Munto is an interesting, if short, OAV that introduces viewers to Yumemi, a seemingly normal schoolgirl, who can see aspects of another reality laid atop the "real" world of ordinary Japan. No one but her two best friends believes her of course, so she began to hide her talents. However, a young man named Munto from this other realm of floating islands begins to contact Yumemi, explaining to her that his world is connected to ours by magic, but that magic is failing. In the grand tradition of magical girl anime, only Our Heroine can save King Munto and his world. There's an interesting secondary storyline involving one of Yumemi's friends and her fianc? that has more to do with the big picture than you might think at first. What could be a big boring ball of clich?s is instead an engaging picture with enough new to it to make it interesting, along with interesting art, appealing characters, and skilled voice acting. The features are ordinary, but decent (an art gallery, character sketches, trailers, and backgrounds art), and this release should appeal to the target audience of young teen girls. It will also entertain anyone who cheers for the underdog and likes to see good, clean fun that isn't boring or stifling.

(more...)