Someday’s Dreamers by Norie Yamada and Kumichi Yoshizuki is a two-volume manga series about Yume, a young magic user who moves to Tokyo to complete her training to become a registered magic user. It’s light-hearted and has no villains or heavy plot arcs. It’s simply a joy to read.

The first thing that attracted me to this manga was the light, watercolor style of the cover. I find it reminiscent of the art style in Yokohama Kaidashi Kikō, one of my favorite series. Yoshizuki has a subtle touch with color, making the art soft and gentle, just like the main character.

Someday’s Dreamers is set in a world where magic is a talent that some people have. However, some are distrustful of those who exhibit magical abilities. Magic users are registered with the local government office (this is set in Japan) just the same as any other business. In order to use the magic for others, magic users tap into the feelings of those who hire them in order to help them realize their wishes.

Like any good fantasy, there are limits to the magic in this world. These prevent people from raising great armies of undead, for example. The magic must be used through tuning into the desires of those they are helping. This can sometimes produce unexpected or unexpected results. Sometimes in humorous ways.

The story moves along at a good pace, but is perhaps too slow for some people. I think the relaxed pacing works well in Someday’s Dreamers, as there isn’t a great build-up to an action-packed climax or anything like that. While only two volumes long, I found the conclusion to be satisfying. Yume is a great protagonist, and she is very easy to identify with.

The secondary characters are also interesting, and each has a unique story. Three of them are specifically dealt with in the course of the story. The ways they were resolved fit well into the overall story rather than feeling shoehorned into it. Yamada knows how to write a story with impact while also making it accessible to pretty much anyone.

If you like slice-of-life stories, with a little magic thrown in for good measure, this is a good one. It has a few similarities with The Paper Magician series, though with a quieter ride. With no great evils to defeat, Someday’s Dreamers still manages to show the main character growing and progressing in its short length. I recommend it.

Release Date: March 7, 2006 and July 11, 2006 (USA)
ISBNs: vol.1 1598161784 (9781598161786)
             vol.2 1598161792 (9781598161793)
Publisher: Tokyopop
Language: English
Original Title: 魔法遣いに大切なこと (Mahōtsukai ni Taisetsu na Koto)

MySF Rating: Four point zero stars
Family Friendliness: 100%

Content:

Alcohol/Drugs: 0
Language: 0
Nudity: 0 (non-graphic shower scene)
Sexuality: 0
Violence: 1 (some scary moments)