the forces of Faydoom. The key plot episodes are 7, and 10-12. Maybe episode 8 where the aurora appears and Kuyo performs the Arrow of Destiny technique. The final episode makes it seem as if the entire anime series was all Mikuri's imagination. |
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» Recommend
8.0 |
Japanese DVD release April 21, 2004 for ?5,250 ($49.31). The DVD only contains episodes 1 and 2. |
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» Other Information
Language: Japanese
Extras: None
Package: The favorite and all so innocent Mone-chan~! |
Tuesday, September 29, 2026
