Every day, the world comes crashing down on itself. Usually, This is merely a euphemism for some emotional or mental issue. However, in one girl's case, this is a more literal issue. Time is quickly running out for two worlds, and the fate of both rests on a young girl's shoulders in the fantasy drama Munto, which, despite its short running time, delivers an experience that almost any fan can enjoy.

From the very beginning, Munto feels like it could fit into the Escaflowne universe quite easily. The premise, while simple, is enchanting in its execution. The OVA's titular character is rarely seen onscreen for more than two to three minutes at a time and most of the story's focus lies on the female protagonist, Yumemi. Unlike the rest of the world, Yumemi can see the strange heavenly islands that nobody else can. However, Yumemi's world... and possibly her sanity, falls apart when a strange, fiery-haired man appears before her and demands her power to restore the balance of "Akuto," lest the world of the invisible islands fall into ruin. At this point, though, the story takes an intriguing turn as the budding subplot overtakes the main story. Instead of the peril of the magical kingdom, Yumemi begins to focus on the situation at hand with her classmate's "engagement" to an older boy. Viewers are offered glimpses of the magical world in the clouds and its inhabitants, but little more. The chosen style is an effective break from the classical paradigm that keeps a steadily building interest until the credits begin to roll. Sadly, the final release of built tension; the climax is quite weak and disappointing. Those expecting a grand finish will be sorely disappointed by the terse and underblown, yet still appropriate finale.

For a short, self-contained OVA, Munto provides a gorgeous visual presentation. The characters (designed by Tomoe Aratani) are drawn in a style that strongly resembles those from CLAMP's work. Many bright colors are used, which gives much of the cast a softer, more gentle look. The animation is a step above television series, with smooth movement in both the characters and environment.

Like all teenage schoolgirls, Yumemi needs to be on the cell-phone at all times.	Apparently, even the younger crowd can enjoy enjou kosai.

Musically, Munto is a departure from the normal anime conventions. The film shies away from vocal themes in lieu of a beautiful orchestral score. Be it the haunting piano melody in the opening scene or the grandiose, yet sad string theme for Munto, the music serves its purpose well. However, the composers have no qualms with using electric guitars and heavy percussion for the tense, action-packed moments.

For the DVD release, Central Park created a package that would appeal to most fans. The disc sports three art galleries: one for general art, one for production sketches, and one for the film's gorgeous background art. For the subtitle fans, the disc features both the original Japanese trailer and TV warning. Neither of these features are subtitled, but it is fairly easy to guess what is happening via the onscreen action. The final extra feature on the disc is the American trailer for the film, which offers the rare opportunity to see how differently the title was marketed in Japan.

From start to finish, Munto proves itself as a solid feature. The unique direction and progression offers an experience that few have dared to attempt. It may not appeal to everyone, but for those looking for a more realistic drama that tries to keep the fantasy elements in check, Munto is worth a peek.

Distributor: Central Park Media
Creator: Kyoto Animation Co., Ltd.
Released: 2004

Plot: B
Character Design: A-
Animation Quality: A-
Music: B+
Overall: B+