History Manga / YumekuiMerry

** Chapter 64, one of the announcers of the costume relay has a hat that makes him look like [[VisualNovel/DanganRonpa Monokuma]].

* BeCarefulWhatYouWishFor: [[spoiler:Following Hercules's defeat, Shiragi Kyou has stepped forward as the new villain and deals primarily in this - he somehow fulfills the dreams of those who are hosting a Nightmare, but in the process slays the Dream Demon in question and yet somehow fixes the damage to one's dreams that this would normally cause. Those with shortsighted dreams, such as something that could be fulfilled by a singular event, seem to be almost as lost as people who lost their dreams entirely, as they now no longer have anything to which to strive. Others have come out of it surprisingly intact, but for the death of the Dream Demon.]]

* HumansAreSpecial: Despite all their powers and superhuman strength, nightmares envy humans the ability to grow and change; and some hate that their existence is entirely dependent upon humanity.

* BathtubBonding: Isana and Merry get to know each other in the bath when [[AccidentalPervert Yumeji walks in]]. Isana notes this is the fifteenth time he's done that. [[spoiler:Later, John and Yumeji get in on this, only for Merry to walk in on him.]]

** [[spoiler:Merry has one on her right arm, she just keeps it covered until the BeachEpisode in chapter 11. Yumeji had a scar, but it's long since faded. Curiously, [[EpilepticTrees his was in the same place that Merry's is.]] And now the spot where he had his scar is starting to hurt after he exits a daydream... ]]

* AwesomeMcCoolname: Merry Nightmare, "Chaser" John Doe, Engi Threepiece, "Pharos" Hercules, "Chain" Noir, "Familiar" Legion... Most of the nightmares, really, crossing over with MeaningfulName.

** [[spoiler:It turns out that the Merry of the story is one of the Wiles copies who, upon touching the Gate, became a copy of Merry Nightmare.]]
* EvilGloating: Wiles goes in a victory monolog when he believed he defeated Merry. [[spoiler:He was dead wrong.]]
* GoOutWithASmile: [[spoiler:As she dies, doppelganger Merry smiled at Yuuki as she [[LastRequest asks]] him to call the real Merry "[[TitleDrop Kagefumi Merry]]" for her if he meets her.]]
* MeaningfulEcho: Both Merry and Wiles say the lines "Lights! Camera! Action!" in their "yards" when initiating their power in it. [[spoiler:It turns out that the Merry of this story is one of the Wiles copies.]]
* {{Prequel}}: The SpinOff is set at some time when Merry met her third Dream Demon after coming to reality, before the first chapter of the main story.
* TheReveal: In the last chapter it is revealed that [[spoiler:the Merry of the story is actually a Wiles copy who became a MirrorSelf {{Doppelganger}} of the real Merry Nightmare when she touched the Gate.]]
* ShoutOut:
** As Verbiest escapes from Merry in the second chapter, he says "[[Film/Terminator2JudgmentDay Hasta La Vista Bey Bee]]" to her.
** Merry leaves a message for the real Wiles with the blood of one of the copies that say, "[[VideoGame/ZeroWing All your Wiles belong to me.]]"
* SpannerInTheWorks: Merry for Wiles' plan to possess people with his copies. [[spoiler:More so since the Merry of the story is actually one of Wiles' copies.]]
* SpinOff: This story is an official spin-off of the main series.
* TitleDrop: [[spoiler:The Merry doppelganger [[LastRequest asks]] Yuuki that if he sees the real Merry Nightmare, he should call her "Kagefumi Merry"[[note]]Shadow Stomper Merry[[/note]] for her.]]
----

Based on a manga by Yoshitake Ushiki, ''Yumekui Merry'' (English ''Dream Eater Merry'') was adapted into an anime in the winter of 2011 by Creator/JCStaff. VideoGame/{{Touhou}} fans may recognize the author from his doujinshi work ''[[FanficRecs/{{Touhou}} Advent Cirno]]'', and the people handling the music as {{IOSYS}}.

%%** [[spoiler:Taka's little sister for her "onii-chan".]]

