My Little Nightmare

My Little Nightmare (a.k.a. Akuma-chan) is a drama based on a little girl, Yuiko-chan, with precognitive dreams, and her teacher, Ayami-sensei. Many interesting plot-lines and stories diverge from the main plot-line to help push the whole show forward. After watching the first episode, prepare to be hooked and continue to want to learn more and more about these two characters. The cast is full of decent actors, minus some of the children, but that is to be expected. This drama will move you and coerce you to watch more and more. Gackt also plays an important character in this drama. I am still on the fence about whether his character is bad or not, but either way, he still looks great! Get started watching this amazing jdrama and get your dream sleuthing skills primed and ready for a fun ride between the worlds of reality and fantasy!

This is the first Japanese drama that I have ever watched and I am impressed. I love shows that give me a neutral first impression with the thought that it has some great points because the shows that do not leave a great first impression are usually the shows that end up on my list of favorites. I really like the idea of this show and I think that it is very profound at times. The show is more intellectual than what your first impression of it might end up being. Some of the acting seems corny and anime-like and some of the acting is really good. However, I don't know if this is due to the script or the actors and actresses. This show will entertain you and it is also thought- provoking, which is very rare in shows. This show in sum is about dreams. The music is great as well and fitting to the show. At least give My Little Nightmare a try.

A fitting quote from poetry to describe this show would be: "All that we see or seem is but a dream within a dream." - Edgar Allan Poe

This will be my first time watching a drama from start to finish. It became a lucky choice for someone who is mostly into sci-fi anime like me. Hm.. was it really just luck, or did I dream about it, but lost that memory?

Maybe I should consult Dr. Kotou and let him use his machine Baku with the aid of his socially awkward daughter and the fake Ms. Mutoi. Yes, this is the type of story it is. Well, let's dissect this unfinished story (at the moment I'm on episode 9) in a scientific manner, shall we? I'll give a rating from 1 to 5 on each category:

Music/audio (4): The music tends to be for many scenes very dramatic, in a good way. Most of the time it is on par with music that would be used on a Hollywood film. It can get pretty deep and thumpy when it's scary, and sets the mood right. The ending song is a very good tune to play at the end when the cliffhanger rolls around, or even when the problem at hand is solved, it fits both cases very well. The audio in general is excellent, although at times music is cut off prematurely as a scene changes, so there is no smooth transition. And that's the only shortcoming.

Camera work/visual direction (3): I enjoyed a lot of different shots different scenes. They used some really cool off-angle shots when something was being mysterious. It is very well made for the most part, at least the story is driven well enough that I almost didn't notice anything strange, but as soon as the pacing got slower in some later scenes, such as the one with the ballet class, they moved to a hand-held style that was too distracting, especially when you would have been used to dolly/jib cam shots throughout most of the other scenes where a camera had to move. I noticed in one flashback they actually changed from black and white to color in the middle of it. That change is pretty much ok only when most of the story takes place in the past and the story gets started by someone reminiscing about it, which is not the case here. Yeah, there are little details like that throughout the series.

Acting (4): I'm taking into account there is a lot of children of different ages acting here, as well as my little experience with Japanese dramas being over-acted. Sure, there are a few characters that overdo their acting, but it's only left to the comedy relief ones, which is fine by me. The children are spectacular actors, particularly the little girl who plays Ms. Mutoi as a child. The woman who plays the adult Ms. Mutoi is the best one from the adults, while every other adult's acting is just good, just not particularly stellar, and I'll place any fault on their acting more on the director than their own acting skills.

Story (4): I've always thought that the best stories are where characters discover themselves, and they change and grow, and My Little Nightmare didn't disappoint there. I also like believable stories where characters are neither saints nor pure evil. All characters have a slight inclination for one or another, but they are mostly just normal people with ambitions, traumas and scary dreams. The only thing that seems abnormal is that . If you get bored with anime because things don't move along swiftly, this will be more to your liking. There are big shockers nearly every couple episodes. The writers don't mess around. They know how to keep it interesting.

There are a few issues I do have with the series in general, most of which are spoilers:
-The cutsey pet. I thought I would be free from this trope best left to anime.
-Some repetitive things:
-How they treat Yuiko Kotou sometimes: Ms. Mutoi sometimes pulls on her arm a bit too forcefully, and talks to her in a manner that makes me want to slap her across the face.
-Surprise new side.

