View source for DearS

{{short description|Media franchise}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2025}}
{{Infobox animanga/Header
| name = DearS
| image = Dears vol 1 cover.jpg
| caption = Cover art of first Tokyopop manga featuring Ren
| ja_kanji = ディアーズ
| ja_romaji = Diāzu
}}
{{Infobox animanga/Print
| type         = manga
| author       = [[Peach-Pit (manga artist duo)|Peach-Pit]]
| publisher    = [[MediaWorks (publisher)|MediaWorks]]
| publisher_en = {{English manga publisher | NA= [[Tokyopop]]}}
| magazine     = {{ubl|[[Dengeki Comic Gao!]]|[[Dengeki Maoh]]}}
| first        = October 2001
| last         = November 2005
| volumes      = 8
| volume_list  = #Volume list
}}
{{Infobox animanga/Video
|type = tv series
|director = Iku Suzuki
|producer = Hisanori Kunisaki<br>Nobuhiro Ōsawa<br>Takayasu Hatano
|writer = [[Takao Yoshioka]]
|music = [[Tomoki Hasegawa]]
|studio = [[Daume]]
|licensee = {{English anime licensee|NA=[[Discotek Media]]}}
|network = [[Television Kanagawa]], [[Chiba TV]]
|first = July 10, 2004
|last = September 26, 2004
|episodes = 13
|episode_list = List of DearS episodes
}}
{{Infobox animanga/Game
| developer = MediaWorks
| publisher = MediaWorks
| genre = [[Visual novel]]
| platforms = [[PlayStation 2]]
| released = June 24, 2004
}}
{{Infobox animanga/Footer}}
{{nihongo|'''''DearS'''''|ディアーズ|Diāzu}} is an [[ecchi]] [[Shōnen manga|shōnen]] Japanese [[manga]] series co-written and illustrated by Banri Sendo and Shibuko Ebara, credited under their pen name [[Peach-Pit (manga artist duo)|Peach-Pit]]. It was serialized monthly by [[MediaWorks (publisher)|MediaWorks]] in their magazines ''[[Dengeki Comic Gao!]]'' from October 2001 to September 2005 and ''[[Dengeki Maoh]]'' from October to November 2005 and was later published into ten volumes by the company. The manga was licensed and translated into English by [[Tokyopop]]. A 13-episode [[anime]] was adapted by MSJ and a [[PlayStation 2]] video game was produced by MediaWorks.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://archive.asciimw.jp/mediamix/dears/dears_game.php |title=DearS game |location=Chiyoda, Tokyo, Japan |publisher=MediaWorks, Inc. |access-date=November 26, 2009 |language=ja |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101201162331/http://archive.asciimw.jp/mediamix/dears/dears_game.php |archive-date=December 1, 2010 }}</ref>

==Plot==
Exactly one year prior to the beginning of ''DearS'', humanity made unprecedented contact with extraterrestrial life. Forced to crash-land into Tokyo Bay when on the way to their home planet of Thanatos, their spacecraft breaks down, 150 humanoid aliens are [[naturalized]] into Japanese society and lovingly nicknamed "DearS"; a [[portmanteau]] of the words "Dear" and "Friends". The crashed aliens consist entirely of individuals from a genetically modified "slave race" designed to enjoy slavery.

Takeya Ikuhara is a temperamental seventeen-year-old Japanese student attending the fictional Koharu High School with a strong prejudice against the DearS. Due to a childhood trauma, he believes that the aliens are fake, worthless beings who have generated nationwide overhype and are secretly plotting to take control of Earth.

On his way home from school, Takeya discovers a homeless DearS who, after fainting and much to his annoyance, he feeds and shelters in his apartment. The girl, who he gives the nickname Ren, is friendly yet immature and grows obsequious and dependent upon Takeya. She calls him "Master", a responsibility Takeya tries to disassociate himself from. However, her oblivious persistence keeps her around. Over time, she realizes Ren's genuine care and empathy for him, Takeya has a change of heart. Unfortunately, because Ren is deemed defective, DearS headquarters order her arrest.

==Characters==
==Main characters==
;{{Nihongo|Takeya Ikuhara|幾原 武哉|Ikuhara Takeya}}
:Takeya is a fastidious and impetuous student. His life becomes complicated when he becomes the unwanted target of affection and servility by a young female DearS, a citizen of the very people he dislikes. Despite this rather immature prejudice, over the course of her stay and companionship with him, Takeya grows fond and solicitous of the girl, opening up more to his peers as well.
;{{Nihongo|Ren|レン|Ren}}
:Lost during shipment and freed from containment, Ren is found homeless by Takeya, who she immediately forces a covenant between and is subsequently given shelter by much to his displeasure. 
;{{Nihongo|Neneko Izumi|和泉 寧々子|Izumi Neneko}}
:Neneko Izumi is a droopy-eyed student and daughter of the apartment landlord, of which she is a tenant of.
;{{Nihongo|Miu|ミゥ|Myu}}
:{{Nihongo|Shia Nostal Ren Naguregyug Thanast Useim Ruki Miu|シーア•ノスタル•レン•ナグレグユグ•タナスト•ァウセーム•ルキ•ミゥ|Shīa Nostaru Ren Naguregyugu Tanasuto Usēmu Ruki Miu}},<ref>{{cite episode|title=Tama! Tama!|series=DearS|credits=Bandai Visual, Geneon Entertainment, Lantis and TeaMDearS|station=TV Kanagawa|airdate=July 24, 2004|season=1|minutes=23:43}}</ref> better known by her short name Miu, is a young female DearS. Intelligent yet sometimes conceited, Miu is a student who is assigned to study abroad at Koharu High and resides locally as a homestay.

