Indeed, it features an extremely calm, peaceful and magical world where humans, elf, semi-humans and other ferric creatures. They are all students living in the Mysteria Academy which teaches them how to use properly their powers and classical subjects we could study ourselves (such as literature, history, biology, etc). The anime will focus on Anne, a human princess and Grea, a wonderful and attractive semi-human semi-dragon. Talking about dragons, I'm currently listening (for a few days actually) to Skyrim's Theme... is that a sign ?
Well, we will follow during 10 episodes, 10 of their student days. It fits the slice of life genre by its simple but magical scenes, going from a lecture to a city trip between girls. The man characters are catching and attractive, especially Grea who has a certain originality of being a semi-human/dragon. That includes her having a tail and horns, some body parts which particularly attracts her best friend Anne, and she won't hide her desires.
I don't think there is a global plot, each episode could be taken in any order (except for the last one which ends Manaria Friends) and features a different scene. Actually, every episode is extremely different : for example, one focuses on a beach trip when the previous one focused on combat training. Basically, we get to follow how we would study if magic existed in the world.
How I felt watching this anime can be summed up with a few words : peaceful, relaxed, calm,... This is what it brings, a very chilling atmosphere without any sort of violence or darkness, just the crossed story of 2 young teenagers living in a fantasy world. They will also discover love & disappointment in their lives, though their friendship won't break ! Testifies the latest episode which represents also a school break. Indeed, both friends agree to spend more time together, sharing a room for the next semester. Ah god, the very awaited moment where our favorite dragon girl would spend a night (she accepted Anne to sleepover in her place) with her best friend... won't actually happen. Well, we know it WILL, but we won't get to SEE it. Meh, I was waiting for this scene which would have been very funny and lovely to watch : guess it will but in my own imagination.
I still decide give it a 6/10 mark, 'cause every episode had a shorter than usual duration (+/- 14 minutes, including credits with artwork backgrounds and classic credits with a back screen), a total absence of ending or opening and also a lack of plot. It was a choice to bet on a very beautiful art and a magnificient atmosphere (I can't avoid mentioning the songs used were really accurated and gave each episode such a calm and fantastic vibe) but it - in my opinion - lacked on a more solid story.
