Anime Analysis - Dream Eater Merry (Commentary)

[@PassingNeet]

Not to spoiler too hard, but in the source material, there were a few instances of people getting taken over by dream demons, like you said they should have. You also mentioned people close to yumeji getting taken over, or having been dream demons the whole time, which... also happened. So basically, the shows weak point is that it didn't continue. Most of the issues you stated are issues that are fixed going forward, but the anime never gets that far.

[@rexmckey1604]

*begins slowly applauding* Well said my good man, well said.

[@Leaintheknight]

You have the greatest voice ever for commentary videos bro and one of the best personalities ever

[@plains7000]

After seeing this review I'm definitely watching it soon. Great review.

[@ZepherusReaper]

The anime never got a season two which I'm sure would have sorted every small problem you have about this anime. The way the manga is make it interesting to the build up of the enemies as they always surprise you. BTW John Doe is awsome.... nuff said

[@ShadowACS1]

Zepherus Reaper Yeah, I kinda wish he was in the show more. :(

[@ZepherusReaper]

yea... he does get more involved in the manga if you read it and I like where the story is heading

[@ShadowACS1]

I don't really read manga, so I probably won't. But thanks for the recommendation nonetheless.

[@ZepherusReaper]

***** I barely read manga too but sometimes when I think a story is good enough and I want to finish it I may read the manga, so I'm just saying that if the anime series had one more season or a couple more episodes it could have fixed its problems

[@MrFallenAngel97100]

***** The anime is good but it doesn't follow the manga very closely so that's why people didn't like it enough to give it another season, ShadowACS if you ever decide to read manga you should read this manga it's really good and I think your like the manga more then the anime because it gets darker and fills everything out way better.P.S. the taking over peoples bodies is done way better.

[@SangoProductions213]

No, people complaining about the anime doesn't make it not have additional seasons. Not getting enough eyes to the show, and making money off of it, and (sometimes related, sometimes not) the producers' willingness to continue producing it. They couldn't care less if a show has a 1/10 score if it meant they were still making an amount of money that they found acceptable. Sure, perhaps those who wrote the story might be disheartened, but if it's making money, it's making money. Likewise, if they just get bored of it, or see better profitability elsewhere, then it's probably not going to get made.

[@dracmanish]

Well looks like I'll be adding another anime to my plan to watch list. so thanks Shadow.

[@xelic1996]

6:37 That happened in the manga but the anime never got to it DX

[@Beansforvavle]

Check out Baccano, the most under-appreciated anime of all time. It's like if Pulp Fiction's storytelling ate the Prohibition era with some supernatural elements garnishing the plate. I'd say that, for the most part, there aren't any uninteresting characters in the show. Everybody has some motivation that sets them apart from all the others, such as one who is trying to find her elder brother who went missing. The show runs 13 episodes and 3 OVAs, each running about 25 minutes. Oh, and also the first time around it'll be extremely confusing because it's told like Pulp Fiction, but is much longer than Pulp Fiction, so there will probably be small important pieces of information that you'll miss.

[@veda_fluff_asmr5064]

Baccano is awesome, I love Vino c: !!!!! People need to give it more of a chance!

[@Beansforvavle]

I agree that it needs a much larger fanbase, though I feel like it's less of people not giving it a chance and more of people having never heard of it before. It's a shame, really. And also I do like Claire Stanfield quite a bit as well.

[@HolyDruid7]

kawaii dark I agree with you but... if alot of people do watch it then I worry about it attracting the wrong crowd (you know the kind I'm talking about) and Baccano does NOT deserve that kind of treatment

[@BlueMoonSamurai]

Look Ma', I can Comment! Yes! "Baccano!" is my favorite anime of all time! If he likes "Durarara!!" then he'll probably like "Baccano!." All of the characters are so interesting and I think there is only one unlikable character, Szilard, but he's still an interesting character.

[@Beansforvavle]

BlueMoonSamurai99 That is basically my opinion, but I'd really only like to add that because Szilard is unlikable, he is the perfect villain for the show. While there's a debate for the main character of the show, the main villain is certainly fit to have that spot.

