The charm and depth of Yumekui Merry: A thorough analysis of the ultimate horror fantasy anime

Yumekui Merry - Yumekui Merry - Detailed Review and Recommendation

■ Public Media

TV anime series

■ Original Media

comics

■ Broadcast period

January 6, 2011 - April 7, 2011

■Broadcasting station

TBS, Mainichi Broadcasting System, Chubu Nippon Broadcasting, BS-TBS, Kumamoto Broadcasting, AT-X

■Frequencies

half an hour

■ Number of Episodes

Episode 13

■Original Story

Yoshitaka Ushigi

■ Director

Shigeyasu Yamauchi

■ Production

Animation production: JCSTAFF
Produced by: Yumekui Merry Production Committee, TBS

■ Story

One day, high school student Fujiwara Yumeji, who has the mysterious ability to see other people's dreams, meets a girl named Mary who has wandered from the "dream world" into the "real world". Who on earth is Mary? What is the dream world, and what are incubi? And what is the purpose of the incubi that come to the human world?

■Cast

・Merry Nightmare / Ayane Sakura / Yumeji Fujiwara / Nobuhiko Okamoto / Isana Tachibana / Ai Kayano / Yui Kounagi / Tomoko Akitani / Engi Three Piece / Aya Endo / John Doe / Jouji Nakata / Boss Tachibana / Keiji Fujiwara / Glico / Shinji Kawata / Saki Kirishima / Mariya Ise

■ Main staff

・Original story/Yoshitaka Ushigi・Director/Shigeyasu Yamauchi・Series composition/Hideki Shirane・Character design/Masahiro Fujii・Chief animation director/Masahiro Fujii・Prop design/Yukie Hiyasui・Art director/Kenji Matsumoto・Color design/Miyuki Ishida・Director of photography/Yutaka Kurosawa・Editor/Shigeru Nishiyama (Real-t)
・Sound Director: Satoshi Motoyama ・Music: Keiichi Oku ・Animation Production: JCSTAFF

■ Main Characters

Merry Nightmare A girl with a dream demon who wandered into this world from the world of dreams. She teams up with Yumeji to fight against the dream demons while searching for her way back to the world of dreams. Her favorite food is donuts.
・Yumeji Fujiwara A high school student. She has the ability to see whether other people's dreams are good or bad. She meets Mary and decides to help her find her way back to the world of illusion.
Yumeji's childhood friend. She is the only daughter of the cafe STO where Yumeji is staying. She has mixed feelings for Yumeji.
Yui Mitsunagi: She listens to Engi's desperate plea and becomes his vessel. She is also a source of emotional support for Engi at times. She is usually a cheerful, kind girl who also has a mysterious side.
・Engi Three Piece A nightmare demon who came from the fantasy world to avenge the death of his sister who went to the real world. He uses Yui as a vessel, but instead of taking over, he is bound to her by a deep bond. His meeting with Mary begins with an intense battle...!!
John Doe is the incubus who first tried to use Yumeji as a vessel. He is also known as the "Chaser (Ruby)". As his name suggests, he watches over the battle between Mary and Yumeji from the shadows.
・Tachibana's Boss The owner of the cafe STO where Yumeji is staying. A passionate man who seems to have a somewhat mysterious past. He accepts Mary easily. S (as expected) T (Tachibana's) O (boss).

■Subtitle

・Episode 1: "Dream" (2011/01/06)
・Episode 2: "Dreams and Hopes" (2011/01/13)
・Episode 3: "Beyond the Dream" (2011/01/20)
・Episode 4: "Dream Eater Merry" (2011/01/27)
・Episode 5: "Confused by a Dream" (2011/02/03)
・Episode 6/"Dream Encounter" (2011/02/10)
Episode 7: "Dreams, Swimsuits, and the Colors of the Sea" (2011/02/17)
・Episode 8/"Dream Corridor" (2011/02/24)
・Episode 9: "Dreams in Disarray" (2011/03/03)
・Episode 10: "Without Waking Up from the Dream" (2011/03/10)
・Episode 11: "Guardian of Dreams" (2011/03/24)
・Episode 12: "Dreams and Nightmares" (2011/03/31)
・Episode 13: "Dream Again" (2011/04/14)

■ Theme songs and music

・OP1
Daydream Syndrome
Lyrics: void (IOSYS)
・Composition: void (IOSYS)
・Arrangement: void (IOSYS)
・Song: Marina Fujiwara・ED1
・Dreams, Hopes and Me Tomorrow ・Lyrics by Hakase (IOSYS)
・Composition: ARM (IOSYS)
・Arrangement: ARM (IOSYS)
・Singer: Merry Nightmare (voiced by Sakura Ayane)

Dream Eater Merry - Detailed Review

"Yumekui Merry" is an anime series based on the manga by Ushigi Yoshitaka that was broadcast in 2011. The story transcends the boundaries between dreams and reality, and the unique world view and characters draw the viewer in. Below, we will review the series in detail from various perspectives, including the story, characters, production, and music.

story

The story of "Dream Eater Merry" begins with the encounter between Fujiwara Yumeji, a high school student who can see other people's dreams, and Mary, a girl with a dream demon who has wandered from the fantasy world into the real world. As Yumeji's powers and Mary's existence intertwine, the purpose of the dream demons and the secrets of the fantasy world gradually become clear. This story skillfully depicts the boundary between dreams and reality, leaving viewers deeply moved and surprised.

