The Law of Ueki

An ordinary junior high student named Ueki suddenly discovers a power to turn garbage into trees, a gift granted by a cryptic figure known as Mr K. This unusual ability pulls him into a high stakes contest called the Battle of Supernatural Powers, where one hundred fighters showcase strange abilities. The prize would shift the balance of the Celestial World: Mr K would become its new king, and Ueki would receive the Talent of Blank, granting him the power to choose any ability. There's a catch though, the game is unforgiving and penalties can erase Ueki from existence if he slips too far. Its humor comes from everyday high school life occasionally colliding with impossible feats.

Created by Tsubasa Fukuchi and Toshifumi Kawase, The Law of Ueki aired in 2005 as an anime series, drawing on a popular manga by Fukuchi and Kawase. It features Romi Park as Kousuke Ueki and Tomoko Kawakami as Ai Mori.

Viewers gave the show a solid reception, reflected in a 7.8 out of 10 average from 39 votes. The series blends action, comedy and science fiction elements, exploring themes of power and responsibility, friendship, and standing up to larger forces. It keeps a brisk pace, balancing light humor with stakes that feel personal for Ueki.

Among fans the premise of turning trash into trees left a memorable image and sparked discussions about recycling and the responsibilities that come with power. The show sits in a late 2000s wave of quirky battle anime that mix goofy moments with moral questions. While not a global phenomenon, it has a loyal niche following on streaming and forums.

There are no major award nominations reported for this title. It was recognized by fans for its creative premise and character moments, but did not land the kind of industry nominations that mark a breakthrough series.