* CloudCuckooLander: Yui, with her penchant for concocting strange stories about the dolls she collects.

* ColorCodedForYourConvenience: Yumeji can see what kind of dreams people will have from the color of their auras. Often he's wrong since most dreams are a confusing array of colors rather than anything stable and coherent, except for '''Black''': Is 100% nightmares and daydreams when a Dream Demon tries to take over a host or is already in one.

* {{Hatsuyume}}: The Threepiece sister each represent some of the items dreamed.

* InTheBlood: Hercules [[InvokedTrope attributed this]] as the reason for [[spoiler:Yumeji's]] recovering in chapter 57. But as it turns out, [[spoiler:they are not brothers but the origins of their power is from the same person.]]

* IronicEcho

** Pharos means [[LightIsNotGood Lighthouse]] and is referred as the light that guides all the other nightmares to the real world. [[spoiler:This becomes even more meaningful when you remember that a lighthouse is to guide, and ''only'' to guide.]]

* YouGottaHaveBlueHair: Isana's hair is lilac, Mei's is light green, Merry's is violet. Most of the demons' hair is an other-worldly colour anyhow.

* {{Dojikko}}: VictimOfTheWeek Minato
** Ichima is also this once she manifests in reality.

** As Verbiest escapes from Merry in the second chapter, he says "[[Terminator2JudgmentDay Hasta La Vista Bey Bee]]" to her.

There is another party involved. A girl in a strange set of clothes. She falls on top of Yumeji one day and, after getting her hat back, finds her way into his world. Her name is Merry Nightmare, a dream eater. She has no memories of where or who she was, and seeks to return to the world of dreams.

* TheAce: [[spoiler:Shiragi Kyou transfers in to their school and is a dedicated perfectionist, talented at everything he puts his hand to.]]

* BadassAdorable: Merry. You get in her way? Prepared to be pummeled. You mess with her when she's enjoying her [[TrademarkFavoriteFood doughnuts]]? Run. Hurt her friends? She will break the fricking moon.

* BeCarefulWhatYouWishFor: [[spoiler:Following Hercules's defeat, Shiragi Kyou has stepped forward as the new villain and deals primarily in this - he somehow fulfills the dreams of those who are hosting a Nightmare, but in the process slays the Dream Demon in question and yet somehow fixes the damage to one's dreams that this would normally cause. Those with shortsighted dreams, such as something that could be fulfilled by a singular event, seem to be almost as lost as people who lost their dreams entirely, as they now no longer have anything after which to strive. Others have come out of it surprisingly intact, but for the death of the Dream Demon.]]

* ColorCodedForYourConvenience: Yumeji can see what kind of dreams people will have from the color of their auras. Often he's wrong, since most dreams are a confusing array of colors rather than anything stable and coherent, except for '''Black''': Is 100% nightmares and daydreams when a Dream Demon tries to take over a host or is already in one.

* CuteBruiser: Merry. "Chaser" John Doe notes how much strength Merry can invest in [[MusclesAreMeaningless those flimsy little arms.]] In the waking world she's not quite as strong, but she's still pretty sturdy for her slender little frame.

** Ichima is also this once she manifest in reality.

* EvilGloating: Hercules ''loves'' to do this, since he's a LargeHam. It helps that he's strong enough to tank enemy attacks while barely breaking his train of thought. [[spoiler:John uses this against him in the big fight by baiting Hercules into gloating, then ending the daydream since it was in John's yard, to throw Hercules off mid-gloat.]]

* GeniusLoci[=/=]EldritchLocation: Each nightmare is not only the discrete person, but their "yard" or the field that forms around them in a daydream. So John Doe is as much the empty city that he chases Yumeji through at the very beginning, and the cat warriors who fight for him, as he is the masked cat-man who does the chasing. It seems only the nightmare whose yard in which the current daydream takes place has the power to end it, though it seems to take a few moments' concentration - meaning a nightmare can't just pick a fight and then end it when things suddenly go badly for them. [[spoiler:Hercules's greatest power, as the "lighthouse", is to direct others into his own yard where he controls the shape of local reality, which means he has the home field advantage whenever he wants it and can prevent anyone from escaping]].