[@michelle35l]

You should watch/review monster, it's one of my favorite anime ever and it has an AMAZING villain

[@georgeparker3565]

Rail-Gun Great analysis! I so agree with you on all fronts! If ShadowACS did an anime analysis on Monster, then I'm quite sure this would be his reaction. Well done!

[@MishiKyoki]

Great review! Hate to sound like everyone else but you MUST watch Monster. Especially considering all the flack you've given other shows this one makes up for all of them!

[@HolyDruid7]

I watched this anime because of what you said about it in the past and my reaction was pretty much the same (I like it but theirs not really much to say about it besides its interesting premise and Merry) Also at 6:36 I hate to tell you this but that actually happened in the manga (I know you don't read the manga I just thought I should let you know) That being said though if I can recommend something to you why don't you watch Log Horizon? Its got the same basic setting of SAO but unlike SAO which (in my opinion) is more about turning your brain off and enjoying the action and the characters Log Horizon is more smartly handled It has 2 seasons with 25 episodes each and the entire first season has an english dub

[@Lugbzurg]

I actually saw this on your recommendation over a year ago. I was wondering when you'd get to this! I really liked the designs of the characters, especially the supernatural ones. (Merry's closed eye motif and anti-gravity spiral coat are just awesome!) I also found it rather interesting and kinda refreshing to see an action show like this that was so... laid back. It was action-packed, yet relaxing at the same time. The only other show I can think of that is like this is Gintama, though I think that may be a considerably better series.

[@thecommentor19999999]

In the manga one of yumeiji's friends is actually possessed through the whole deal and just keeps it a secret from him

[@shirothegamer7574]

When i first saw shinobu going crazy for donuts, i couldn't help thinking of merry.

[@hmthelich]

i'm still glad that the manga for merry continues to run, i would like to see how it all ends :)

[@stewartmeehan4537]

Shadow have you seen rainbow nishe rokubou no shichinin. It's a very underrated show.

[@artlen3]

Stewart Meehan Thousand times YES! At last I've met someone mentioning that brilliant show! As to me, this show has more drama in it, than a ton of other very praised shows. I knew nothing about this anime wen I started watching it and I was completely blown away by it. But I have to mention that it's a very hard to watch anime. It's like ending of anohana (let's take it as a measure) was stretched out to an entire 26 episode series.

[@williamlee1532]

Stewart Meehan What a great idea for a review!!! This is actually my favorite anime. The masterpiece of the story portrays jailed teenagers trying to find a reason to live after the times of the second world war.

[@aporutan925]

Stewart Meehan I haven't seen it but looking at the premise, it sounds like a great show.

[@ThatOneGuy7550]

another awesome review!

[@SotSobRKamikaze]

+ShadowACS Spoiler from the Manga!!!! remember Taka (the blonde guy who is the friend of the main Character) who doesn´t want him to look at his dreams. Guess why? he is possesed by a dream demon.

[@ItsCamille735]

Ya'll should check out Death Parade, it looks like it'd be right up your alley, it's all about the inner workings of humanity, their motives, choices, emotions all that good stuff.

[@dragonroots]

I stopped reading the manga a little while after they defeated Pharos, but everything you said should happen did pretty much, also that guy that got possessed by the clown dream demon actually takes his body back after awhile (i can't remember if it was because of this that they managed to defeat that dream demon or not) because the clown guy didn't heed Pharos advice in "letting the human have the body from time to time". This resulted in either the humans mind growing stronger or the demons mind growing weaker (one of the two or both not sure) with the result being that a human can take their body back from a demon if the demons aren't careful.

[@wolf25633]

Are you planning to do a Baccano analysis sometime in the future?

[@allisonsanders982]

Did you notice that the villain had the same voice actress as Sakura(Tsubasa Chronicles) and Chihiro(Ef)?

[@shirothegamer7574]

The manga gets a new chapter monthly, and it's at chapter 101. The anime was made when the manga just started getting good. If you want to read something good, read the manga.

[@noreply3717]

Funny thing about a friend being control their may be some in it

[@rexmckey1604]

Was lookin around the comments for this one. you've read the manga too?