==Supporting characters==
;{{Nihongo|{{visible anchors|Mitsuka Yoshimine}}|芳峰 蜜香|Yoshimine Mitsuka}}
:The main characters' knockout teacher, Mitsuka is both intelligent and resourceful. She is also a flirtatious exhibitionist who spends more time conniving to "show off" to her students than she does teaching them English. Mitsuka has a habit of popping up when it is least convenient to Takeya and company, turning normal conversations into overly embarrassing situations, usually by mistaking most things for sexual acts.
;{{Nihongo|{{visible anchor|Hikoro Oikawa}}|及川 彦郎|Oikawa Hikorō}}
:Takeya's male friend, Hikoro is goofy and more than a little shallow but remains a decent young man.
;{{Nihongo|{{visible anchor|Khi}}|キィ|Kī}}
:Khi is a soft-spoken DearS exchange student who goes to the same school as Takeya's sister Natsuki
;{{Nihongo|{{visible anchor|Natsuki Ikuhara}}|幾原 菜月|Ikuhara Natsuki}}
:Natsuki is Takeya's little sister who has been away overseas. Takeya is shown to be protective of her and has even expressed displeasure at the possibility of her and Khi becoming more than friends.
;{{Nihongo|{{visible anchor|Harumi Ikuhara}}|幾原 晴海|Ikuhara Harumi}}
:Harumi is Takeya's stepmother and one of the few people who can take care of her rambunctious daughter, Natsuki.
;{{Nihongo|{{visible anchor|Rubi}}|ルビ}}
: The somewhat dominatrix-like "Barker", Rubi is second-in-command of the DearS colony. Quite big-breasted like Ren, she is almost never seen without her whip in hand. Rubi has proven to be strict, and often cruel, particularly to Khi, using her whip on him to express her displeasure.
;{{Nihongo|{{visible anchor|Xaki}}|ザキ|Zaki}}
:Xaki is the "Biter" sent by the DearS colony to retrieve Ren. He is also a mentor to [[Catgirl (anime and manga)|cat-like]] DearS Nia, who aspires to become a Biter herself. Xaki believes he is the gift for Hirofumi, which leads to some awkward situations.
;{{Nihongo|{{visible anchor|Nia}}|ニア}}
: Nia is Xaki's cat-like apprentice. She is quite a flake and often forgets her assignments, even the ones she assigns herself, such as challenging Ren when Xaki fails to retrieve the wayward Zero Number.

