DREAMS: Critical Analysis
Today is where I begin with someone close but hard-working through and through.
Dreams is a manga recently developed and moved to a separate account but began in 2017 created by Ahmed Jamal, a long-time friend and creator I know through a separate venture of name, but i will digress and focus on this alone. I can attest to giving it my full focus on his work to push him further. So let's begin by looking into the manga, DREAMS!!
To start off I will recap the storyline we see as of now, and personally, chapter one hooks you right away. We see two characters named Komage and Raino continuously discuss a legend that corresponds with the world they traverse, the legend is known as the “white flame.” something that catches your attention but not only do we see a demonstration of what a flame is from the characters, we also get thrown into some plot and a pretty interesting chase with Raino unexpectedly losing a device by one of the future characters that instigate the plot for the main heroes.
Here is one of the first things Ahmed does that really stands out in the chapter layout, he has limited time to convey a story and segway into certain parameters putting a mood to the script and holding attention. There's huge action when needed and over when it's needed. This doesn't enter the usual realm of battle in the concept of manga, where it's big and grand from the start. Merely it shows something coming and what's to chime into the story, and set in motion the reality of the situation. Were given a lot of info in short periods of time but left to want more and understand further developments later into the story.
Chapter two is the prime directive of assaults and battle, where a major character’s influence is given but also the notion carried of how he reacts, some of his plans, and the entitlement of what he might be capable of. Raino has a device capable of amplifying the concept of time and space, rippling it to increase the person's perception to reality, basically changing the dynamic of the world itself. We see for the first instance of conflict and we know from here that the antagonism is coming from several ends.
On a personal note, i truly feel there is a lot to the chapter, showcasing not only some of the power others have, but the instigation that there is a flame in everyone, that can be manifested and controlled, but legend keeping true there is one out there that is meant to be legendary among brothers. Then in the end we're getting the ending of this world-shattering into another.
Coming to chapter 3 you now get introduced to the two main heroes of dreams, Jack and Marth, whom I wanna admit are the key prime reasoning of showing adolescent characters being interpreted into a nuance of reality but fitting into a fish out of water story, at least going into future chapters. The manga showcases a lot by emphasizing the title into the corresponding iteration of seeing further into the two realities. The dreamscape, which now shows the attribute that we see the two brothers being recognized by the forces seen in chapters 1–2 and connecting early on, but giving a decent kind of test before something occurs, to see if both are attributed to the world they intend to enter.
The chapter correlations are quite interesting, with several aspects taken into account for the methodology in explaining exposition but showing more as it progresses further. We don’t see much on the matter, but what brings everything together is the concept of breaking down areas and boundaries in such a way it's almost literally falling into different aspects altogether. Moving from chapter to chapter finally instilling the basis needed to falter the story into place especially the set up in chapter four.
An aspect in mind is how everything pieces together by chapter 5 and entering a whole new aspect itself into the correlation of telling the story and marking it further to disbelief that anything is possible. The characters now enter the world we see set for us in DREAMS as well as working into some foreshadowed events that occur into further chapters. Getting introduced to Raino and somewhat ulterior motives that might be complacent to characters yet to be introduced, communicating via spiritual awareness, we get a new voice coming into play, Silva. Whomever he is to show the way and work with Raino might be a treat to see, and now we get to the bare bones.
For Ahmed Jamal, this is one concept that has been thoroughly thought of as we get deeper into storylines, thanks to the editing and concise nuances pertaining to a show don't tell method, the chapters are read fairly easily. Getting a lot of characterization from body language and facial expression rather than dialogue.
When there is the dialogue you feel the raw emotion like Marth in tears or seeing jack being a goofball wondering what flames are, while entering the fray of battle and trying to see what else there is to the world around him.
Case in point character designs i like seeing jack and Marth both exceptional in dynamic, both harbor different personalities and it seems to stem from their parents, their dad being more influenced to Marth and their mother influencing jack more often. They both seem like polar opposites with Marth being stoic and serious, but paranoid at the same time in new situations. For Jack he's a vibrant soul willing to take on even more than needed and goes with the flow, finding the world interesting. Even seeing Raino getting angered and thrown through a loop makes me fear for my life when reading chapters 1–2, and seeing him stoic and serious about enduring even more, just makes me want to see more.
In terms of backgrounds, there's a lot of nice notion of colors dark and light melded from a dark tone to light tone, mentioned between pages, the hints of pure energy to the establishment of speed also carries well into showing the story flow for what it is. The gore as well is very alluded to actual tearing and ripping, moving to the embodiment of realism not just alluded to blood fountains seen in a lot of other projects. They bleed as usually done by ordinary people. Not to mention the artwork seen behind the scenes show there's a clear demographic between human and furry alike, something to enjoy from both perspectives if that's what you love.
You could see influences from other projects and can be seen as an isekai, but i rather simply say this is a fantasy adventure about to be turned on its head being thrown into a new world. Ahmed is showing true discourse in establishing an open world of adventure about to be thrown together as a force to be reckoned with from any angle. From the storyline, anyone can be a villain, or even a hero, who truly pulls the strings is left for us to see and the artist to decide.
I say give this a read and see for yourself, I now sign off with a lasting reminder.
Even in the realm of your own dreams, there's always something gonna follow you into a nightmare.