[@barfbrany]

the manga is still a on going manga here under the title of YUMEKUI MERRY

[@Wrigley97]

Hey Shadow! You need to watch- Just kidding. I love your reviews man, and I always look forward to seeing new videos. I don't care whether I've seen them or not, I think your opinions are great with really supportive reasons behind them. Can't wait to see the next one.

[@britishraptor7703]

This actually sounds like a good show for people who aren't into the whole dark premise thing. I'm a bit disheartened to know it doesn't continue though. It'd drive me mad. Also, I did in fact read the Animorph series! Up to maybe book #40 anyway.

[@Rex8483]

I was sold when you said there was a psychopath villain.

[@FangirlnoE]

Still waiting on a Monster review XD

[@carnorjax3846]

Fangirl noE No! What is with everyone and being so in love with Monster?! I don't have to say anything because the strongest electromaster said everything for me!

[@FangirlnoE]

Carnor Jax Who?

[@carnorjax3846]

Sigh....Rail-Gun. The girl that made a very strong argument against Michelle Liu's comment about "begging" ShadowACS to review Monster. Don't count me wrong, if Shadow WANTS to see and review Monster, then that's fine with me. BUT....he has been warned.

[@FangirlnoE]

Carnor Jax I see .-.

[@johnhoffman3449]

Fangirl noE Another "Monster" debate? Well, to be fair, it is a love/hate anime. Also, if you don't mind my asking, what's with that upside down face?

[@vaffanculo5085]

You forgot to mention that the "main" antiganist in the anime is just a filler character

[@alpharun3824]

would love it if you reviewed tower of druaga its a pretty cool dungeon crawling anime though relooking at it it has some problems that I'm not sure why. and Zetsuen no Tempest would be a pretty cool anime to review I like its references to shakespear's books though it feels like something is a bit off with its supernatural powers

[@theclockworksolution8521]

Whew... I'm not the only one who remembers Animorphs....

[@xstationo11]

***** Will you review Hyperdimension Neptunia when the dub DVD is released?

[@jeeyeonpark1470]

I would really like to see you do a review of Owari no Seraph or Seraph of the end.

[@MFBeybladers]

I haven't seen this show in a long time, dam. But I never forgot it, it was okay. I wont complain about it not getting a second season, but yeah I wish it did, Ah well. Great review. :)

[@MisakaMisaka0202]

That's pretty much what I think too! :)

[@dannysimms6023]

I whole heartedly agree with your analysis. It's spot on... the fact is that the show 'Could' have been amazing but for whatever reason they missed opportunity after opportunity on it. But, that being said it is still fun to watch in that yes, Merry is one of my favorite anime characters. Perhaps your right in that they expected that there would be a season 2 and didn't put everything on the line in the first anime, and as such, it seemed bland. Still, its a good watch on the whole and I would recommend people to stream it but not buy it.

[@ciciizo1193]

Can you check out Yuki Yuna Is A Hero or Kobato? Or maybe you can try out Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU? c: Nice review BTW, I thought I already seen this and you re-uploaded it, my bad :p

[@projectfear22]

You made me a tiny bit angry haha which made me like the show even more so tnx Its always in my favorites but I rarely mention it ;'( Also it continues in the manga, so everyone read from chap 1 and don't speed read :3

[@max101victory]

Great analysis

[@DJmooseS117]

The second season hasn't been able to be made since the manga hasn't come that much longer than the anime did

[@DJmooseS117]

Spoiler alert One of his friends does get possesed so that problem is solved in the manga

[@Ningy909]

You should watch Blue Exorcist and Seraph of the End. Seraph of the end is still airing, though. Blue Exorcist is on Crunchyroll, if that helps!

[@shadowwriter4538]

When it finishes, can you do Assassination Classroom. I really love that show.

[@SocietyIsCooked]

What do you think about Ano Hana? Is it good

[@kcweb25]

donkedik J.It's a great drama and romance (kind of) for me its in my top 5 anime. Also its only 11 episodes and they're great so in conclusion its great and you should definatly watch it

[@SocietyIsCooked]

+kcweb25 yea im watching it right now. Im on episode 3, i was going to give up watching it but since you say its good ill finish watching

[@kcweb25]

I cried like a little girl at the end...