Particularly impressive is the relationship between Yumeji and Mary. Yumeji struggles to find Mary's way home, while Mary fights against incubi with Yumeji while searching for the meaning of her own existence. The growth of these two and the deepening of their bond form the central axis of the story. Additionally, the backgrounds and goals of each of the incubi are carefully depicted, providing the viewer with a variety of perspectives.

The story unfolds at a good pace, and the occasional comical scene helps to lighten the heavy themes. In particular, scenes such as Mary eating donuts and the daily interactions between Yumeji and Yukao will bring a smile to the viewers' faces. Meanwhile, scenes such as the battle with nightmares and the secrets of the fantasy world are full of tension and thrills, drawing the viewer in.

character

The characters in "Dream Eater Merry" are all unique and charming. The main character, Yumeji Fujiwara, is a high school student who has the ability to see other people's dreams, and grows through his encounters with Merry. Yumeji's kindness and courage are key elements that support the story.

Mary Nightmare is a nightmare girl who got lost in the real world from the fantasy world. She fights nightmare with Yumeji while searching for her own way home. Mary's purity and strength leave a deep impression on viewers. Her favorite food, donuts, also makes her cute.

Tachibana Yuuo is Yumeji's childhood friend and the only daughter of Cafe STO. She has subtle feelings for Yumeji, and their relationship adds depth to the story. Yuuo's cheerfulness and kindness make her well-liked by viewers.

Yui Mitsunagi is a girl who becomes Engi's vessel and sometimes supports him emotionally. Yui's cheerfulness and mysterious side make her appealing to viewers. Engi Three Piece is a nightmare who came from the Phantom World to avenge his sister, and her deep bond with Yui is depicted. Engi's strength and sadness evoke sympathy from viewers.

John Doe is an incubus who first tried to use Yumeji as a vessel, and is also known as the "Chaser." John Doe's mysterious presence adds depth to the story. Tachibana's boss is the owner of Cafe STO, where Yumeji is staying, and is a warm-hearted man who readily accepts Mary. The boss's mysterious past and kindness make him well-liked by viewers.

Production

The animation for "Yumekui Merry" was produced by JCSTAFF. JCSTAFF pays particular attention to character design and background art, providing viewers with beautiful images. In particular, the scenes depicting the dream world are impressive with their fantastical colors and fluid movements, and have the power to draw viewers in.

Director Shigeyasu Yamauchi carefully depicts the development of the story and the growth of the characters, deeply moving the viewers. Series composer Hideki Shirane balances the pace of the story to keep viewers from getting bored. Character designer Masahiro Fujii provides designs that bring out the individuality of the characters, making them well-liked by viewers.

Prop designer Yukie Hiyasui realistically depicts the weapons and tools of the incubus, giving the viewer a thrill. Art director Kenji Matsumoto is particular about background art, providing the viewer with beautiful images. Color designer Miyuki Ishida considers color balance and provides the viewer with comfortable images. Cinematographer Yutaka Kurosawa ensures a smooth flow of images, providing the viewer with a comfortable viewing experience. Editor Shigeru Nishiyama ensures the story unfolds smoothly, and makes efforts to keep the viewer from getting bored. Sound director Satoshi Motoyama is particular about sound effects, providing the viewer with a realistic sound experience. Music composer Keiichi Oku considers the balance of the music, providing the viewer with a comfortable musical experience.

music

The music for "Yumekui Merry" was composed by Keiichi Oku. The opening theme "Daydream Syndrome" was written, composed, and arranged by void (IOSYS) and sung by Marina Fujiwara. This song features a fantastical and beautiful melody that symbolizes a story that transcends the boundaries between dreams and reality. The ending theme "Yume to Kibo to Ashita no Atashi" was written by Hakase (IOSYS), composed and arranged by ARM (IOSYS), and sung by Merry Nightmare (CV: Ayane Sakura). This song features a powerful yet gentle melody that symbolizes Merry's purity and strength.

The inserted songs and background music also skillfully express the development of the story and the emotions of the characters, deeply moving the viewer. In particular, in the scenes where the battle with the nightmare demons and the secrets of the fantasy world are revealed, the music enhances the tension and thrill, making an impressive impact and drawing the viewer in. In the scene where Mary eats a donut and in the daily interactions between Yumeji and Yuka, the pleasant music brings a smile to the viewer's face.

Recommendation

"Yumekui Merry" is a work that features a story that transcends the boundaries between dreams and reality and attractive characters. The storyline that deeply moves and surprises the viewer, the unique and attractive characters, and the beautiful animation and music all add to the appeal of this work. This is a work that we would especially recommend to those who enjoy works that depict the boundaries between dreams and reality, and those who want to enjoy the growth of characters and the deepening of bonds.

The original manga of "Yumekui Merry" is also very popular, and has many fans of the original work. The anime version firmly incorporates the essence of the original work, but also adds original storylines and characters, allowing fans of the original work to enjoy it from a new perspective. Furthermore, the anime version also includes voice acting and music, making it even more moving and surprising than the original work.

"Yumekui Merry" is a work that will deeply move and surprise viewers, and is characterized by a story that transcends the boundaries between dreams and reality and charming characters. Please watch this work and enjoy the adventure that transcends the boundaries between dreams and reality.