Mirai Nikki

Amano Yukiteru prefers to spend his time with imaginary friends and writing entries in his cell phone diary instead of interacting with other people. He records even trivial stuff like his classmates' behavior and has even created a god of time and space named Deus Ex Machina. Everything changed when he woke up one day finding diary entries already written for the next 90 days. Then he learns that Deus was real after all. Yuki is one of a handful of cell phone owners who have diaries that tell the future. Deus also told Yuki that he has to participate in a battle royal against other diary owners. Unwilling though he was to search and eliminate the others, he found he had no choice when his identity was revealed by Deus. The others might be searching for him now but Yuki does not know how to defend himself. Swearing nonviolence as much as he is able, Yuki teams up with his classmate and stalker Gasai Yuno.

Amano Yukiteru

Although he is not fond of Yuno, Yuki has no choice but to let her protect him from the other diary owners. The others involved have diaries that include special abilities tailored to suit the personalities of their owners. Yuno's diary for example is all about Yuki, so she is able to follow him around and monitor his actions. Whoever survives the next 90 days in this 26-episode (plus one OVA) series will prevent the end of the world and replace the dying Deus as the god of time and space.

The diary owners

Yuki was an unwilling participant throughout most of the game until his parents were involved in an accident. Yuno on the other hand was more than willing to kill the other diary owners for the sake of the "Happy Ending" with Yuki that her diary predicted. The death of Yuki's parents forced him to rely more on Yuno after she told him he could bring the dead back when he becomes the new god. Despite the warnings of his friends, Yuki has become violent and a willing pawn of Yuno just to get his parents back. 

The demented Gasai Yuno

The series becomes more interesting as the focus shifted to Yuno's identity. Yuki's friend Akise Aru insists Yuno has other motives besides wanting to be at Yuki's side all the time.

Yuki's friends (From left) Nonosaka Mao, Hino Hinata, Akise Aru, and Kousaka Ouji

The promise of a battle royal isn't new at all. It seems the theme has been popular recently and Mirai Nikki is no different from other movies/books/series. The series has an interesting enough supporting cast but what I want to focus on are the two lead characters, Yuki and Yuno.

The two are complete opposites and an uncanny pair. While Yuki is cowardly, clumsy and timid, Yuno is relentless, ruthless and smart. When it comes to fighting and out-thinking the other diary owners, Yuno does more of the work. Yuki is hesitant and would prefer to talk to avoid violence but Yuno's only goal is to eliminate the others so she and Yuki can be happy together. I admit Yuno can be a real turn-off because she's so obsessed with Yuki and what she needs to do to get him. But I can't help but be wowed every time she fights. Be it close-range fighting or a shootout, Yuno is efficient and fast. That and her image as a cute, shapely schoolgirl makes her a perfect poster girl for a bloody series for a more mature audience. There is no lack of sexy scenes as well. 

Deus Ex Machina, the god of time and space

The ending was a let-down as it seemed to put less meaning (at least for me) in the story. When I found out that all the deaths was all because of a remorseless, selfish person, I was like "Eh?" in the final episode. Absurd though the story may be, the series has several highlights. The fight scenes aren't bad if you like bloody endings. The supporting characters provide enough variety and diversion from the frustrating pair of lead characters. The other diary owners have their own methods of fighting and the special features of their diaries are worth discovering. Yuki and Yuno are not the type of characters everybody would come to love, but their presence gave me enough motivation to finish the series, all the while hoping their happy ending wouldn't be so happy at all. Interesting and well-liked characters make a series good enough to watch, but hateful characters like Yuno can have just the same effect.

Rating: 7 out of 10