But there were some things I was really happy with:
-The intro/opening didn't actually play in every episode. It can get boring after a while, so I'm glad I didn't have to see it many times.
-A lot of the CGI is fairly well made. I usually don't expect much from a drama in the visual effects department, but whoever does the CGI that goes into some of the dreams is pretty good.
-I know I already said this, but the sudden turns the story takes nearly every episode make it hard not to want to watch what happens next.

In the world of My Little Nightmare Kotou Yuiko is a little girl with precognitive dreams. Her teacher, Ayami Mutoi, comes to Yuiko in a dream and Yuiko starts attending the elementary school where Ayami teaches. Ayami is cheerful and supposedly the 'perfect' teacher, while on the inside, she is the opposite. Yuiko and her grandfather, Koutou Mannosuke- who does research on dreams-, convince Ayami to help stop Yuiko's dreams from becoming a reality.

I wasn't sure if I would like this drama. At first I thought this was going to be ordinary, but after the first couple of episodes, I realized this was a very nice drama, with cool story-lines. I don't watch many Japanese drama, but I definitely like this one. I like that the main character isn't actually perfect. The actors and actresses are pretty fitting.
The CG is alright. While I like seeing her wake up afterwards, I wish the show had different screams coming from Yuiko, instead of the one.

I would recommend this anime to my friends. It's fun, cute, mysterious, and all together enjoyable. The plot twists and they leave you wanting more!

4/5 for me.

-Kia-

I only occasionally tune in on Japanese dramas, so most of the time I'm out of the loop about them. Thus, I'm really glad to have come across this drama. This show is a breath of fresh air to me, and short J-drama episode lengths make it a breeze to watch. As of this review, I have completed Episode 9 and eagerly await the next one. This review may contain spoilers!

Storyline:
I was initially attracted to this drama based on its storyline, as I had nothing else to go off of. Precognitive dreams and peering into the subconscious? The premise is nothing new, but it's a solid one indeed. Albeit simplistic at first glance, this drama has its own share of twists and turns. I particularly like this setup in which the main plot is interwoven into a series of small plots. This isn't unheard of, but it makes for good character development in the midst of all the peripheral details, which I'll expand on later. The transfer of Yuiko Kouto to the school Ayami Mutoi teaches at is the ultimate catalyst, setting off a multitude of problems to be solved, as well as Ayami's personal journey toward self-fulfillment. It's interesting how the drama goes right to the psyche, scrutinizing characters from their subconscious instead of taking everything at face value.

The drama's comical points generally fall short, but it's enjoyable for those who like slapstick comedy. I'll give it props for hitting the comedic mark and making me burst into a dumbfounded chirp at times I least expect it. The quality of the CGI wasn't the best at the beginning, but this improved during its run as well. In any case, the narrative quality never detracts from my overall enjoyment of the show.

Music:
The music is quirky but rather befitting, especially when it comes to some of the more surreal nightmare-related parts. I enjoy Momoiro Clover Z's "Farewell, My Dear Sorrows" as part of the drama's OST. It's upbeat and keeps you on your toes, namely when the plot accelerates and has your heart racing along with it.

Characters:
Character development is this drama's forte, especially in regard to our protagonist, Ayami Mutoi. Just when you think there couldn't possibly be any more layers to this woman, off comes another layer. Then again, who doesn't love a multifaceted protagonist?

Ayami doesn't aspire to greater heights; all she wants is a normal, stable life in which she goes solo. Despite her goals being nothing laudable, I love that she knows exactly what she wants. Her lucid dreams fall perfectly in line with her obstinate character, because she doesn't let anything get the better of her, not even her dreams. Although Takashi Shiki manages to move her slightly, in no way does he ever get the upper hand over her rational judgment. Her emotional scars make it impossible for her to give in to a shallow romantic desire; she seeks refuge in her self-controlled dreams for those kinds of indulgences. I wouldn't say this behavior of hers is healthy in any way, but through closing herself off from others, she has developed a kind of fortitude which will hold up even when she is faced with her true fears.

Takashi Shiki is as shady as they come, using borderline illicit means to accomplish his ends. I can't find myself rooting for his character nor his cause, because he appears to care less about the fruit of his work and more about the advancement of his career. One questions why he's literally the prince of her dreams: Is there depth to him or is this a mere coincidence? Could it really be the latter, even with the existence of Ayami's precognitive abilities?

