Tower of the Future

Tower of the Future
Cover of the third volume of Tower of the Future
未来のうてな
(Mirai no Utena)
GenreRomantic comedy, science fiction
Manga
Written bySaki Hiwatari
Published byHakusensha
English publisher
MagazineHana to Yume
DemographicShōjo
Original runSeptember 5, 1994 – December 19, 1998
Volumes11

Tower of the Future (Japanese: 未来のうてな, Hepburn: Mirai no Utena) is a Japanese manga written and illustrated by Saki Hiwatari. The manga was serialised in Hakusensha's Hana to Yume from 1994 to 1998 and collected in eleven tankōbon. The series has been licensed in North America by CMX Manga, which released the manga's eleven tankōbon volumes between August 16, 2005 and June 18, 2008. It is also licensed in France as Mirai no Utena - La Mélodie du futur by Delcourt.

Plot

Takeru Matsuyuki, a junior school student, is forced to aim for Hinami Private High School for his senior school selection exam by his mother, who wants him to be bilingual like his father. On Hinami's open day, Takeru sees his own incentive to go to Hinami: Ichigo Suzunari, a girl with a melodic voice. Just before his exams, Takeru's mother is critically injured in a car accident. On her deathbed, she reveals to Takeru that he has an older half-sister, Hyoju, living alone in England. His mother feels guilt for refusing to take in Hyoju after her mother died and wishes for Hyoju to come to Japan and live with them. Takeru's mother then dies. After a period of unrest between Takeru and his father, Takeru allows Hyōju to live with them. Takeru does poorly in his senior school selection exam and ends up in Tennendo, a public high school. However, he sees Ichigo there as well. He confesses his love for her and she off-handedly accepts. He meets Zen Hokuoin, a kindergarten boy, who shows up at odd moments and innocently and strangely gives wise advice to Takeru. Takeru discovers that Ichigo's older brother, Kazuki, is a photographer. He, with the help of his classmates, Seika Nishizawa and Yoruko Tōsaka, enters a modeling agency competition in which Kazuki is one of the judges. Takeru's classmate, Kouki Noda, is inadvertently entered into the competition as well. Kazuki shows his over protectiveness of his sister to Takeru coupled with rumours that Kazuki kisses his sister daily, Takeru turns to the Hokuoin family for help. Zen finds out that Kazuki is infected by the Noize, a parasite that amplifies the person's strongest desires. He takes Takeru to his house so that his sisters can explain that he is part of the Nan'itsu family, tasked with opposing the Noize. The head of the Hokuoin family, Jin, and his family expels the Noize from Kazuki's body. Later, Kazuki asks Takeru to introduce him to Hyōju.

In the school holidays, Takeru works part-time in a game arcade with Hotei, one of the Seven Stars, the group opposing the Nan'itsu family. Hotei's androgynous friend, Hijiri, informs Takeru that his true love is not Ichigo but Yoruko. He also teaches Takeru to climb the "tower", where the past and future of people's lives can be seen. Ichigo, Takeru and Noda were planning for a trip to the beach with their friend but Takeru subconsciously climbed the tower and warped them 14 years in the past to 1982. The trio have to survive in the past without using ¥1000 notes and ¥500 coins.

Manga

Tower of the Future is written and illustrated by Saki Hiwatari. The manga was serialised in Hakusensha's Hana to Yume and collected in eleven tankōbon volumes which were released between March 1995 and April 1999.[1] The series has been licensed in North America by CMX Manga,[2] which released the manga's eleven tankōbon volumes between August 16, 2005 and June 18, 2008. It is also licensed in France as Mirai no Utena - La Mélodie du futur by Delcourt which released the manga's eleven tankōbon volumes between July 12, 2007 and May 14, 2008.[3][4]

