is a Japanese
manga
are comics or graphic novels originating from Japan. Most manga conform to a style developed in Japan in the late 19th century, and the form has a long history in earlier Japanese art. The term is used in Japan to refer to both comics ...
series written by Norie Yamada and illustrated by Kumichi Yoshizuki. It was serialized in
Fujimi Shobo
, formerly , was a Japanese publisher that specialized in light novels, manga, Japanese role-playing games, role-playing games and collectible card games. Founded in 1972 and reorganized three times, it was at times an independent company and at ...
's ''Comic Dragon'' magazine from May 2002 to January 2003 and was later collected in two
bound volumes. In 2006,
Tokyopop
Tokyopop (styled TOKYOPOP; formerly known as Mixx Entertainment) is an American distributor, licensor and publisher of anime, manga, manhwa and Western manga-style works. The German publishing division produces German translations of licens ...
released the manga in the United States under the name ''Someday's Dreamers''.
''Someday's Dreamers'' was also adapted into an
anime
is a Traditional animation, hand-drawn and computer animation, computer-generated animation originating from Japan. Outside Japan and in English, ''anime'' refers specifically to animation produced in Japan. However, , in Japan and in Ja ...
television series that was animated by
J.C.Staff
is a Japanese animation studio founded in January 1986 by Tomoyuki Miyata, who previously worked at Tatsunoko Production. The studio's first release was '' Yōtōden'' in 1987. They have produced several well-known anime series, such as '' Aria ...
under the direction of Masami Shimoda. It is loosely based on the storyline of the first manga series, with new characters added to the story. It ran for a total of 12 episodes on
TV Asahi
JOEX-DTV (channel 5), branded as , and better known as , is a Japanese television station serving the Kanto region as the flagship station of the All-Nippon News Network. It is owned-and-operated by the a subsidiary of , itself controlled by ...
and was later licensed by
Geneon Entertainment USA. After the closure of Geneon USA, the series was relicensed by
Sentai Filmworks
Sentai Filmworks, LLC (or simply Sentai) is an American entertainment company. Located in Houston, the company specializes in the dubbing and distribution of Japanese animation and Asian cinema. Its post-production arm is Sentai Studios.
The ...
.
Another story set in the same universe, , written and drawn by the same author and illustrator, was serialized in Kadokawa Shoten's ''Comic Dragon Age''. It ran from December 2003 to February 2006 and was later released in five bound volumes. In 2006,
Tokyopop
Tokyopop (styled TOKYOPOP; formerly known as Mixx Entertainment) is an American distributor, licensor and publisher of anime, manga, manhwa and Western manga-style works. The German publishing division produces German translations of licens ...
released the manga in the United States.
In 2007, Norie Yamada and Kumichi Yoshizuki began work on a third title in the ''Someday's Dreamers'' universe, titled . It was serialized in Kadokawa Shoten's ''
Monthly Shōnen Ace
is a monthly '' shōnen'' manga magazine in Japan published by Kadokawa Shoten, started in 1994. Unlike the big ''shōnen'' weeklies with circulation figures in the millions, ''Ace'' is aimed at a less mainstream audience, and has a particular em ...
'' and began its run in the April issue, released on February 26, 2008. ''Summer Skies'' was scheduled to have a live action movie adaptation released on December 20, 2008, though it was originally scheduled for a summer 2008 premiere.
The story was also adapted into an anime television series, following the new main character, Sora. The series is directed by
Osamu Kobayashi and is animated by
Hal Film Maker
was a Japanese animation studio founded in August 1993 by former Toei Animation
is a Japanese animation studio primarily controlled by its namesake Toei Company. It has produced numerous series, including '' Sally the Witch'', '' GeGeGe n ...
. It aired on TV Asahi from July 2, 2008 to September 24, 2008.
Plot
''Someday's Dreamers''
The story is set in present-day
Tokyo
Tokyo, officially the Tokyo Metropolis, is the capital of Japan, capital and List of cities in Japan, most populous city in Japan. With a population of over 14 million in the city proper in 2023, it is List of largest cities, one of the most ...
. Much of the setting is based upon real areas, the more obvious ones being the Shibuya Crossing and the
Tokyo Tower
, also known as the Japan Radio Tower (, ) is a Radio masts and towers, communications and observation tower in the district of Shiba-koen in Minato, Tokyo, Japan, completed in 1958. At , it was the List of tallest structures in Japan, tallest ...
. The main backdrop of the series where all the characters reside is
Shimokitazawa
is a neighborhood in Setagaya, Tokyo, Japan. It is located in the southwestern corner of the Kitazawa district, hence the name "Shimo-kitazawa" ( ''lower Kitazawa''). Also known as "Shimokita", the neighbourhood is well known for the density o ...
, roughly six minutes west of
Shibuya
is a Special wards of Tokyo, special ward in Tokyo, Japan. A major commercial center, Shibuya houses one of the busiest railway stations in the world, Shibuya Station.
As of January 1, 2024, Shibuya Ward has an estimated population of 230,60 ...
on the Keio Inokashira Line. The Bureau of Magic is in Tokyo, which employs Mage Labor for certain special requests by everyday people. However, the mages must only use their magic with special permission, and any unlicensed use results in a penalty. The story is very gentle and centers around the protagonist, a witch named , a second-year senior high school student from
Tono
Tono, Tōno or Toño may refer to:
Places
* Tōnō, the southeastern portion of Gifu Prefecture, Japan
* Tōno, Iwate, a city in Iwate Prefecture, Japan
* Tono, Washington, a ghost town in the state of Washington, United States
* Tono Dam, agri ...
in
Iwate prefecture
is a Prefectures of Japan, prefecture of Japan located in the Tōhoku region of Honshu. It is the second-largest Japanese prefecture (behind Hokkaido) at , with a population of 1,165,886 (as of July 1, 2023). Iwate Prefecture borders Aomori Pre ...
