The manga was published in Japan by Kadokawa Shoten, and in English originally by Tokyopop, but has since been re-licensed by Dark Horse Comics.

[5] Angelic Layer takes place in the same universe as Clamp's later work Chobits, which similarly deals with the relationship between humans, human-created devices, toys, and godlike power.

Misaki begins studying at the Eriol Academy, an educational institution that includes grades from kindergarten through high school.

There she becomes friends with Hatoko Kobayashi, a very intelligent and mature kindergarten girl who is a famous Deus and an Angelic Layer expert.

Misaki also befriends Hatoko's older brother Kōtarō and his friend Tamayo Kizaki, a girl fascinated by martial arts.

He also claimed that Angelic Layer portrayed the concepts of friendship and how "through common interests, even very different people can be friends".

[11] Zac Bertschy of Anime News Network however, published a less favorable review, comparing it to Pokémon and Digimon, and calling it a glorified tie-in to "a toy you can't purchase".