Chapter list

No. Original release date Original ISBN English release date English ISBN
01 March 1995[5]978-4-592-12001-8August 16, 2005978-1-4012-0814-1
  • Level 1 - Birth of a Heroine
02 August 1995[6]978-4-592-12002-5February 1, 2006978-1-4012-0815-8
  • Level 1 - Birth of a Heroine
03 February 1996[7]978-4-592-12003-2May 3, 2006978-1-4012-0816-5
  • Level 1 - Birth of a Heroine
04 June 1996[8]978-4-592-12004-9August 30, 2006978-1-4215-1781-0
  • Level 2 - Darling Honey
  • Side Story - Darling Honey
05 October 1996[9]978-4-592-12005-6November 1, 2006978-1-4012-0818-9
  • Level 2 - Darling Honey
06 February 1997[10]978-4-592-12006-3March 31, 2007978-1-4012-0819-6
  • Level 3 - The Future We Must Return To
07 July 1997[11]978-4-592-12007-0June 20, 2007978-1-4012-0820-2
  • Level 3 - The Future We Must Return To
08 February 1998[12]978-4-592-12008-7September 30, 2007978-1-4012-0821-9
09 June 1998[13]978-4-592-12009-4December 31, 2007978-1-4012-0822-6
10 January 1999[14]978-4-592-12010-0March 31, 2008978-1-4012-0823-3
11 April 1999[15]978-4-592-12011-7June 18, 2008978-1-4012-0824-0

Reception

Mania.com's Jarred Pine commends the first volume of the manga for "[grabbing] the reader's interest and feed them with potential", saying, "while the story of family in conflict gives the manga some semblance of structure, it's the mysterious other small elements that are introduced that really piqued my interest in finding out just where this supposed fantasy story will go."[16] A review of the second volume criticises the manga for its "snail's pace" in introducing Takeru's half-sister, Hyoju, at his "mother's deathbed".[17] Pine's review of the third volume criticises the manga for "the severe lack of character development [that] really hinders the supporting cast, as I'm pulled along with the drama and given contrived explanations".[18] Mangalife's Dan Polley commends the manga for "Takeru and Ichigo’s budding relationship". However, "toward the end of the volume, when the relationship becomes more of a focus, Ichigo seems to self-destruct from some inner battle. It’s interesting, yet it’s boring, too, as her reactions show just how sensitive she is and seems to stereotype her as a high school girl who can’t control her own feelings".[19]

References

  1. ^ "(Comics) Mirai no utena: Goods" (in Japanese). Hakusensha. Retrieved 2009-07-25.
  2. ^ "CMX Manga Licenses". Anime News Network. 2005-07-15. Retrieved 2009-07-25.
  3. ^ "Mirai no Utena - La Mélodie du futur 01" (in French). Delcourt. Retrieved 2009-07-25.
  4. ^ "Mirai no Utena - La Mélodie du futur 11" (in French). Delcourt. Retrieved 2009-07-25.
  5. ^ 未来のうてな (1) (花とゆめComics) (in Japanese). ASIN 4592120019.
  6. ^ 未来のうてな (2) (花とゆめComics) (in Japanese). ASIN 4592120027.
  7. ^ 未来のうてな (3) (花とゆめComics) (in Japanese). ASIN 4592120035.
  8. ^ 未来のうてな (4) (花とゆめComics) (in Japanese). ASIN 4592120043.
  9. ^ 未来のうてな (5) (花とゆめComics) (in Japanese). ASIN 4592120051.
  10. ^ 未来のうてな (6) (花とゆめComics) (in Japanese). ASIN 459212006X.
  11. ^ 未来のうてな (7) (花とゆめComics) (in Japanese). ASIN 4592120078.
  12. ^ 未来のうてな (8) (花とゆめComics) (in Japanese). ASIN 4592120086.
  13. ^ 未来のうてな (9) (花とゆめComics) (in Japanese). ASIN 4592120094.
  14. ^ 未来のうてな (10) (花とゆめComics) (in Japanese). ASIN 4592120108.
  15. ^ 未来のうてな (11) (花とゆめComics) (in Japanese). ASIN 4592120116.
  16. ^ "Tower of the Future Vol. #01". Mania.com. June 23, 2006. Retrieved 2009-07-25.
  17. ^ Pine, Jarred (October 25, 2006). "Tower of the Future Vol. #02". Mania.com. Retrieved 2009-07-25.
  18. ^ Pine, Jarred (January 10, 2007). "Tower of the Future Vol. #03". Mania.com. Retrieved 2009-07-25.
  19. ^ Polley, Dan. "Tower of the Future v8". Manga Life. Archived from the original on 2007-10-29. Retrieved 2009-07-25.