. In order to train as a magic user, she travels to
Tokyo
Tokyo, officially the Tokyo Metropolis, is the capital of Japan, capital and List of cities in Japan, most populous city in Japan. With a population of over 14 million in the city proper in 2023, it is List of largest cities, one of the most ...
during her summer break to apprentice under the charming . The story tells of Yume's trials and tribulations as she works toward her eventual graduation as a full-fledged magic user licensed by the Bureau of Magic. There is a strong undercurrent of romance which is never resolved.
''Mahōtsukai ni Taisetsu na Koto: Natsu no Sora''
Sora Suzuki is a cheerful girl with magical abilities who lives with her mother in the small town of
Biei, Hokkaido
is a town located in Kamikawa Subprefecture, Hokkaido, Japan. As of May 2024, the town has an estimated population of 9,343, and a density of 14 persons per km2. The total area is 677.16 km2.
Overview
Biei is famous for its views of wide fields ...
. With the intention to honour a promise made to her late father, she successfully applies for a magic internship in Tokyo and temporarily moves into a boarding house in the city. Over the course of a summer month, she meets other teenagers studying to become accredited mages, including an initially aloof boy who appears to lack magic abilities. Under the guidance of their mentors, the apprentices learn more about magic, each other, and life in general as they attend formal classes and work to fulfil contractual assignments for clients.
In the manga, Sora has a strange trait to her magic that manifests itself despite her ire; whenever Sora casts a spell, the result always involves sunflowers, though otherwise almost always how Sora intended it. This is absent in the anime.
Cast
''Someday's Dreamers''
*Yume Kikuchi –
*Masami Oyamada –
*Angela Charon Brooks –
*Melinda Iwashita –
*Go Kato –
*Gin Pun –
''Mahō Tsukai ni Taisetsu na Koto: Natsu no Sora''
*Sora Suzuki – , Performed by: Rio Yamashita (live action)
*Seiichirou Hara – , Performed by:
Tetsushi Tanaka
is a Japanese actor.
Personal life
Tanaka married actress Yukie Nakama on September 18, 2014, after a six-year relationship.
Selected filmography
Film
*'' Get Up!'' (2003)
*''One Missed Call'' (2004)
*'' Umizaru'' (2004)
*'' 69'' (2004)
*'' Ve ...
(live action)
*Gouta Midorikawa – , Performed by:
Masaki Okada
is a Japanese actor.
Personal life
On November 19, 2024, Okada and actress Mitsuki Takahata jointly announced through the media that they are getting married.
Filmography
Films
* ''The Foreign Duck, the Native Duck and God in a Coin Locke ...
(live action)
*Hiyori Yamabuki –
*Honomi Asagi – , Performed by:
Yurie Midori (live action)
*Saori Shiraishi – , Performed by: Hana Kino (live action)
*Kouji Kuroda – , Performed by:
Taiga
Taiga or tayga ( ; , ), also known as boreal forest or snow forest, is a biome characterized by coniferous forests consisting mostly of pines, spruces, and larches. The taiga, or boreal forest, is the world's largest land biome. In North A ...
(live action)
Music
The composer of the
anime
is a Traditional animation, hand-drawn and computer animation, computer-generated animation originating from Japan. Outside Japan and in English, ''anime'' refers specifically to animation produced in Japan. However, , in Japan and in Ja ...
soundtrack,
Takefumi Haketa
Takefumi (written: 建文, 健史, 丈史 or 武文) is a masculine Japanese given name
A given name (also known as a forename or first name) is the part of a personal name quoted in that identifies a person, potentially with a middle name ...
, hoped that girls would identify with the lead role and created music which had a nostalgic feel to it, evoking both English and Irish suburbs, but also memories of the European
Middle Ages
In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the 5th to the late 15th centuries, similarly to the post-classical period of global history. It began with the fall of the Western Roman Empire and ...
. Using traditional instruments such as Irish whistles, he created tracks based on jigs, reels and a real salsa track. For two themes, he employed the voices of a 10-member-strong choir of schoolchildren. The vocal songs were also arranged by Haketa and sung by
Miki Taoka. The CD of the soundtrack was released in the U.S. in 2003 by Pioneer Anime LDC, Inc.
Songs
''Someday's Dreamers''
*Opening theme: "Kaze no Hana" by
Hana Hana
*Ending theme: "Under the Blue Sky" by
The Indigo
''Mahō Tsukai ni Taisetsu na Koto: Natsu no Sora''
*Opening theme: "Fly Away" by
Thyme
Thyme () is a culinary herb consisting of the dried aerial parts of some members of the genus ''Thymus (plant), Thymus'' of flowering plants in the mint family Lamiaceae. Thymes are native to Eurasia and north Africa. Thymes have culinary, medici ...
*Ending theme: "Kawaita Hana" (乾いた花) by micc
Media
Manga
Anime
Episode list
''Someday's Dreamers''
Episode list
''Someday's Dreamers II: Sora''
References
Further reading
*
External links
''Someday's Dreamers''at
Viz Media
Viz Media, LLC is an American entertainment company headquartered in San Francisco, California, focused on publishing manga, and distribution and licensing Japanese anime, films, and television series.
The company was founded in 1986 as Viz, ...
*
{{Authority control
2002 manga
2003 anime television series debuts
2003 manga
2008 anime television series debuts
2008 manga
Coming-of-age anime and manga
Geneon USA
Hal Film Maker
J.C.Staff
Kadokawa Shoten manga
NBCUniversal Entertainment Japan
Sentai Filmworks
Shōnen manga
Tokyopop titles
TV Asahi original programming
Viz Media manga