The Future Diary

About The Future Diary

Looking for background on The Future Diary (未来日記)? This action, horror and mystery series by Asread and Sakura Create (2011) starts out like this. At its core: This psychological thriller, based on the manga written and illustrated by Sakae Esuno, is about Yuki, a loner who's not very good with people. He prefers to write a diary on his cell phone and talk to his imaginary ally, Deus Ex Machina – The God of Time and Space.

Next up: However, Yuki soon learns that Deus is more than a figment of his imagination when he makes Yuki participate in a battle royale with eleven others. The contestants are given special diaries that can predict the future, each diary possessing unique features that give it both advantages and disadvantages. Within the next 90 days, the contestants needs to try to survive until there is only one left standing.

As an action title, fight choreography, pacing and sound design carry much of the weight. Yukiteru Amano (Misuzu Togashi) and Yuno Gasai (Tomosa Murata) are two of the characters you will meet early. If you count yourself among viewers who like fast, high-impact fights, put it on your list. With 26 episodes in total, there is enough room for the story to develop.

Production & Appeal

Asread and Sakura Create is the studio behind The Future Diary, and its direction shapes everything from character design to motion. Because it leans on action, fight choreography, pacing and sound design carry much of the weight. Its 6.9/10 score suggests opinions are split, so it suits viewers who already like the genre. On the casting side, Misuzu Togashi voicing Yukiteru Amano gives the lead role a recognizable voice. It aired in 2011, which makes it easy to place in the wider anime calendar.