Line #11 Main/TheSandman


1	[[quoteright:350:[[ComicBook/TheSandman1989 https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/sandman_5.jpg]]]]
2	[[caption-width-right:350:''[[Music/{{Eurythmics}} Sweet dreams are made of this...]]'']]
3
4	The Sandman (or Mr. Sandman) is a mythical character in Western and Northern European folklore who puts people to sleep and brings good dreams by sprinkling magical sand onto the eyes of people while they sleep at night. Usually depicted as good, in some stories he is also depicted as bad, as well as neutral. The Sandman as an entity of dreams receives many names (like Morpheus in Myth/ClassicalMythology), but this character has specific traits that distinguish him from other such entities:
5	# He could be a human or an AnthropomorphicPersonification. In some cases, he only has the powers associated with this trope and is not a supernatural entity otherwise.
6	# In his good form he's considered the Guardian of Dreams, but in his bad form, he's an interpretation of the Boogeyman (who might otherwise be [[NightmareWeaver his]] [[ArchNemesis nemesis]]).
7	# No matter the form or alignment he has, he always uses a magical sand to put people to sleep.
8
9	This trope is about Sandman and all his representations in the different media. Compare SentientSands (although some examples overlap).
10
11	Not to be confused with the ComicBook/SpiderMan [[Characters/SpiderManCentralRoguesGallery enemy]] (literally a sandman), [[ComicBook/TheSandman1989 the comic book]], [[Series/TheSandman2022 the series based on the comic book]], [[VideoGame/TheSandman2014 the video game]], [[Literature/TheSandman1816 the short story]], [[WesternAnimation/TheSandman1991 the animated film based on the short story]], or [[Wrestling/JimFullington the professional wrestler]].
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13	SubTrope of DreamWeaver.
14
15	----
16	!!Examples:
17
18	[[foldercontrol]]
19
20	[[folder:Audio Plays]]
21	* In ''AudioPlay/BigFinishDoctorWho'', there's an alien race called the Galyari that fight [[TheNthDoctor the Doctor]] in various times (against the [[Creator/ColinBaker Sixth]] and [[Creator/SylvesterMcCoy Seventh Doctor]]) as well as some of his companions (Literature/BerniceSummerfield). They're humanoid chameleon-like aliens who had a shared story with the Doctor, whose see him as "The Sandman".
22	[[/folder]]
23
24	[[folder:Comic Books]]
25	* Creator/DCComics has used the name of this mythological character for various different characters:
26	** The Sandman was conceived originally as a VigilanteMan with a [[GasMaskLongcoat gas mask]] that covers his face and fights villains with a sleep gas pistol. Wesley Dodds, the original Sandman, was created in UsefulNotes/TheGoldenAgeOfComicBooks and, following the revival of the ''Sandman'' name by the Gaiman version, was featured in ''Comicbook/SandmanMysteryTheatre''. His KidSidekick, Sanderson "Sandy the Golden Boy" Hawkins, would join the 2000s revival of ''Comicbook/JusticeSocietyOfAmerica'' as Sand.
27	** Only loosely inspired by him was was Garrett Sanford (created by Creator/JackKirby and Joe Simon), who wore a yellow superhero costume with an hourglass on the front, who became trapped in the Dream Dimension, guarding everyone's dreams from nightmare monsters, but especially those of a kid named Jed Pauleson. He was succeeded in ''Comicbook/InfinityInc'' by Hector Hall (son of [[ComicBook/{{Hawkman}} Carter Hall]], and formerly Silver Scarab, who also becomes the reincarnation of ComicBook/DoctorFate).
28	** Probably the most known version is ''ComicBook/TheSandman1989'' written by Creator/NeilGaiman and published by Creator/VertigoComics and being based on mythology, and also retconned as the inspiration for the Golden Age superhero of the same name, while Sandord and Hall were more direct attempts by the beings of the Dreaming to replace him. The story in general is about Sandman, also known as Dream of the Endless, [[IHaveManyNames Morpheus, Dream Shaper, Oneiros, and other names]] and his adventures on Earth and other realms.
29	[[/folder]]
30
31	[[folder:Comic Strips]]
32	* ''ComicStrip/{{Garfield}}'' was [[https://www.gocomics.com/garfield/1988/03/20 once visited by the Sand Person]] while trying to get to sleep.
