Day Break Illusion - il sole penetra le illusioni is an original anime series produced by AIC and Aniplex. The series aired in Japan between July and September 2013, and was simulcast by Crunchyroll. A manga adaptation was serialized in the June 2013 issue of Square Enix's online magazineGangan Online. A light novel adaptation written by Michiko Itō with illustrations by Gomoku Akatsuki was serialized from June 10, 2013 in the monthly magazine Newtype, published by Kadokawa Shoten. The story follows a group of magical girls whose powers and personalities are based on the major arcana as they fight monsters born from humans that succumbed to despair.
Plot
In a world plagued by the Daemonia, creatures that take advantage of the negative emotions of people and transform them into monsters, girls from 22 special bloodlines are chosen to wield the power of the Elemental Tarot and confront them. The story follows Akari Taiyo, a 12-year-girl who becomes the wielder of card "The Sun" and joins the mysterious organization "Sefiro Fiore" to confront the Daemonia along other card wielders. However, it does not take long for Akari to learn that with their duty comes an unbearable guilt, as to defeat the Daemonia, the humans afflicted by them must perish as well.
A light novel written by Michiko Itō and illustrated by Gomoku Akatsuki was serialized by Kadokawa Shoten in the magazine Newtype, and five chapters were published between June 10, 2013 and October 10, 2013. It is entitled Gen'ei o Kakeru Taiyō ~Scattered and Spilled Sand of Fate~, and it is a prequel to the anime series, focusing on Akari's mother Hinata Taiyo. A web novel titled The Silver That Dances in the Illusion with illustrations by Ryu Knight was also serialized, and it focuses on Silvia Leonhart, wielder of the Justice card. A volume collecting the chapters was released along with a revised version of Scattered and Spilled Sands of Fate and a drama CD. A third web novel, titled Messiah of Illusion, serves as an epilogue and includes characters from both the television anime and The Silver That Dances in the Illusion web novel.
Manga
A manga adaptation illustrated by Kōki Katō began serialization in Square Enix's Gangan Online magazine on June 27, 2013 and ended on February 20, 2014. The sixteen chapters have been collected into four bound volumes, with the first being released on July 22, 2013, the second on September 27, 2013, and the third and fourth on March 22, 2014.
Volume list
Radio show
A radio show to promote the series titled Gen'ei o Kakeru Radio began broadcasting via the anime's official website on June 27, 2013. The show is hosted by Sora Tokui and Yuiko Tatsumi, who voice Luna and Ginka respectively.
Anime
An anime television by AIC aired in Japan between July 6, 2013 and September 28, 2013 and was simulcast by Crunchyroll. The opening theme is "Träumerei" by LiSA and the ending theme is "Mirage" by Natsumi Okamoto. The series is licensed in North America by Aniplex of America. A fourteenth episode was streamed on Niconico on November 16, 2013 and was included with the fourth BD/DVD released on December 25, 2013.
Episode list
Reception
Rebecca Silverman of Anime News Network gave the first half of the series an overall rating of B, praising the series' powerful moments and the accuracy of the depiction of tarot cards, while criticizing the series' character design. Silverman gave the same rating to the second half, concluding that "Overall, however, what began as a difficult show to classify ends on a satisfying note, with problems resolved thanks to the inner strength of Akari and her friends as much as by their magical powers. It isn't as well done as some other magical girl shows, but Day Break Illusion manages to turn itself into a story worth watching as it comes full circle to resolve the problems it opened with."