* HeroicBSOD: [[spoiler:Both Merry and Yumeji get hit with one. Merry when Engi tells her that, once they get into the real world, there's no way back to the dream world, and Yumeji after he realizes that by killing any Dream Demon who's already taken a vessel, ''[[FridgeHorror they also destroy that person's dreams... both the at-night kind of dream AND the personal-ambition variety]] (the only exception to this is if is Merry the one defeating the Nightmares).]]
* HiddenAgendaVillain: "Pharos" Hercules draws nightmares to the waking world, brutally kills any that won't follow him, and lets his followers run wild. John Doe is trying to puzzle out his plans, questioning every revelation, even those from Hercules's right hand minions. Merry thinks Hercules is just out to cause chaos and is using the appearance of a master plan as cover to keep his foes guessing. Hercules eventually reveals his grand scheme: to [[spoiler:destroy the Gate between Dream and Reality so nightmares may be physically present in the real world, but not so he may conquer the world - but so he may crush and destroy ''everyone'', nightmares and humans both. He is a nightmare of ''fire'' after all, the signaling flame, and as a living fire all he wants is to consume and burn brighter. So technically Merry was right, but his methods were frightfully sophisticated.]]

* AscendedExtra: The three Dream Demons Merry meets before "Chaser" John Doe have been given names with their roles, powers and personalities expanded upon.
* TheCameo: [[spoiler:The real Merry Nightmare makes a few through out the manga. A notable one at the end of the manga is her passing behind Yuuki and [[MissedHimByThatMuch neither meeting each other]].]]

* {{Doppelganger}}: The overall story is about a Dream Demon named Wiles [[CloneByConversion making other Dream Demons into copies of himself]] to control and imitate many humans and Merry's attempt to stop him.

* EvilGloating: Wiles goes in a victory monologue when he believed he defeated Merry. [[spoiler:He was dead wrong.]]

* {{Prequel}}: The SpinOff is set sometime when Merry met her third Dream Demon after coming to reality, before the first chapter of the main story.

** Merry leaves a message for the real Wiles with the blood of one of the copies that says, "[[VideoGame/ZeroWing All your Wiles belong to me.]]"
* SpannerInTheWorks: Merry for Wiles' plan to posses people with his copies. [[spoiler:More so since the Merry of the story is actually one of Wiles' copies.]]

* {{Red Headed Hero}}ine: Merry. Well more of a Burgundy. Yumeji's a straight example.

** [[spoiler:Taka's little sister for her "onii-chan".]]
* ClothingDamage: A non-{{fanservice}} type happens during Merry's fight with a Dream Demon in the 6th volume. Her opponent thinks that her coattails look like eels and he rips one of them off. Merry isn't amused.
** Other non-{{fanservice}} example is Yumeji, from Chapters 57 to 60, his ripped [[spoiler:and bloodied]] shirt [[spoiler:looks a lot like a dark version of [[http://reader.dkthias.com/reader/read/yumekui_merry/en/10/57/page/25 Merry's]] [[http://reader.dkthias.com/reader/read/yumekui_merry/en/11/59/page/1 coattails.]]]]

* ColorCodedForYourConvenience: Yumeji can see what kind of dreams people will have from the color of their auras. Often he's wrong, since most dreams are a confusing array of colors rather than anything stable and coherent, except for...
** '''Black''': Is 100% nightmares and daydreams when a Dream Demon tries to take over a host or is already in one.

** Mr. Ijima, Yumeji's teacher in the anime, could be seen as this as well. Sure he has an extreme liking of rice, but his speeches to his students are quite inspirational. [[spoiler:Of course, it's all a ruse, but...]]

* DoesThisRemindYouOfAnything: When John summons the cat girls to help with Yumeji's wound, look at the one holding the [[http://reader.dkthias.com/reader/read/yumekui_merry/en/2/10/page/18 medicine]]. Is there any reason she has to hold it like that?

