Genres: Adventure, Fantasy, Magical, Supernatural

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Yumemi has always been a bit different from her childhood friends.  When she gazes into the sky; she sees floating islands that no one else does.  In the first episode, Yumemi comments about liking rainy days, as it allows her to see the same sky as everyone else… to feel normal.  The rest of the time she keeps her umbrella close by to block her view of the sky.  Her best friends, Ichiko and Suzume, know of her “problem” and accept that the islands must be there because she believes they are.

Early into the first episode, Yumemi witnesses a large pillar falling to earth from the heavens.  This brings us into the events taking place in the Magical Kingdom, part of the kingdoms in the sky, which Yumemi can see from Earth.  A battle rages to cut off the Magical Kingdom from the rest of the neighboring kingdoms by way of destroying the pillars surrounding it.  The “Elders of the Heavens” have determined that if the Magical Kingdom is destroyed, the others may have a chance for survival due to the lack of Akuto (the magical power source of the heavens).

Munto, the King of the Magical Kingdom has plunged to the border with Earth, known as the Lower World to his kind, in an attempt to contact Yumemi.  He has seen a vision of her and knows that in her is the power to save his world.  Yumemi, on the other hand, is suspicious of this “Red Man” appearing in chaotic explosions of energy, demanding her assistance.  Only into the second episode does she begin to turn toward helping him.

This series suffers from a bit of overly-rapid pacing in the first episode. There is a lot of information to soak up and it is very rushed. The second episode does work toward repairing this and unifying the scattered story lines for the main characters. A lot is left unsaid at the close of the second episode, and just enough of a lead to make some viewers pick up on the third. I was on the fence with this one; having tentatively given it a D rating at the end of the first episode. Fortunately for the series, I stick around through the first two episodes before making a final judgment. I may pick this series up again after I complete the others ahead of it, but it won’t be a high priority.

Overall Hook Rating: C