
Links go to search results. Availability varies by region.
ç骨ăŽĺ¤˘
10
5
Finished
Jul 26, 2010 to Oct 19, 2012
9.0/10
Average Review Score
100%
Recommend It
1
Reviews Worldwide
The manga author Aki Shimizu continued the adaptation of Natsuhiko Kyogokuâs âHyakki Yakouâ series with the third novel, âKyoukotsu no Yumeâ or âDreams of Mad Bonesâ. It continues to build on the themes from earlier books like âUbume no Natsuâ and âMouryou no Hakoâ, like crime, suspense, body horror, psychological trauma, and esoteric rituals. The character designs for this series rely heavily on the manga authorâs design aesthetics. This gave the series from âUbume no Natsuâ to âKyoukotsu no Yumeâ its signature feel. In fact, it influenced the anime adaptation of âMouryou no Hakoâ from Madhouse. The novel dealt with several topics like Buddhist sexrituals, a secret branch of the Japanese Imperial lineage, the repatriation of Japanese POWs from Soviet labor camps, and Freudian psychoanalysis. An eclectic mix indeed. Dreams as repressed memories were a recurring theme in the original authorâs books. Sounds Freudian? Alas, the original author was definitely not Freudian, if I have to categorize it, the authorâs Jungian. Freudâs theories mostly revolve around sex, and though it made for an interesting topic, it is boring because the human psyche is more layered. The original author, through their self-insert character, Chuuzenji the exorcist, totally destroyed the Freud stand-in. I really enjoyed this manga, and the skull imagery is totally creepy. The ending is plausible, and the mystery seemed actually solvable for a change.