** [[http://reader.dkthias.com/reader/read/yumekui_merry/en/5/25/page/3 This page]] shows some of the eye patterns that were seen in the manga. Clockwise from the the bottom-left: "Chain" Noir's looks like a chain-link, the Threepiece sister's is a triangle, Ichima's is a swirl, "Chaser" John Doe's is his mouth on his mask, Chris Evergreen looks like a sideways '''H''', "Maze" Landsborough's looks like a sideways '''#''', and "Pharos" Hercules looks like a sun or a shining light.

** [[spoiler:Engi gets one after Merry starts going berserk due to Yumeji being nearly cut in half. Especially the moment when Merry shattered all of Engi's swords, prompting Engi to try rallying her nerve while explaining her blade could keep reforming forever as long as there was moonlight, to which Merry simply lifts her hand and shatters the moon. [[http://reader.dkthias.com/reader/read/yumekui_merry/en/2/10/page/6]]]]

** [[Anime/PuellaMagiMadokaMagica Kyubey]]'s iconic face appears on the side of a jet [[http://reader.dkthias.com/reader/read/yumekui_merry/en/7/40/page/19 in chapter 40]].

** "Sonar" Clione can contend with anyone just on the sheer impossibility of her outfit. No, [[http://reader.dkthias.com/reader/read/yumekui_merry/en/9/47/page/2 that isn't just]] [[http://reader.dkthias.com/reader/read/yumekui_merry/en/9/47/page/1 green decorative trim]] on a low-cut dress...

** Other non-{{fanservice}} example is Yumeji, from Chapters 57 to 60, his ripped [[spoiler:and bloodied]] shirt [[spoiler:looks a lot like a dark version of [[http://www.mangahere.co/manga/yumekui_merry/v08/c057/25.html Merry's]] [[http://www.mangahere.co/manga/yumekui_merry/v08/c059/ "tails".]]]]

* CompressedHair: Minato and "Sonar" Clione

* DoesThisRemindYouOfAnything: When John summons the cat girls to help with Yumeji's wound, look at the one holding the [[http://www.mangahere.co/manga/yumekui_merry/v01/c010/18.html medicine]]. Is there any reason she has to hold it like that?

** [[http://www.mangahere.co/manga/yumekui_merry/v01/c025/3.html This page shows some of the eye patterns that were seen in the manga.]] Clockwise from the the bottom-left: "Chain" Noir's looks like a chain-link, the Threepiece sister's is a triangle, Ichima's is a swirl, "Chaser" John Doe's is his mouth on his mask, Chris Evergreen looks like a sideways '''H''', "Maze" Landsborough's looks like a sideways '''#''', and "Pharos" Hercules looks like a sun or a shining light.

** The NewTransferStudent in volume 5 has his hair combed back where it spikes into AnimeHair.
* ImprobableWeaponUser: "Chaser" John Doe has something that the author said was a cross between a saw and a guillotine. [[spoiler:Yumeji, using his Lucid Gadget, creates a smaller version to use against "Chain" Noir.]]

** [[spoiler:Engi gets one after Merry starts going berserk due to Yumeji being nearly cut in half. Especially the moment when Merry shattered all of Engi's swords, prompting Engi to try rallying her nerve while explaining her blade could keep reforming forever as long as there was moonlight, to which Merry simply lifts her hand and shatters the moon. [[http://www.mangahere.co/manga/yumekui_merry/v01/c010/6.html]]]]

** [[Anime/PuellaMagiMadokaMagica Kyubey]]'s iconic face appears on the side of a jet [[http://www.mangahere.co/manga/yumekui_merry/v01/c040/ in chapter 40]].

** "Sonar" Clione can contend with anyone just on the sheer impossibility of her outfit. No, [[http://www.batoto.net/read/_/102564/yumekui-merry_v9_ch47_by_dkthias/3 that isn't just]] [[http://www.batoto.net/read/_/102564/yumekui-merry_v9_ch47_by_dkthias green decorative trim]] on a low-cut dress...

** She calls "Maze" Landsbourough as "Little Clown".

* {{Doppelganger}}: The overall story is about a Dream Demon named Wiles [[CloneByConversion making other Dream Demons into copies of himself]] to control many humans and Merry's attempt to stop him.

