The Cream Lemon Series (くりいむレモンシリーズ), a landmark OVA franchise that launched in 1984, is available for unlimited streaming on DMM TV at ¥550 per month. TSUTAYA DISCAS also offers DVD-by-mail rental for Cream Lemon New Generation 4: Creature Buster.

What Is the Cream Lemon Series?

The Cream Lemon Series is an OVA (Original Video Animation) franchise produced by Fairy Dust. The first entry, Cream Lemon PART1: Kobi Imouto Baby, was released on August 11, 1984. The series is notable for changing its protagonist and setting with each PART, while also featuring a continuous storyline following heroine Nonomura Ami across multiple installments. Genres range from SF fantasy and action-adventure to school romance drama.

Where to Watch: Platform Overview (as of October 2026)

A survey of major Japanese streaming services found that DMM TV is the only platform offering unlimited streaming of the Cream Lemon Series anime. U-NEXT, Netflix, and dAnime Store do not carry it. TSUTAYA DISCAS offers DVD rental by mail for one title in the series.

• DMM TV — Unlimited streaming, ¥550/month (tax included), 14-day free trial + 550 points on first registration
• TSUTAYA DISCAS — DVD-by-mail rental (New Generation 4: Creature Buster only), Teigaku Rental 8 Double plan at ¥2,200/month

Why DMM TV?

DMM TV consolidates the series into a single title page covering all 41 episodes — from the early PART1 through Shin Cream Lemon (1987), the Ami storyline arc, and Shin Seiki Cream Lemon (2001) — with no additional fees beyond the ¥550 monthly subscription.

Note that the entire series is rated R18+ and is restricted to viewers aged 18 and over. DMM TV also hosts live-action “Cream Lemon” titles produced from 1997 onward, which are entirely separate works; always check the title page before playing.

Story and Highlights

At the heart of the series is the Nonomura Ami storyline. In Ami AGAIN, student Ami goes about her daily life while longing for her brother studying abroad. The epilogue entry, Ami Sorekara, follows Ami as she pursues a career in the entertainment industry.

Standalone titles include SF Choujigen Densetsu Ral, in which a girl named Caron battles the sorcerer Rameau-Roux on the planet Ral; POP♥CHASER, featuring a female bounty hunter named Rio in a rundown town; and the space SF adventure STAR TRAP.

Three Reasons to Watch

• A window into the OVA boom — With the first release in August 1984, the series captures the energy of an era when direct-to-video anime was just beginning to flourish.
• Variety across PARTs — Each installment reflects a different creative voice. SF Choujigen Densetsu Ral spawned a sequel, and the Ami arc extended across multiple entries over several years.
• Two decades of evolution — From 1984 through the 2000s, the franchise reinvented itself with Shin Cream Lemon (1987) and Shin Seiki Cream Lemon (2001), making it fascinating to compare the animation and direction across eras.

Main Cast

• Nonomura Ami — voiced by Oikawa Hitomi (Ami AGAIN, Tabidachi ~Ami Shushou~, and others)

Series Information

• First release: Cream Lemon PART1 (August 11, 1984)
• Studio: Fairy Dust
• Main series: Cream Lemon PART1–PART16 (1984–1987), Shin Cream Lemon (1987–), Ami Sorekara (1988–1990), Shin Seiki Cream Lemon (2001–), Cream Lemon New Generation
• Rating: R18+ (viewers under 18 not permitted)
• Episodes on DMM TV: 41

FAQ

Is it on U-NEXT or Netflix?

The Cream Lemon Series anime is not available on either U-NEXT or Netflix. DMM TV is the recommended option for unlimited streaming.

Can I watch it for free?

The series is not on TVer or any free-to-watch platform. However, DMM TV offers a 14-day free trial for new subscribers, during which all unlimited-streaming titles — including this series — can be watched at no charge.

What order should I watch in?

Since most PARTs tell self-contained stories, viewers can start anywhere. To follow the Ami storyline in release order: Ami AGAIN (1985) → Ami Image ~Shiroi Kage~ (1985) → Ami III (1986) → Tabidachi ~Ami Shushou~ (1986) → Ami Sorekara (1988–1990). All are included in DMM TV’s unlimited plan.

Are the anime and live-action versions the same?

No — they are separate works. The anime series began in 1984, while the live-action line started with Cream Lemon Escalation: Tenshi no Tsubasa in 1997 and includes a theatrical film from 2004. Always check the genre and production year on the title page before watching.