The series was released in five volumes and published in China by Tian Jin Creator World Comic Company (simplified Chinese: 天津神界漫画公司; traditional Chinese: 天津神界漫畫公司; pinyin: Tiān jīn shén jiè màn huà gōng sī) under the title Seek Self's World and as part of the Cunren Fairy Tale series.

An Ideal World garnered mixed reception from Western critics, who objected mainly to the beginning and praised the overall story, artwork and themes.

He meets others who give him advice on enjoying work and life, particularly the "Master of Universal Love", an anthropomorphic zebra who toiled to earn his position and helps others free of charge.

Returned to his own world, A You awakens in the tree he had taken shelter in and heads back to his house, where he finds his worried friends and family waiting for him.

[15][16] Rights were acquired from Xiao Pan, rather than Tian Jin Creator World Comic Co.[1][16] On March 24, 2009, Yen Press released An Ideal World in North America as a single volume;[17] at 176 pages long, the volume also includes character sketches, the additional French covers, and information on the author, illustrator, and Chinese publisher.

School Library Journal's Lori Henderson reviewed An Ideal World positively; she praised the "Wizard of Oz feel" ending and the message that A You "controls his life, and he has the power to change it".

[20] Another School Library Journal critic, Joanna Fabicon, felt that the lessons and themes were "unimaginative", which made the artwork "a waste of visual whimsy".

[22] Kusek applauded the artwork, saying that "colors really jump out" and set "the mood of the scene well, while keeping the backgrounds alive", and that character designs enhance "the mystical and magical elements of the story".

[23] Sizemore wrote that he wished the message was conveyed "more [subtly]" and criticized the beginning of the book as "the toughest to get through", but felt the "pace and readability improve" afterwards.

[24] R. Bézard, a French critic for BD Gest, rated the first volume of the Xiao Pan edition of An Ideal World with two out of five stars.