* CompressedHair: Minato

* DreamLand: Besides his eye ability, Yumeji can also enter the dream world of others - which surprises Merry.

** Engi is the first set: her wings represent the ''Ni-Taka''(2. Hawk); her Sanasubi sword for the ''San-Nasubi''(3. Eggplant).
** Patti is the uncommon second set: her fan hair decoration represents the ''Yon-Sen''(4. Fan); her Rokuzatou katana for ''Roku-Zato''(6. Blind acupressure).
* HellishPupils: Dream Demons often have them.

** [[http://www.mangahere.co/manga/yumekui_merry/v01/c025/3.html This page shows some of the eye patterns that were seen in the manga.]] Clockwise from the the bottom-left: [[spoiler:"Chain" Noir's]] looks like a chain-link, Engi Threepiece's is a triangle, Ichima's is a swirl, "Chaser" John Doe's is his mouth on his mask, Chris Evergreen looks like a sideways '''H''', "Maze" Landsborough's looks like a sideways '''#''', and [[spoiler:"Pharos" Hercules]] looks like a sun or a shining light.
** [[spoiler:Yumeji's eye take on the pupil of the Dream Demon whose power he is replicating with Lucid Gadget. In chapter 24, Yumeji's eyes took on the pattern of John's mouth on his mask when he first formed John's weapon. In Chapter 25, Yumeji's eyes took on the pattern of Ichima's swirly eye pattern when he used her power to call forth one of her giant toys to protect John. In Chapter 30, Yumeji's right eye takes on Chris's eye pattern when Yumeji uses Chris' RocketPunch move.]]

** [[spoiler:"Pharos" Hercules can also do this.]]

* {{Meido}}: Merry has to dress the part when she works for Isana's dad. [[spoiler:Later Yui starts working there part-time as well.]]

* RapunzelHair: Minato, Ichima, Engi and Treesea.

** Chapter 64, one of the announcers of the costume relay has a hat that makes him look like [[VisualNovel/DanganRopa Monokuma]].

** [[spoiler:"Chain" Noir]]'s costume fits this to a T.

** [[spoiler:"Sonar" Clione]] can contend with anyone just on the sheer impossibility of her outfit. No, [[http://www.batoto.net/read/_/102564/yumekui-merry_v9_ch47_by_dkthias/3 that isn't just]] [[http://www.batoto.net/read/_/102564/yumekui-merry_v9_ch47_by_dkthias green decorative trim]] on a low-cut dress...

* TitleDrop: In episode three as a [[InSeriesNickname nickname]] for Merry given by Yumeji, comparing her to a ''baku'' -- a tapir-like beast from Japanese mythology which hunts and eats nightmares. She argues that she does not actually ''eat'' them. The fourth episode is also called "Dream Eater Merry".

** As "Engi", it has the meaning of [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meadow "meadow]]" in [[http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/engi Icelandic]] which would be fitting considering that her dream world is a meadow.

* BathtubBonding: Isana and Merry get to know each other in the bath when [[AccidentalPervert Yumeji walks in]]. Isana notes this is the fifteenth time he's done that. [[spoiler: Later, John and Yumeji get in on this, only for Merry to walk in on him.]]

* BreakingSpeech: [[spoiler: "Maze" Landsborough gives one to Engi. See HeroicBSOD]]

* ClingyJealousGirl: To an extent, Isana. She's not really all that clingy, but she DOES get jealous when a girl she doesn't know shows up asking for Fujiwara. [[spoiler: It's Yui (and Engi) coming to train him and Merry.]] All considering, her jealousy may just be for RuleOfFunny.
** [[spoiler: Taka's little sister for her "onii-chan".]]

** Other non-{{fanservice}} example is Yumeji, from Chapters 57 to 60, his ripped [[spoiler: and bloodied]] shirt [[spoiler:looks a lot like a dark version of [[http://www.mangahere.co/manga/yumekui_merry/v08/c057/25.html Merry's]] [[http://www.mangahere.co/manga/yumekui_merry/v08/c059/ "tails".]]]]