I'm loving the frenemy relationship between Ayami and the school nurse. The latter is ditzy in all respects, but as viewers, we can tell she has a heart and will aid the students through all their difficulties. There is a stark contrast between the two women; it's interesting watching their personalities clash while at the same time being of mutual benefit to one another.

Acting:
My first impression of Keiko Kitagawa's acting was that it was raw and at some points, mediocre at best. I suppose I can attribute my initial qualms to the fact that she probably hadn't quite settled into her role at first, because she slowly grew on me. She began to hit all the right marks and portray a very believable Ayami, especially when her character dropped the cheerful pretense for good.

At first, I thought that Manatsu Kimura, who plays Yuiko Kouto, had probably been miscast. I was expecting a dark, brooding child whose nightmares made her not only asocial but even antisocial. After realizing that her character was supposed to be a sweet and innocent girl plagued by an unfortunate disorder, I came to enjoy her presence. Some of the other children's acting are either exaggerated or not up to par, but that can be easily overlooked through suspension of disbelief.

Overall:
I give this drama 4/5 as a whole. Despite its harmless quirks and minor fluctuations in pace, this is definitely worth the watch. As I rarely watch J-dramas, it's a treat to be met with a gem when I do.

...I was in for as I started watching this series. TBH I started watching because Gackt is in it. But, Kitagawa Keiko has done a wonderful job. I will be watching more of her work.

As for the show itself, I enjoy the conflict between dreams and reality. This show often blurs the lines and one bleeds into the other. There are a lot of vibrant characters in this series, and with each episode a petal unfurls on each of the main characters. By the end, you will, surprisingly enough, find yourself feeling for them.

~Maybe spoilers ahead so read at your own risk!~

I put off watching this because no matter how many times I get sucked in by the description of a Jdrama or Kdrama I usually lose interest half way through, so not the case here. This show doesn't add 5 extra episodes of useless drama just to draw it out like most Kdramas do and it has a lot of depth and creativity that seem to be lacking in Jdramas.

Story 5/5:
There is a lot of depth and for the most part it is well explained with any plot holes being minor ones. The whole premise of the show about dreams, dreaming abilities and the meaning of was really easy to follow. The concept was original, fun and enjoyable, I was always eagerly awaiting what happened next and to learn more about the characters. There are so many anime/dramas out there that make the story needlessly complicated and this show didn't do so.

Acting 4.5/5:
The main actress who played Ayami is wonderful, her character goes through 2 different growths and she played them and the transitions beautifully. Her emotions felt real and her actions were just right. The girl who played nightmare-chan was actually pretty good, a lot better than the actress they get on Disney now a days. At first her movements and actions seemed a bit over the top but it fits with the character, her actions become more subtle as her character grows. The actor Shiki made me laugh a few times and not for the right reasons, he reminds me of a daytime soap actor. He wasn't horrible he just isn't what I would call good. The school nurse at times was wonderful and other times was a too much which would throw off the scene. The grandpa was pretty good but his makeup and hair were too fake. The rest of the kids did really good, I was amazed. The other teachers and adults weren't bad either.

Music 5/5:
I loved the music that was used, it gave it a sort of Alice in wonderland feel to it. The main song that is done by Momoiro Clover Z really reflects the series, fun but dark, creepy yet happy. The rest of the music fit perfectly, added to the scene without being distracting and amplified the emotions.

Special effects 4.5/5:
I'm sure they don't have a lot of money being a short drama but for the most part the special effects weren't that bad. Some were kind of cheesy at first like yumenoke but after awhile she just fits in. Some of the other special effects were choppy but it didn't distract the story.

All in all I think anyone who even remotely finds the synopsis interesting should give it a shot, I am sure they would be glad they did. The ending was nice and complete but a little opening in case they wanted to add on to it.

Was iffy at first, but decided to give it a try. The story was good, it had a an easy flow. The actors did a good job and the interaction of everyone made it an entertaining show to watch. Having only 11 episodes made this one work; if they extended it it would of dragged it as they would of just been repeating the dreams but with different people. The wrap up was well done, it was not rushed and even though you didn't see his face you knew who the dad was .