Product Details

• Format: Animated, Color, DVD, Subtitled, NTSC
• Language: English, Japanese
• Subtitles: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: Unrated
• Studio: Section 23
• DVD Release Date: February 7, 2006
• Run Time: 100 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B000CPHA0G
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #246,403 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

The shojo (girl's) broadcast series Diamond Daydreams (also called "Diamond Dust Drops") centers on the lives of six young women on the northern island of Hokkaido. Twenty-year-old Atsuko is a bit of a klutz, as she demonstrates while helping her widowed mother in the family fish market. She's not sure she wants to marry Minoru the wealthy fiancé her family's chosen, and she confides her feelings to Mr. Kurata, an older jazz musician whom her mother and Minoru disapprove of. Karin has spent two years in the hospital with a respiratory ailment; as her father died during surgery, she's afraid to have the operation she needs. She spends her time writing stories on her Website--until brash young Dr. Amakasu accuses her of being spoiled. The seemingly unrelated stories are tied together by "diamond dust," tiny ice crystals that sparkle in the cold northern air. Seeing them is supposed to guarantee love, happiness, and wishes that come true. (Rated TV PG, suitable for ages 13 and older: minor violence, alcohol and tobacco use) --Charles Solomon

Product Description

Atsuko Akanegi is a simple girl helping her mother run the struggling family business. She works hard, stays out of trouble and tries to not let life get too complicated. But then, she discovers that she has an arranged marriage waiting for her in the future. And to make matters worse, she thinks her groom-to-be is a bit boring and self-centered. Then, more complications. Atsuko meets Kurata – a mature, interesting and passionate soul who mingles his way into her life. She is torn. Atsuko must find within herself the delicate differences between the comfort of firm stability of and the pain of a wanting heart. Karin Shiraishi is very ill. She has been hospitalized for a over two years with little hope of recovery. And her physician, Dr. Amakasu, doesn’t make her feel any better – neither in a medical sense nor emotionally. He is cocky, brash and aloof to her needs as a person. The only thing that keeps Karin going is her web blog. There, she vents and expounds upon her experiences and manages to find some warmth and sanity in the otherwise cold and sterile confines of the patient ward. Eventually, her blog gathers quite a following, and she meets someone wonderful. Kind and caring, her new friend is everything she’s been longing for. That is, until they come face to face.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Everybody Want's To See Diamond Dust, May 11, 2006

By 

Keith A. Jones "Sonic Jones... I'm Kind Of A ... (Philadelphia PA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Diamond Daydreams, Vol. 1 - Atsuko + Karin (DVD)

The unrelated stories of Diamond Daydreams have more in common then what your lead to believe. For one all of them have a deceased father but only Karin seems to be really effected by this. Another is that these girls are young teens and the guys they fall for are grown men but so far only one man understands that problem. Everyone seems to have a different take on what diamond dust actually does but one is that the person you see it with is your true love. The style and story of this series can sometimes feel like a soap opera and though it can get a little girly you start to get hooked into the unique plot.

I have to say that Diamond Daydreams is starting to impress me because I already have no idea where the story is going but I like that surprise feeling of every episode. Every two episodes there's a new girl to find out about and they'll continue this until the sixth girl is introduced. I'm very curious to see how they get these girls to meet up. My only problem with this series are some of the scenes are boring and ineffective and it makes you wonder about the future episodes potential. The settings are great and the animation is perfect for this style, maybe this series will exceed my expectations.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Chick Flick? Yes, but still a good one., June 6, 2008

By 

S. Bell "spawn96" (Iowa) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Diamond Daydreams, Vol. 1 - Atsuko + Karin (DVD)

This unusual story follows the lives of six young women, of various ages, living on or visiting the Japanese island of Hokkaido. The characters have little in common at first, other than dreams of love and happiness, symbolized by the magic of diamond dust, a winter phenomenon that is supposed to ensure happiness to those who see it.
The first story is of Atsuko, a twenty year old living with her mother and helping run the family business. She feels trapped by her family's financial circumstances and a approaching arranged marriage, when a stranger enters her life. She finds herself drawing closer to this man, but is he truly the answer to her problem?
The second story involves Karin, a girl of about fifteen who's been hospitalized with a life threatening ailment. In order to avoid dealing with her problems, she escapes into a web blog where she documents her dreams. She eventually acquires an ardent fan, and has hopes of romance. But before the story ends, she must face disappointment, along with some unpleasant truths about herself.
The production quality of this series is quite good, and the voice casting isn't bad at all. The stories themselves don't have simple happy endings, but both characters find reason for hope, which makes the whole thing pleasant to watch. Female angst is not everyone's cup of tea, but a bit of patience with this story can definitely pay off. Take a chance, Columbus did.