"a series of mental images and emotions occurring during sleep"
Pfft.. Don't just give me the definition from the first thing you googled...
Anyways, Yumekui Merry, or "Dream Eater Merry is an anime based on a manga by... Christopher Nolan??? Hah, I wish, but then the story would get more complicated than it is.
In fact, the anime series was directed by Shigeyasu Yamauchi, produced by Hideki Shirane and written by Ushiki Yoshitaka.
Yeah, I know all of you Nolan fanboys (or girls) are going like, "YEAH!! Christopher Nolan was director, producer and writer but the japanese needed 3 guys to make a show about dreams.."
Well my friend, thats a failed analogy to compare movies and animes. I can't believe you just did that... I mean... Seriously??
Before I proceed with the story review, let me clarify with some of you the terms used that may help you understand more about the story (For those who haven't watch)
SPOILER: To those who wish to enjoy the series by figuring out themselves what this anime is all about, please skip the story section.
Dream World: The other dimensions where the habitants consists of mumas.
Mumas = Dream demon who wish to possess human to use them as a vessel. They can either take over their host, or co-exist with them
Day Dream: Is the process where the Mumas extend their territory by
bringing their host or vessel into their domain while they are still conscious
Wet Dream: Nocturnal Emissions a.k.a j**zing in your pants while you sleep.
So I quite like the story because they did not bombard us with the entire plot by the first few episodes. Quite many enjoy this series for their way of slowly letting the audience discover what this anime is all about. And the plot isn't too cliched as well. This is infact the first anime series I've watch in the Spring/Winter 2010/2011 line up that doesn't have a male harem lead character eventhough it clearly have the potential!
However, the story about other dimensions and different creatures with different types of powers living in those dimensions feels all too familiar. So I can't give any points for this one.
Now of course, if this was a dream anime you would expect the art too be all abstract like you dreams right? Well true it does have its charms but I got the feeling that the fighting sequence was getting lazy as the story progressed. I dont know, maybe the animators haven't been getting any good dreams lately. What about sound? Well I dont remember background music playing during my dream session but this anime had their BGM well under wraps.
I especially loved the opening theme song, then I noticed that IOSYS was responsible. Hah, no surprise there..
Characters! Eventhough I only enjoy reviewing harem characters, but I'll make this one an exception. Why? Cause I know you guys love skipping to the character part and ignore every other parts of my review.
Yumeji Fujiwara. Has the awesomest power ever!!! He can detect if a person is going to have a certain dream on that night! Isn't that cool?? And he can even do that to himself as well! That was you can sleep longer when there he detects a wet dream and don't sleep when there is a nightmare..
Ok yeah... So I was trying to make it sound cool but it seems you guys didn't buy it. Oh darn, I was stupid trying to fool otakus whom clearly wish for better powers like the ability to manipulate vectors or something pfft...
Anyways, like any typical japanese anime character, he has a childhood friend who is yet again a GIRL named Isana Tachibana. Seriously Japan? Can anyone in Japan actually confirm this with me that it's so easy to get a childhood friend who is the opposite sex? I mean maybe because I never had one that made me so envious of them. Someone to be a love interest but is gonna get friendzoned anyways.. Sigh..
So Yumeji's been living alone and in no circumstances they told us what happened to his parent or I don't remember because too many male characters are deprived from their parents. He is a lazy, yet strong-willed and determined person with a heart of gold, who is always ready to help others. He is also a member of a writing club at his high school, and is a big fan of the superhero called Sprain? Who sprains himself each time he acts in the name of justice? Wow why would he even become a hero then if it hurts him?? Yumeji meets Merry when she falls on top of him as he comes back from his errands, (You know the typical cliched scene) He has firmly decided to help Merry to come back in the Dreamworld, and eventually becomes her partner, using his ability to scout out nightmares so Merry can hunt them
Now I wont explain much about Merry because that would take the thrill away from discovering what she is for thos who haven't watch the series. Let's just say she enjoys eating doughnuts and playing video games.
"OMFG!! MY DREAM GIRL!!!" Get it? Because she's from a dreamworld? and she's a girl which also means..... Oh c'mon can't a guy tell a lame joke without getting dissed?
Anyways, Merry is your typical female heroine which is quite popular in the anime scene right now.
Wussy guys + Powerful girls = Homosexuals
Wait that ain't right..
The enjoyment in this anime for me was as mentioned above, slowly discovering what the whole story is about. At the same time we see the bond of friendship developed between Yumeji and Merry. There is a possibility of this going into deeper feelings but please, not every anime have to be about love... And since this is based off a seinen manga, kiddies are not recommended to watch this anime. No, Im not saying this because there are sex scenes! What you dont believe me?? Fine go ahead and watch... And prepare for your MIND TO BE BLOWN... Seriously, kids, if you scratched your heads until it bleeds when you watched Inception, I doubt you would enjoy this one. Fighting sequence isn't that impressive but it's still above average and does compliment the anime well
Overall, watching this anime changes my perception of dreams. They're not recollection of memories, they're actually other dimensions and dream creatures are trying to take over our bodies! So those voices I hear in my head are real and Im not crazy! Oh wait, false alarm, that's just me thinking to myself. And it's telling me to click Submit Review without Previewing it first.
Must resist urge.
Resistance Failed.
