Dreams and Strange Tales: What is the appeal of stories that transcend the boundaries between fantasy and reality?

"Yumedamaya Kidan" - A story of a girl torn between dreams and reality

■Overview of the work

"Yumedamaya Kidan" is an animated series that was broadcast on Animax in 2007. Although it is a short 30-minute story with only one episode, it draws viewers in with its deep themes and beautiful visuals. The original story was written by Akari Tsukino, the director was Itsuro Kawasaki, and the production was by Production IG, bringing together a stellar team of staff to produce this stunning animation.

■ Story

The protagonist, Naho, is an 11-year-old girl who lives with her father and her two-year-old brother, Jun. Her mother died shortly after giving birth to Jun, and Naho spends her days taking care of her much younger brother. Although Naho is at an age where she would like to go out and play with her friends, her brother gets in the way, and she feels irritated every day. One day, a handsome man wearing a long coat and carrying a large suitcase appears in front of Naho. He introduces himself as "Kotaro of the Dream Shop" and guides Naho to a dream world that is free from the everyday world. Naho is drawn into the world, even though she is confused, as she spends time with her friends and encounters a fantastical world. What questions does Naho ask Kotaro and what does she want from him? The story continues with a journey to find the answers.

■Production Background

"Yumedamaya Kidan" won the grand prize at the 5th Animax Grand Prize, an animation scenario contest that Animax has been running since 2002. The aim of this contest is to "discover the talent that will be active in the world of animation of tomorrow," and Tsukino Akari's "Yumedamaya Kidan" was selected from approximately 1,000 submissions. Production IG animated the scenario, creating a stunning work.

■ Characters

・Naho (voiced by Yuka Iguchi)
The main character is an 11-year-old girl who looks after her younger brother Jun and longs to play with her friends. When Kotaro appears, she is drawn into a dream world.
・Kotaro (voice: Ryusei Nakao)
The man from the Dream Shop wears a long coat and carries a large suitcase. He guides Naho into the world of dreams and shakes her heart.
Baku (voiced by Tomoko Kaneda)
A creature that lives in the dream world. It appears as an entity that eats Naho's dreams.
Jun (voiced by Kurumi Mamiya)
Naho's 2-year-old brother. Naho is taking care of him after their mother died.
・Father (voice: Mitsuaki Hoshino)
Naho and Jun's father. He supports his family after the death of their mother.
・Mother (voiced by Haruhi Terada)
Naho's mother died shortly after giving birth to Jun. She appears in a flashback scene in the story.
Ayako (voiced by Eri Sendai)
Naho's friend. She's one of the people Naho wants to hang out with.
・Wisdom (voiced by Minako Kotobuki)
Naho's friend. She's one of the people Naho wants to hang out with.

■ Staff

・Original concept, script : Akari Tsukino ・Director : Ichiro Kawasaki ・Adaptation : Eiji Umehara/Keiki Sakurai ・Storyboard, direction : Ichiro Kawasaki ・Character concept : Yosuke Takahashi ・Character design, animation director : Akiko Nakamura ・Color design : Izumi Hirose ・Art director : Hiroshi Ohno (Studio Fuga)
・3D CGI : Atsushi Sato ・Director of Photography : Eiji Arai ・Music Director : Tatsuya Ishii ・Sound Director : Yasunori Ebina ・Production : Production IG
Produced by : Production IG, Animax Broadcast Japan

■Visuals and Music

The visuals of "Yumedamaya Kidan" are a work that highlights Production IG's high level of technical skill. Character design is by Nakamura Akiko, and color design is by Hirose Izumi. The use of color and light is meticulous in order to express the fantastical atmosphere of the dream world. Additionally, the background art by Studio Fuga, led by art director Ohno Koji, is beautiful and full of visual appeal. The music is by Ishii Tatsuya, and the emotional sound that matches the development of the story livens up the work. The sound effects by sound director Ebina Yasunori and the performances by the voice actors are also important elements that deepen the worldview of the story.

■ Theme and message

"Yumedamaya Kidan" depicts the mind of a young girl torn between dreams and reality. Naho is torn between her responsibility to look after her younger brother and her desire to play with her friends. When Kotaro appears, she is drawn into the dream world, where she is forced to face her deepest desires and fears. The work depicts the complex emotions children have and the gap with reality they face as they grow. The boundary between the dream world and the real world becomes blurred, asking the viewer the questions, "What is a dream?" and "What is reality?" The final part of the story depicts Naho coming to terms with herself and growing up, deeply moving the viewer.

■ Evaluations and Awards

"Yumedamaya Kidan" won the Grand Prize at the Animax Awards and was praised for its high quality. Although it is a short story, it has been highly praised for depicting deep themes and drawing viewers in with beautiful visuals and music. It has also been noted as a work that highlights Production IG's technical capabilities and has been highly praised by anime fans. In particular, Naho's coming-of-age story and the story that depicts the boundary between dreams and reality touched many viewers.

■ Recommendation points

Although a short story, "Yumedamaya Kidan" depicts a profound theme and draws viewers in with beautiful visuals and music. It is especially recommended for those who are interested in children's growth and the boundary between dreams and reality. It is also a must-see for those who want to appreciate the technical capabilities of Production IG and those who want to enjoy beautiful animation. The touching scene at the end of the story, depicting Naho's growth, will leave a deep impression on viewers.

■ Related works

Like "Dreams and Strange Tales," the following works are recommended as they depict the boundary between dreams and reality.
・Spirited Away: A masterpiece directed by Hayao Miyazaki, depicting the boundary between reality and another world.
- "Paprika": A work directed by Satoshi Kon, characterized by a story that blurs the line between dreams and reality.
- "Dream Messenger": A story about a girl who goes on adventures in her dreams, depicting the boundary between dreams and reality.

■How to watch

"Yumedamaya Kidan" was broadcast on Animax, but is now available on DVD and Blu-ray. It is also available on some video streaming services, so if you're interested, be sure to check it out.

Conclusion

"Strange Tales of Dreams" is a beautiful animation that depicts the heart of a girl torn between dreams and reality. Although it is a short film, it depicts a profound theme and has been highly praised as a work that highlights Production IG's technical capabilities. This film is especially recommended for those who are interested in children's growth and the boundary between dreams and reality. Please watch it at least once and experience its moving beauty.