[@albertwesker5328]

+Loli King bruh

[@Teacuppuppie]

I don't really read the comments so I don't know if you've seen this anime already or not, but if not watch HunterXHunter. I remember you mentioning in a review that you don't like shounen animes because they spend time on making the powers look cool and not on what's actually happening. But HXH does both, beautifully. And that doesn't even scratch the surface of the whole anime. It's 148 episodes but I have yet meet anyone who hasn't liked it, everyone I recommend it to thanks me seriously for doing so. If you haven't seen it, watch it and then please review it. If you have seen it, I'd still like you to review it. Thanks for reading.

[@OblivionSeekers]

B-but what about Chaser John Doe? I thought he was pretty cool.... *cough* more like my favorite character*

[@nine_tails137]

OMG! I just found out that *Mystletainn* is voiced by Monica Rial in English! AWESOME!!! XD

[@fuyumi6845]

Mistletien was an anime only

[@equinox_comics5287]

I was going to say how sad I am that dream eater merry is off the list but I must ask this does he have a rule to not do long running anime or something because if not then can we have a review on something like one piece or fairy tail

[@shan-chan1715]

Wow I actually found it amazing. I need the season 2 and read the manga.

[@shan-chan1715]

3rd anime that I have watched, it was after I watched ouran high school host club

[@ImmortalsWoW1]

Make an Analisys on "Another"

[@CawfeeCakes]

wait.....! that's monica rial as misteltine

[@lucidzenith0]

I'm wondering what you think about tokyo ghoul :)

[@SnowWolfAlpha]

Will you review Madoka Magica Rebellion?

[@veda_fluff_asmr5064]

He already did c: you can check it out on his channel :)

[@SnowWolfAlpha]

I think he only did the TV series and not the third movie.

[@noreply3717]

Watch parasyte the maxim please it awesome

[@Iffondrel]

Sounds kinda like Pandora Hearts, only not quite as flushed out. Still interesting, though.

[@wraitsoth]

Misteltein seems like Jinx from League of Legends. If you play it, you'll know what I mean

[@trishoverman47]

Awww that sad, you took this anime off your top 30 list. I remember I a few episodes of this show and found it interesting. I mean I haven't gotten around to completing it so I can't really give a full opinion on this anime. I agree it's sad that this anime never got a second season and yet Squid Girl, an anime I know you're definitely not into, was able to get a second season. So I agree this is because there's not a lot that stands out about Dream Eater Merry. But that doesn't mean you can't enjoy it for what it is. I know Squid Girl isn't that popular of an anime either, but again I enjoyed the show for what it is. I guess what I'm trying to say is to at least be glad for what you got rather than not get anything good at all.

[@envyingyet5592]

Hey shadow there this anime called parasyte the maxim I'm sure it can take a spot on your top 30 list BTW I have talked to you before lol found out who I am next time

[@BlackhawkGamer-yx9qx]

You should review Parasyte the maxim, it's one of the best anime I've seen

[@max101victory]

Tell me, has anyone here seen Legend of the Galactic Heroes? Because if not, you guys have been missing out! It is a masterpiece, and I highly recommend.

[@TheDarkWiiPlayer]

All I can say is that the manga is much better and definitely worth reading.

[@kelseysarmentio5158]

Have you seen neon genesis evangelion yet?

[@kmah324]

Is Armin(darknessdragoonrose) ok? No word has been said since you made the comment about rose deleting his account due to personal reasons. I am sure that many people(including me) are worried about him ;( I hope that he will come back to making videos and put make my day :)

[@PersonaSimon]

watch Texhnolyze

[@Monado6]

Most of the comments I agree, but they cannot and should not deviate from the manga. At this point they could reboot it with the manga content which is still ongoing

[@TheAnimeJo]

ILYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!

[@pashow6486]

I apologize if you've been asked this question a millon times before, but I've been wondering what exactly defines an "anime" for the longest time and I thought I would ask you since you seem to be an expert on the subject. Is it the art style, or the general structure, or just the fact it was made in Japan? Would a cartoon drawn in an anime art style be an anime if it was made and voiced exclusively by non Japanese people?

