the premise is that 240 odd thumb sized gnome type aliens were travelling home from some place and end up crashing on earth in a cosy woodland and unable to leave they make a settlement their. while gallivanting memole (daughter of the chieftain) with friends encounters a country home in which a frail girl (maria)is being looked after by a strict tutor (her farther is always away despite being on her deathbed!) maria dies momentarily of her weakness but being touched by this memole cries over her and her tears touch her lips, bringing her back! after some natural shock and curiosity the two become best friends- her loneliness cured, maria gradually becomes a stronger girl and a lot of the stories involve keeping the little critters a secret from Fanny (the tutor) and working out how to stay together as the situations evolve. other characters come in such as Oscar- a boy who was investigating the rumour of alien visitors, and his estranged, snobby girlfriend (who basically assumes she is betrothed but is more a one way assumption). things get harder to deal with as these new characters/complications arrive but from a viewing point of view are a welcome break up of the established formula of the first half of the series. i won't say more- i'll leave you to watch it but i will say the art work is gorgeously rendered in watercolor and stands strong on a visual merit alone- it is also a periodic setting so gives a very fairy enchanting feeling. though it may be aimed at a young audience i believe any otaku with a penchant for the older anime will definitely like this. (i did)