33	[[/folder]]
34
35	[[folder:Films -- Animation]]
36	* ''WesternAnimation/RiseOfTheGuardians'': The Sandman, or Sandy for short, the Guardian of Dreams is the oldest of the Guardians and the first Guardian chosen by Man in the Moon which is also [[SentientSands made entirely of sand]]. He does not speak, but communicates through sand images that he conjures above his head. He's also a GuardianEntity of children's dreams as well part of The Guardians, a legendary league led by [[SantaClaus Nicholas St. North]] with other child entities like the Easter Bunny and the Tooth Fairy.
37	[[/folder]]
38
39	[[folder:Films -- Live-Action]]
40	* In the second and third ''Film/TheSantaClause'' films, Sandman (Creator/MichaelDorn) is a respected member of the Council of Legendary Figures, along with Santa, Father Time, Mother Nature, Jack Frost, The Easter Bunny, Cupid, and the Tooth Fairy.
41	* There's a huge list of movies and shorts about Sandman, the majority of them are horror movies that show Sandman as the equivalent of the Boogeyman. [[https://www.imdb.com/find?q=sandman&s=tt&ref_=fn_al_tt_mr The complete list]] is in Website/IMDb, but some examples are:
42	** ''Sleepstalker'' from 1995: Seventeen years after slaughtering all but one member of a family, a vicious serial killer known only as "The Sandman" awaits execution. But first, his jailers allow a minister to visit the killer to give him last rites, unaware that the minister is a voodoo priest and an ally of the condemned prisoner. The priest places a hex on the Sandman so that when he is executed, his soul migrates into a new body made of sand. To sever his ties with his former life and achieve absolute power, the Sandman must find and kill a man named Griffin, the sole survivor of the last family murdered by the killer.
43	** ''The Sandman'' from 1995: Gary is a trailer park romance novelist who can't seem to sleep at night. He also thinks that he saw a monster assaulting his girlfriend while she was sleeping. People is his trailer park begin to die in their sleep. Soon, Gary's friends begin to think that he has gone crazy with all his ranting and raving and that all he needs is a good night's sleep. Gary is afraid to sleep...
44	** ''The Sandman'' from 2017: A little girl with formidable powers imagines into existence the Sandman, a terrible monster from her nightmares that brings harm to anyone who wants to hurt her.
45	[[/folder]]
46
47	[[folder:Literature]]
48	* Sandman (full name Sanderson [=ManSnoozy=]) appears in ''Literature/TheGuardiansOfChildhood'' books as the Guardian of Dreams. Being mostly based on this book, this Sandman is based for the one seen in ''WesternAnimation/RiseOfTheGuardians''.
49	* The fairytale ''Ole Lukoje'' by Creator/HansChristianAndersen in which the titular character spends a week giving pleasant dreams and telling stories to a boy named Hjalmar. Lukoje is Danish for "Shut-eye", which is the Danish name for Mr. Sandman.
50	* In ''Literature/TheSandman1816'' by Creator/ETAHoffmann, Nathanael not only believes that the story of the Sandman is real, but also that Coppelius is the Sandman. However, in this short story, the Sandman doesn't simply throw sand into children's eyes. He steals their eyes if they don't go to bed. Part of the conflict is Nathaneal's inability to realize there is no real Sandman.
51	* Like the real world, the ''Literature/{{Discworld}}'' has a Sandman who sends children to sleep with a bag of magic sand. Unlike the real world, the Discworld version [[TapOnTheHead doesn't bother taking the sand out of the bag first.]]
52	[[/folder]]
53
54	[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
55	* ''Series/TheElectricCompany1971'': In one sketch, a crossover appearance of ComicBook/SpiderMan where he fights Sandman, not the known enemy of his rogue gallery, but a one based on this version (seen in nightshirt and cap).
56	* ''Series/{{Charmed\|1998}}'': In the episode "[[Recap/CharmedS5E14SandFranciscoDreamin Sand Francisco Dreamin']]", the Sandman is a creature that makes people sleep and have dreams. The Tracer Demons go after Sandmen so people won't sleep, which is the main reason why the Charmed Ones are chased by their nightmares.
57	* ''Series/{{The Sandman\|2022}}'', an adaptation of the comic book, revolves around Morpheus, the AnthropomorphicPersonification of Dream. He is the creator and ruler of The Dreaming, the DreamLand in which all humanity's dreams are manifest. One of his signature tools is a bag of sand which he can use to put people to sleep (among other uses). His domain includes both pleasant dreams and nightmares; he explains that the latter have a role to play in inspiring people to face up to their fears and weaknesses.