[@ShadowACS1]

Pashow Generally speaking, an "anime" is a Japanese cartoon. There's been a lot of debate about it, but that's the generally accepted definition among a lot of people. There's American and European shows that mimic the style and tropes often used in anime, though, which has added some gray area to the issue.

[@2DRAWANIMEORIGAMI]

hey shadow most of the things you said they could of benifited from was done later in the story actualy all of wat you said does happen and the posesed do does become many charecters

[@MisfortuneDark]

It stinks that shows like dream eater merry,high school of the dead and binbougami ga don't get a second season yet garbage like high school dxd get a third season }:(

[@DJmooseS117]

Hotd was justto make people wanna read the manga and merry didn't have enough manga to start another season

[@MrFallenAngel97100]

Smurfmeister Merry has more manga then Highschool of the dead, HOTD is only got like 31 chapters out and Merry has like 73 or so.

[@DJmooseS117]

y i know i've read both

[@PTEpye]

Tyler Smith Highschool Dxd and it's second season were pretty good but so far I'm not enjoying Born like I should.

[@nine_tails137]

Tyler Smith Well, part of the reason *H.O.T.D.* did NOT get a second season is because: 1. it flopped in Japan, and 2. the Manga was put on Hiatus. Although there have been rumors about a Second Season getting made, after the *Triage X* Anime is finished. But, again, this is just a rumor I've seen floating around the internet.

[@sailoritaly]

I read the Animorph books 😀

[@shayoko6]

a interesting show but definitely a better manga read.

[@DragonicDude]

i sorta read them

[@darkchaos1542]

Your review pretty much sums up my thoughts for the most part. A few likeable tropes, a generic story and forgettable characters, which pretty much makes this popcorn material for me. If there is one saving grace, I'd say it's the villain - Mistleteinn. There aren't many villains out there that I think can really pull off the "crazy villain killing for fun" character and do it so well.

[@jayblade2000]

DarkChaos YOUR PROFILE PIC IS THAT ONE GIRL FROM DRAGON CRISIS! I thought I was one of the only people on earth who saw that anime.

[@nine_tails137]

DarkChaos Rito Tsukimi(aka: Professor Bun Bun) from *Absolute Duo* is a crazy villain killing for fun. However, all that Bitch did was piss me off every time she appears. >:( (aka: She's a Crazy Sadist)

[@user-YuHaoHuang]

were you mentioned in watchmojo's top ten reviewers ? just asking

[@ShadowACS1]

黃宇豪 As far as I know, I wasn't.

[@user-YuHaoHuang]

well i think you're as good as some of them

[@LightYagami-mn7jj]

黃宇豪 I just saw the video, and unfortunately, he's not even in the honorable mentions. Seriously, that sucks balls! ShadowACS is completely underrated! T_T

[@ShadowACS1]

Light Yagami In all fairness, the watchmojo top 10's are essentially a popularity contest with the entrees voted on by fans. So it doesn't mean a lot in the long run.

[@LightYagami-mn7jj]

I see. Thank you! ^_^

I really like the anime but got tired of waiting for a second season that will never come out, so I decided to read the manga and HOLY SHIT it's just so much bigger in all aspects. So yeah I became that guy who says "the manga it's better" maybe you should read it and fing it for yourself (but the fuckng manga chapters take too long to come out jesus)

[@roriemurdoch5290]

TBH its think its about time we got a review of dream eater merry. I saw one of your videos a long time ago and noticed that you mentioned that you loved DEM and i just didn't understand why. But now i finally know. You have some good points but i still couldn't get into it, it was just so fucking boring.

[@dkjr1194]

I do liked dream eater merry, enough to pick up the manga and I'm glad i did. If you even slighty liked the anime READ THE MANGA! Now main point DEM had the same problems as the original FMA that from a early point they deviated from the manga. But FMA did it right by know where they wanted to go this show... no. They were just waiting for the manga and BS it.

[@sanjivrasiah6497]

this anime has a good op

[@kryoruleroftheninthcircleo4151]

The dream demons thing is probably taken from the Batibat of Filipino folklore, a crone who torments people in their dreams and was also in the Netflix Sabrina, the one that was supposed to be super dark and shit. Plus in regards to that, I found Heaven and Hell boring with how they portrayed them. The Nine Circles are just meh, Heaven looks boring, there’s only four angels I think in it with Metatron being made a woman for some odd reason (who was also boring as shit), they also fall into the trap of confusing Lucifer and Satan as the same figure when in fact they are not, and the eldritch terrors disappointed me. I shouldn’t have gotten my hopes up seeing a Deep One.

