At Anime Expo 2008, The Right Stuf International announced that its Nozomi Entertainment division had licensed Gakuen Alice for the North American market.

She eventually takes advantage of a once in a lifetime opportunity, for normal people to join an Alice music academy, hoping to find her brother.

Since its release, Gakuen Alice has gained cult hit status and is considered by critics to be one of the best in the shojou and magical girl genre.

Despite her initial view of the so-called greatness to the school, Mikan slowly discovers that beneath the grand facade of the Academy, there is a never-ending stream of lies and buried secrets.

As the mystery of the academy draws her into an endless pit of misery and series of trials to survive, she also discovers how the strength of friendship is important to her and guides her to her destiny.

Written and illustrated by Tachibana Higuchi, the chapters of Gakuen Alice are published in the Japanese manga anthology Hana to Yume by Hakusensha and are collected in tankōbon.

[4] The manga is also licensed for a Spanish and German-language release A 26-episode anime television series directed by Takahiro Omori aired from October 20, 2004 to May 14, 2005.

The opening theme, "Pikapika no Taiyou" (Shining Sun), is performed by Kana Ueda, the protagonist's voice actress.

The ending theme, "Shiawase no Niji" (Rainbow of Happiness), is performed by Kana Ueda and Rie Kugimiya.

[12] Gabriela Delgado of Comic Book Resources called the anime series potentially as a "classic of the magical girl genre",[13] further stating that it is a "magical girl anime like no other" and adding that it "slowly transcended from a lighthearted and whimsical slice-of-life series, into a plot-heavy manga that kept readers at the edge of their seats with every new episode".