Strange Dawn
Encyclopedia
is a 13-episode anime
Anime
is the Japanese abbreviated pronunciation of "animation". The definition sometimes changes depending on the context. In English-speaking countries, the term most commonly refers to Japanese animated cartoons....

 TV series created by Hal Film Maker
Hal Film Maker
is a Japanese animation studio founded in August 1993.-Anime produced: is a Japanese animation studio founded in August 1993.-Anime produced: is a Japanese animation studio founded in August 1993.-Anime produced:(Please note that this list only includes original productions or co-productions...

 for Pioneer LDC (now Geneon
Geneon
is a Japanese music, anime and home entertainment production and distribution enterprise headquartered in Akasaka, Minato, Tokyo, Japan. Geneon has been involved in the production and distribution of several anime in Japan...

) in 2000. The series follows the adventures of Eri and Yuko after they are transported to a strange world where all the people are very short.

The series aired on Britain's channel 5 during their Saturday morning children's slot in the early 2000s and was later licensed by Urban Vision
Urban Vision
Urban Vision Entertainment Inc., an American based production/distribution company created in Los Angeles, California formed in July, 1996 by Mataichiro Yamamoto to help introduce the alternative animation genre known as anime or Japanimation to mainstream media....

 in North America, and the first two DVD volumes were released. However, according to their website, they do not currently have any specific plans for releasing the final two DVDs in the series.
Anime DVD distributor: 'Dybex' did release all 4 volumes on DVD with French and Dutch subtitles. They are still available.

Story

Two teenage girls ( Yuko and Eri ) are transported to a magical planet which is dominated by small semi-humans. To the girls surprise they are treated as Gods by the little creatures. They learn that princess Alia used her magic-powers to transport them to their world, because they believe Yuko and Eri are the 'protectors' and will end the horrible war that has been going on for years on their planet. However Yuko and Eri try to convince them that they are nothing more but two girls and are no Gods, all they want is to go home. They befriend Shall who comes to the decision to protect Yuko and Eri he tells them that Princess Alia was captured right after she summoned them. Shall then leads them into a long journey to find Princess Alia, unfortunately other countries discover the appearance of the two human girls and are doing anything that they can to use them for their own benefit.

Characters

Yuko Miyabe
One of the human girls transported to the strange planet. Yuko has a big mouth and always says whats on her mind, even if this might hurt other people's feelings. She shows no concern and no interest to the problems of the inhabitants. She only cares about going home and therefore finding Princess Alia. She does not get along with most of the people, especially Eiri, whom she dislikes for her timidness. Although she might seem selfish, she has a kind personality and cares for Eri and the little creatures, but this is only shown occasionally.


Eri Natsuno
The complete opposite of Yuko. Eri is sensitive and hardly speaks what's on her mind afraid to hurt the feelings of others. Unlike Yuko, Eri does show concern for the troubles in the strange planet and does her best to help them out. Her idiology is that if they are there, they can at least try to help them since they might be stuck there forever. Eri likes to write fantasy stories and throughout her journey she writes a story based on her own experiences in the world she's in.


Shall
A little man-like creature that guides Yuko and Eri through his planet. He is always serious and keeps to himself. He feels guilty for not being able to protect Princess Alia and there is a rumor among his fellow creatures that he was in fact in love with the princess.


Reca
A little woman who follows Shall, Eri and Yuko. She is Shall's fiancée but Shall's behavior makes her question if they truly do have a future together. Because of her appearance she gets a lot of attention from men.


Mani
Reca's best friend who is also secretly in love with Shall but does not want to hurt Reca's feelings by letting people notice this. She becomes close friends with Eri. Many fellow creatures think of her as ugly through the story. She gets insulted and thrown around many times but stays calm, nice and logical. She's the emotionally strongest character of the series.


Beret
One of Shall's friend who protects Yuko and Eri. He argues a lot with Jorg and is in love with Yuko, which is only shown in the last couple of episodes.


Jorg
One of Shall's friend and is hardly ever serious, though he does wish people would take him more seriously.


Princess Alia
A beautiful princess with magical powers. She is the one that summoned Yuko and Eri to their world and soon after that she was captured imprisoned. She died during an escape-attempt.


Shura
Shall's brother, who like Shall is very serious. He appears to be in love with Reca. However, he knows she wants to be happy with Shall, and thus takes no action. He eventually seems to fall in love with Levian.


Levian
General of the Valgidan's army. She is very strict and smart but also manipulative. She later on helps Yuko, Eri and their friends to escape. Like Reca, she also gets quite some male attention.


Dall
An extremely jealous, egoistic person who hates Shall for having Reca, who he's in love with, as his fiancee and being seen as a better strategist than himself. He still does try to win Reca over. Later on he becomes responsible for the death of his comrades calling them 'worthy sacrifices'. He explains he also did this to impress Reca, but it could also be to satisfy his ego.

Music

  • Opening theme: Sora E (To The Sky), performed by Eri Kawai
    Eri Kawai
    was a female Japanese singer from Tokyo, Japan. She had graduated from the Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music and both composed and sung not only classic but also pop and world music. She was also friends with well-known video game composer Yasunori Mitsuda and had collaborated with...

  • Ending Theme: Melody Ni... (On The Melody...), performed by Shoko Enomoto and Kaori Shimizu
    Kaori Shimizu
    Kaori Shimizu is the name of:*Kaori Shimizu , Japanese voice actress*Kaori Shimizu , '80s Japanese idol known for the video game Psycho Soldier...


Books

Sony Magazines released a novel based on the anime by Hiroshi Ishizaki.
ISBN 4-7897-1599-X
195 pp., B6
Paper size
Many paper size standards conventions have existed at different times and in different countries. Today there is one widespread international ISO standard and a localised standard used in North America . The paper sizes affect writing paper, stationery, cards, and some printed documents...

, August 2000, ¥940
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