** '''Black''': Is 100% nightmares and daydreams when a Dream Demon tries to take over a host.

** Mr. Ijima, Yumeji's teacher in the anime, could be seen as this as well. Sure he has an extreme liking of rice, but his speeches to his students are quite inspirational. [[spoiler: Of course, it's all a ruse, but...]]

* ConspicuousCG: Giant fish bones, brought to you in CG glory.

** [[spoiler: Isana in chapter 33.]]

* CuteBruiser: Merry. Chaser John Doe notes how much strength Merry can invest in [[MusclesAreMeaningless those flimsy little arms.]] In the waking world she's not quite as strong, but she's still pretty sturdy for her slender little frame.
* DarkIsNotEvil: Merry [[spoiler:and Chaser John Doe.]]

* {{Expy}}: Ryouta Ijima [[spoiler: is quite similar to [[VideoGame/{{Blazblue}} a certain smooth criminal/troll, Yuuki Terumi]], even has the same EvilLaugh.]]

* ForgottenFirstMeeting: [[spoiler: Between Yumeji, Merry and Kyou. And also Kyou and Isana.]]

** [[spoiler: Merry has one on her right arm, she just keeps it covered until the BeachEpisode in chapter 11. Yumeji had a scar, but it's long since faded. Curiously, [[EpilepticTrees his was in the same place that Merry's is.]] And now the spot where he had his scar is starting to hurt after he exits a daydream... ]]

** [[http://www.mangahere.co/manga/yumekui_merry/v01/c025/3.html This page shows some of the eye patterns that were seen in the manga.]] Clockwise from the the bottom-left: [[spoiler: "Chain" Noir's]] looks like a chain-link, Engi Threepiece's is a triangle, Ichima's is a swirl, "Chaser" John Doe's is his mouth on his mask, Chris Evergreen looks like a sideways '''H''', "Maze" Landsborough's looks like a sideways '''#''', and [[spoiler: "Pharos" Hercules]] looks like a sun or a shining light.

* HeroicBSOD: [[spoiler: Both Merry and Yumeji get hit with one. Merry when Engi tells her that, once they get into the real world, there's no way back to the dream world, and Yumeji after he realizes that by killing any Dream Demon who's already taken a vessel, ''[[FridgeHorror they also destroy that person's dreams... both the at-night kind of dream AND the personal-ambition variety]] (the only exception to this is if is Merry the one defeating the Nightmares).]]

* InTheBlood: Hercules [[InvokedTrope attributed this]] as the reason for [[spoiler: Yumeji's]] recovering in chapter 57. But as it turns out, [[spoiler:they are not brothers but the origins of their power is from the same person.]]

* ImprobableWeaponUser: "Chaser" John Doe has something that the author said was a cross between a saw and a guillotine. [[spoiler: Yumeji, using his Lucid Gadget, creates a smaller version to use against "Chain" Noir.]]

** Chaser John Doe
** [[spoiler: Hercules seems to be one as well. ''It's SHOW TIME!'']]

* LightIsNotGood: Heracles is described as the guiding light (the kanji of his name make up the word for lighthouse), drawing other Dream Demons to Reality. Because of that, the whole balance between the worlds has been thrown out of whack. [[spoiler: Then there's his personality...]]

** Yui Konagi,[[spoiler: Engi's vessel.]] When Yumeji does a diving save for a doll she drops, he saves the doll, but catches a glimpse. The audience also gets a peek in the manga.
** [[spoiler: [[PlayingWithATrope Played with]] in the manga by villain "Maze" Landsborough. At one point he winds up on the floor between Merry's feet, looking up; we see stripes reflected in his one eye, but not from her stockings. Yoshitake Ushiki's inventiveness and subtlety - establishing what kind of panties the heroine wears WITHOUT a single PantyShot - is to be admired.]]
** [[spoiler: We get another brief one in volume five. Hey, when you've got Stripperific cat girls fighting, you're bound to get at least one.]]