==Media==
=== Manga ===
''DearS'' began as a [[manga]] co-written and illustrated by Banri Sendo and Shibuko Ebara, credited under their pen name [[Peach-Pit (manga artist duo)|Peach-Pit]], which was serialized in [[MediaWorks (publisher)|MediaWorks]]' ''[[Dengeki Comic Gao!]]'' manga magazine from October 2001 to November 2005. The manga was compiled into ten ''[[tankōbon]]'' volumes released by MediaWorks in Japan.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://archive.asciimw.jp/mediamix/dears/dears_gensaku.php |title=DearS manga |location=Chiyoda, Tokyo, Japan |publisher=[[ASCII Media Works]]|access-date=November 26, 2009 |language=ja |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090214200254/http://archive.asciimw.jp/mediamix/dears/dears_gensaku.php |archive-date=February 14, 2009 }}</ref>
{{Graphic novel list/header
 | Language = Japanese
 | Width = 70%
}}
{{Graphic novel list
 | VolumeNumber = 1
 | OriginalRelDate = March 2002
 | OriginalISBN = 978-4-8402-2086-6
 | LicensedRelDate = January 11, 2005
 | LicensedISBN = 978-1-59532-308-8
 | ChapterList =
* Chapters 1–6
}}
{{Graphic novel list
 | VolumeNumber = 2
 | OriginalRelDate = September 27, 2002
 | OriginalISBN = 978-4-8402-2206-8
 | LicensedRelDate = April 12, 2005
 | LicensedISBN = 978-1-59532-309-5
 | ChapterList =
* Chapters 7–12
}}
{{Graphic novel list
 | VolumeNumber = 3
 | OriginalRelDate = March 2003
 | OriginalISBN = 978-4-8402-2343-0
 | LicensedRelDate = July 12, 2005
 | LicensedISBN = 978-1-59532-310-1
 | ChapterList =
* Chapters 13–18
}}
{{Graphic novel list
 | VolumeNumber = 4
 | OriginalRelDate = September 27, 2003
 | OriginalISBN = 978-4-8402-2478-9
 | LicensedRelDate = October 11, 2005
 | LicensedISBN = 978-1-59532-311-8
 | ChapterList =
* Chapters 19–23
* Extra Contact
* Spring Contact
* Character Gallery
}}
{{Graphic novel list
 | VolumeNumber = 5
 | OriginalRelDate = March 27, 2004
 | OriginalISBN = 978-4-8402-2651-6
 | LicensedRelDate = January 10, 2006
 | LicensedISBN = 978-1-59532-797-0
 | ChapterList =
* Chapters 24–28
* Setting Data Collection
}}
{{Graphic novel list
 | VolumeNumber = 6
 | OriginalRelDate = August 27, 2004
 | OriginalISBN = 978-4-8402-2797-1
 | LicensedRelDate = April 11, 2006
 | LicensedISBN = 978-1-59532-798-7
 | ChapterList =
* Chapters 29–33
}}
{{Graphic novel list
 | VolumeNumber = 7
 | OriginalRelDate = March 26, 2005
 | OriginalISBN = 978-4-8402-3011-7
 | LicensedRelDate = July 3, 2006
 | LicensedISBN = 978-1-59816-185-4
 | ChapterList =
* Chapters 34–39
}}
{{Graphic novel list
 | VolumeNumber = 8
 | OriginalRelDate = December 17, 2005
 | OriginalISBN = 978-4-8402-3289-0
 | LicensedRelDate = November 7, 2006
 | LicensedISBN = 978-1-59816-861-7
 | ChapterList =
* Chapters 40–46
* Later Contact
}}
{{Graphic novel list/footer}}

=== Anime ===
{{Main|List of DearS episodes}}
''DearS'' was adapted into a twelve-episode anime and single [[original video animation]] by MSJ with co-production by [[Bandai Visual]], Geneon Entertainment, [[Lantis (company)|Lantis]], and Team DearS. The series was directed by Iku Suzuki.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=E03KBgAAQBAJ|title=The Anime Encyclopedia, 3rd Revised Edition: A Century of Japanese Animation|first1=Jonathan|last1=Clements|first2=Helen|last2=McCarthy|author-link1=Jonathan Clements|author-link2=Helen McCarthy|publisher=Stone Bridge Press|year=2014|isbn= 9781611729092|pages=1200|no-pp=y|ref={{harvid|Clements & McCarthy|2014}}}}</ref> The anime aired on Chiba TV, TV Kanagawa, TV Saitama, Tokyo MX TV, TV Santerebi, TV Aichi, and TVQ Kyushu<ref>{{cite web |url=http://archive.asciimw.jp/mediamix/dears/dears_anime.php|script-title=ja:DearS アニメ情報 |location=Chiyoda, Tokyo, Japan |publisher=MediaWorks, Inc. |access-date=November 26, 2009 |language=ja |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090214195730/http://archive.asciimw.jp/mediamix/dears/dears_anime.php |archive-date=February 14, 2009 }}</ref> from July 10 to September 26, 2004.

=== Video game ===
A [[visual novel]] was developed and published by MediaWorks for the [[PlayStation 2]]. It was released on June 24, 2004.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gamefaqs.com/console/ps2/data/919700.html|title=DearS|website=GameFAQs|access-date=May 27, 2009}}</ref>{{Unreliable source?|reason=See [[WP:VG/RS]]|date=November 2025}} It received a C rating by the [[Computer Entertainment Rating Organization]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.psmk2.net/ps2/soft_04/avg/dears.html|script-title=ja:ディアーズ|website=psmk2.net|access-date=November 27, 2009|language=ja}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20100914224154/http://archive.asciimw.jp/mediamix/dears/index.php Official website] {{in lang|ja}}
* {{Anime News Network|manga|4203}}
* {{Anime News Network|anime|4080}}

{{Peach-Pit}}
{{Dengeki Maoh}}
{{Daume}}

[[Category:2002 manga]]
[[Category:2004 anime television series debuts]]
[[Category:2004 video games]]
[[Category:2005 anime OVAs]]
[[Category:Anime and manga about extraterrestrials]]
[[Category:Bandai Visual]]
[[Category:Dengeki Comic Gao!]]
[[Category:Geneon USA]]
[[Category:Japan-exclusive video games]]
[[Category:Kadokawa Corporation franchises]]
[[Category:Peach-Pit]]
[[Category:PlayStation 2 games]]
[[Category:PlayStation 2-only games]]
[[Category:Shōnen manga]]
[[Category:Video games developed in Japan]]