[@robertchristensen8118]

He should review log horizon

[@TheDucksss]

Animorphs rocked though the ending was weird.

[@MrFallenAngel97100]

You should watch the underated anime BuSo RenKin.

[@sabrookchi]

What do you think of the dub

[@ShadowACS1]

sabrookchi I thought it was good. I didn't like one or two of the extras they got (like the kid side characters, for instance), and Engi's delivery seemed a little off to me, but I thought everyone else did great.

[@leonardojuan92]

4:09-4:11 take that man of steel. XD

[@lukeklasman193]

While I understand your hatred for the generic main character in anime, sometimes I do think that it is not terrible. Look at Persona 3 movies or Persona 4 the animation. The mcs were quiet to begin with, so trying to give them a crazy personality would defeat the purpose of that. Though I will say in P4 Yu does have a bit more of a personality, being naive and having an oddball sense of humor.

[@PRchris13]

anime was good, but heck, LOVE THE MANGA so much

[@creativefreak8421]

What Aerosmith reference?

[@ShadowACS1]

CreativeFreak I take it you're not an Aerosmith fan. "Dream On" is the name of arguably their most classic and widely-known song.

[@creativefreak8421]

***** I am an Aerosmith fan (and a classic rock fan) This is hard to explain but I thought that referring to ''Dream On'' would seem too obvious since your review is on an anime about dreams. Hopefully that sounded right.

[@ned821]

Hmmm. I wonder, what would you say is the darkest anime that you've watched. For me it's probably elfin lied

[@billcalypso3145]

Shiki is probably the darkest anime I've seen, mainly because of the lack of something to distract you from the show's dark tone, unlike the romance/comedic elements thrown into Future Diary or Elfen Lied. Also, unlike Attack on Titan, there's time spent developing characters so you actually feel for them when they die.

[@ned821]

Joey Carthew I haven't actually seen that one yet, I should probably get around to it sometime

[@roxasoftheorganization9332]

Madoka magica

[@billcalypso3145]

Roxas of the organization Madoka Magica is more so on an emotional level where you can feel the despair of the characters than outright dark and violent. Sayaka's "death" gets me every time.

[@GingerBeanie]

ned821 Yup. Elfen Lied is the darkest anime I have ever seen.

[@SangoProductions213]

But basically, if the anime overreaches, and doesn't come to a concise and conclusive ending, then it really does suck, and deserves to be smacked for such.

[@goyjin5676]

I read animorphs:D i was never a popular kid...

[@willywonka6487]

no comments with 8000 views...?

[@ShadowACS1]

+Willy Wonka Just another youtube glitch. I assure you, there's comments.

[@willywonka6487]

+ShadowACS oh ya now they are loading in

[@TuNguyen-tr1qe]

Why don't you try mentioning the visual art and sound done in theshow? It would lead to moe opportunities for you to have a better review.

[@ShadowACS1]

Tu Nguyen I actually did touch upon that when I talked about the dream worlds.

[@nine_tails137]

Shows don't get a second season because people complain about them? Not that I'm trying to deny your augment or anything, But *Ikkitousen* got 4-5 Seasons, and a lot of reviews I've seen on that Anime are pretty Negative. Which doesn't make any sense IMPO. Well,.... except for the "Sex Sells" statement I've heard over the Years since I started watching Anime, but I degress.

[@3picHamster]

It was a decent anime, but nothing to great. But the manga is a lot better, thankfully :D The anime deviates from the manga, which makes a 2nd season impossible :/ But really, the mangas better. Go read it ^^

[@Soreyu]

Watch Kara No Kyoukai if you like fate.

[@buckwade7151]

In my opinion, other than the concept with the dreams, this show's cast is completely generic: either one dimensional archetypes, or two dimensional archetypes, or just follow an archetype so blatantly that they have no real substance.

[@fuyumi6845]

I read the manga first