Brave Story

Lore & Background

The novel follows Wataru Mitani, a quiet fifth grader in Japan, who discovers a portal to the world of Vision after witnessing an old man enter an abandoned building. In Vision, he learns he must collect five gemstones—charity, bravery, faith, grace, and the power of darkness and light—to reach the Tower of Destiny and have a wish granted by the Goddess. Upon returning home, Wataru faces his parents' divorce and his mother's suicide attempt, prompting him to return to Vision to change his fate.

The manga adaptation, based on the original story by Miyuki Miyabe and illustrated by Yoichiro Ono, was serialized in Shinchosha's Weekly Comic Bunch and collected in twenty tankōbon volumes from April 2004 to May 2008. In the manga, Wataru is slightly older and already in high school. The animated film adaptation by Gonzo was released in Japan by Warner Bros. in July 2006 and was nominated for the Japan Academy Prize for Best Animated Feature Film. Three video games were loosely adapted from the novel: Brave Story: New Traveler for PSP, Brave Story: My Dreams and Wishes for Nintendo DS, and Brave Story: Wataru's Adventure for PlayStation 2, all released in July 2006.

Reader's Guide

Brave Story is significant as a Japanese fantasy novel that achieved broad cross-media success, including a manga, an animated film, and multiple video games. The novel won the Batchelder Award in 2008 for its English-language publication by Viz Media, recognizing its translation by Alexander O. Smith. The film's production cost was estimated at one billion yen, and a charity enterprise, Our Brave Fund, donated ¥10 per ticket to UNICEF for children affected by HIV in Asian and African nations. The manga adaptation was noted by artist Yoichiro Ono as being aimed at an adult audience, with the first volume being more serious and mature than later installments. The franchise's legacy lies in its exploration of family dynamics and personal transformation within a fantasy setting, resonating with readers and viewers across different age groups.

Did You Know?

• The novel was serialized in various regional newspapers from November 11, 1999, to February 13, 2001.
• The manga adaptation is based on the original story by Miyuki Miyabe, with script handled by a different writer, and illustrated by Yoichiro Ono; Wataru is slightly older and in high school.
• The animated film was nominated for the Japan Academy Prize for Best Animated Feature Film.
• Three video games were loosely adapted from the novel, all released on July 6, 2006.