58	* ''Series/SleepyHollow'': The episode "[[Recap/SleepyHollowS1E03ForTheTriumphOfEvil For the Triumph of Evil]]" is about Ro'kenhronteys, aka a demonic version of the Sandman (also known as that in the series) that Ichabod and Abbie have to fight against to save more people of dying in dreams because of him, including Abbie's sister.
59	* In ''Series/DoctorWho'' the episode "[[Recap/DoctorWhoS35E9SleepNoMore Sleep No More]]" featured Sandmen as the MonsterOfTheWeek, which were literally [[SentientSands humans made from sand]]. It's later revealed they were made from "sleep dust" (the crusty substance in your eye) and that Sandmen could be created from any human after being exposed to an electronic signal.
60	[[/folder]]
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62	[[folder:Music]]
63	* "Mr. Sandman" is an iconic song composed by Pat Ballard in 1954 and recorded in the same year by by Vaughn Monroe & His Orchestra, The Chordettes and The Four Aces (the last two are the more known versions). The song is about a man/woman (depends on who sings the song) that asks Mr. Sandman to "bring me a dream" of a beautiful partner so he/she won't be alone anymore.
64	* "Enter Sandman" by Music/{{Metallica}} is a song about to deal with the concept of a child's nightmares and as the name says, plays with the mythical figure of Sandman. The music video goes further with a young boy being chased in nightmares by various dangers and in one scene where he's praying, an old man appears being Sandman himself as The Man behind the nightmares (ported by R. G. Armstrong).
65	* "The Sandman Never Sleeps" is a song from the EP "Geek!" of Music/MyBloodyValentine made in 1985 and talks about this character in the lyrics as the name says.
66	* "Sandmann" is a song of the German group Music/{{Oomph}} which is about the poverty and the bad situation of children. The chorus invokes The Sandman to put to sleep and end his suffering.
67	--> ''Sandman, Sandman! Please put out the light, The truth is a big scam, So let me dream tonight.''
68	* "Sandman" is a song from group HURTS and is about a man who wants to see Sandman in person and waits for him and so sleep forever.
69	[[/folder]]
70
71	[[folder:Myths & Religion]]
72	* The Sandman most are familiar with is a figure from Scandinavian folklore who sprinkles sand and grit into children's eyes to bring on sleep and dreams.
73	* The lesser-known [[Myth/ClassicalMythology Greek]] god of dreams, Morpheus, is sometimes conflated with the Sandman (as in the Neil Gaiman example). The drug morphine is named after him.
74	[[/folder]]
75
76	[[folder:Pro Wrestling]]
77	* Wrestling/JimFullington, known as The Sandman (and previously Mr. Sandman) was a famous wrestler in TheNineties, most known for his career in Wrestling/{{ECW}}. First based on the Sandman, later he evolved into a Hardcore legend (and AlternateCompanyEquivalent of Wrestling/StoneColdSteveAustin), known also for having "[[Music/{{Metallica}} Enter Sandman]]" as his entrance song.
78	[[/folder]]
79
80	[[folder:Tabletop Games]]
81	* ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'': The ''Fiend Folio'' supplement (1981) introduces the sandmen. A sandman is a [[SentientSands humanoid monster made up of sand]] held together by magic. Any creature that comes within 20 feet of it must save vs. spell or be put to sleep for at least 30 minutes.
82	[[/folder]]
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84	[[folder:Theater]]
85	* ''Theatre/HanselAndGretel1893'': The Sandman appears to Hansel and Gretel in the forest, signaling that it is time for the children to sing their evening prayer and go to sleep (though a DreamBallet ensues). The Sandman's morning counterpart, the Dewman, appears to wake them up again with a very similar song as the curtain goes up on the third act.
86	[[/folder]]
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88	[[folder:Theme Parks]]
89	* Dutch theme park ''Ride/{{Efteling}}'' has it's own interpretation of The Sandman mythos called [[https://www.eftepedia.nl/lemma/Klaas_Vaak "Klaas Vaak"]] created in 2009. Klaas Vaak is [[CoolOldGuy a friendly old man]] who lives in a castle and travels by riding a night owl at an unknown location. He creates magical sand to help children have pleasant dreams with some assistance from a group of gnomes. He also dislikes seeing children's dreams quickly turning unpleasant and nightmarish. Klaas Vaak starred in a web series called [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ynvoydnuEvo&list=PLLYm6coZfH_UTWXVeHttkWO9Zr6B_2T9M "Sprookjes van Klaas Vaak"]] where he creates scenes (via making drawings on sand) from various fairy tales while reading the stories out loud. Efteling later created a musical stage show [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kLQ8w3bDlR0&t=1345s which expands the character's role and universe]] at "Efteling Theater" (located near the park's entrance).
90	[[/folder]]
91
92	[[folder:Video Games]]
93	* ''VideoGame/PunchOut'': Invoked with the Mr. Sandman character, a boxer whose quotes are about putting the opponent "to sleep".
94	* In ''VideoGame/TheSandman2014'', the titular character is the main antagonist of the game, who has found a way to use sleep sand to put everyone in the world to sleep permanently. [[spoiler:Although it turns out he's [[NotEvilJustMisunderstood not that malicious]]; he just desperately wanted to get some sleep himself, but couldn't do that when there were constantly people that needed to be put to sleep]].
95	* ''Franchise/ShinMegamiTensei'': The Sandman is a recurring demon. His flavour text usually identifies him as a faerie from German folklore who puts humans to sleep with his magic sand and sits on the eyelids of anyone who resists.
96	[[/folder]]
97
98	[[folder:Web Animation]]
99	* ''WebAnimation/EpithetErased'': Sylvie, thanks to his "Drowsy" epithet. He can create a golden dust that lulls people to sleep and brings their dreams to life, either as a cloud around him or a flock of CountingSheep minions. He can also make himself fall asleep to unleash one of his own dreams, Dr. Beefton.
100	[[/folder]]
101
102	[[folder:Western Animation]]
103	* ''WesternAnimation/ClassicDisneyShorts'': A canine version of the Sandman appeared in the 1948 short ''Cat Nap Pluto''. His efforts to help Pluto sleep were thwarted by a playful Figaro, who kept waking him.
104	* A sinister Sandman appeared in an episode of ''WesternAnimation/TheRealGhostbusters'', who wanted to put the entire world to sleep, creating a city populated by slumbering people and dreams run amok.
105	* ''WesternAnimation/TheSandman1991'' is an animated short adaptation of German short story ''Literature/TheSandman1816'' (see above), in which the Sandman is a scary horror figure who plucks out children's eyes.
106	* The Sandman appeared in ''WesternAnimation/ThePowerpuffGirls1998'' as a being who just wanted some time to sleep, but kept being called to put to sleep children from every region before he could. So he magically put everyone into an eternal sleep so as to give him time to get some shuteye. He is able to get plenty, but the girls are able to enter his dreams through their own and convince him to return to his job.
107	* in ''WesternAnimation/CourageTheCowardlyDog'', the Sandman was also unable to sleep, despite being the God of Sleep himself, so he stole Muriel's magic sand that every living being possesses in order to. Courage had to get it back, and discovered that the Sandman had lost his teddy bear, which funnily enough was the reason for ''his'' insomnia, and when he found it stuck under the Sandman's giant bed, the Sandman gave the sand back so that both he Muriel could sleep again.
108	* ''WesternAnimation/TheFairlyOddParents'': After Timmy wished for a world without sleep, the Sandman was introduced as being both the master of all things sleep related and the owner of a mattress store in Dimmsdale. He shrinks and loses his powers when nobody sleeps, making him unable to revert Timmy's wish until Cosmo and Wanda fell to sleep on his new mattress.
109	* ''WesternAnimation/NilusTheSandman'' was a 1990s cartoon where the Sandman helped kids overcome their fears and similar obstacles. He was a pretty well-meaning, grandfatherly type, albeit a bit of a doofus.
110	* ''WesternAnimation/MiraculousLadybug'' has a VillainOfTheWeek named Sandboy with the power to bring people's nightmares to life.
111	[[/folder]]
112
113	[[folder:Real Life]]
114	* Because of the legends of Sandman, the rheum (a thin mucus naturally discharged from the eyes, nose, or mouth during sleep) is known as "sleepy sand" and "sleep dust" in some countries.
115	[[/folder]]

Context Main / TheSandman