* MeaningfulName: The names of both lead characters are related to dreaming: Yumeji - "Yumeji" means "Dream Road", or "Road to Dreams" depending on personal interpretation. Merry's surname is ''Nightmare'', and her full name is [[spoiler: Sheep Merry Nightmare.]] The author also states in an omake that her name is based on Mary, [[spoiler: as in 'Mary Had a Little Lamb']].

** Many of the Dream Demon's names are this, like Chaser John Doe being a hunter, [[spoiler: "Maze" Landsborough traps people in a maze, "Chain" Noir uses chains, etc.]]
** Pharos means [[LightIsNotGood Lighthouse]] and is referred as the light that guides all the other nightmares to the real world. [[spoiler: This becomes even more meaningful when you remember that a lighthouse is to guide, and ''only'' to guide.]]

* MegaManning: [[spoiler: Yumeji can call upon the powers of Dream Demons he met before.]]

* {{Meido}}: Merry has to dress the part when she works for Isana's dad. [[spoiler: Later Yui starts working there part-time as well.]]

** [[spoiler: Also Taka's story about his little sister where he talks about how she was sickly when she was little and kept being bounced from hospital to hospital until she could no longer smile. At least until Taka started with those ridiculous poems of his, sparking his dream of wanting to make everyone he meets laugh through his poems. He then pauses before saying that she's completely healthy now and even working part-time at a burger joint.]]
** [[spoiler: And you get another one from Chapter 36, when it is revealed that Takateru is Hercules's host, and his little sister being healthier is due to Hercules putting a dream demon in her, to hold her hostage against Takateru.]]

** [[spoiler: Yumeji gets this when he hears the people in his class talking about how they all had the same nightmare. He uses his dream-seeing trick and...every single person has the same black aura.]]
** [[spoiler: Engi gets one after Merry starts going berserk due to Yumeji being nearly cut in half. Especially the moment when Merry shattered all of Engi's swords, prompting Engi to try rallying her nerve while explaining her blade could keep reforming forever as long as there was moonlight, to which Merry simply lifts her hand and shatters the moon. [[http://www.mangahere.co/manga/yumekui_merry/v01/c010/6.html]]]]
** [[spoiler: Happens in episode nine of the anime when Yumeji learns that Isana's been possessed by a Dream Demon.]]
** [[spoiler: Hercules gets one as well. And it's deliciously so, when Yumeji copies his ability.]]

* RapunzelHair: Ichima, Engi and Treesea
* RefugeInAudacity[=/=]DidWeJustHaveTeaWithCthulhu: [[spoiler:Mr. Iijima]] trolls the ''entire'' cast by visiting the STO café; he sits down and orders coffee right in front of the protagonists. By this time they have already found out that [[spoiler:he's Treesea's vessel and the one responsible for a '''lot''' of literally crushed dreams]], and they're also painfully aware that [[spoiler:he's scouting his next victim (Isana)]], but right then and there they can't do anything about it.

* RocketPunch: Since he has FloatingLimbs, Chris Evergreen does this. [[spoiler: Yumeji is also able to do it later.]]

* SacrificialLamb: Poor, poor Delga.

* StealthPun: "Chaser" John Doe calls Merry a "lost little lamb" when they first meet. [[spoiler: We later find out that Merry's full name is "Sheep" Merry Nightmare.]]

** [[spoiler: Treesea and Mr Ijima.]]

* WildCard: [[spoiler: Treesea in the anime. "I don't have allies, only targets."]]

* CloneByConversion: Wiles can turn other Dream Demons into copies of him.

** [[spoiler:Yumeji's eye take on the pupil of the Dream Demon whose power he is replicating with Lucid Gadget.]]
*** [[spoiler:In chapter 24, Yumeji's eyes took on the pattern of John's mouth on his mask when he first formed John's weapon. In Chapter 25, Yumeji's eyes took on the pattern of Ichima's swirly eye pattern when he used her power to call forth one of her giant toys to protect John. In Chapter 30, Yumeji's right eye takes on Chris's eye pattern when Yumeji uses Chris' RocketPunch move.]]

* BishiSparkle: In chapter 5, both Yumeji and Taka gave out some while convincing Mei to go to karaoke with them.
* BlackEyesOfEvil: Ichima

* HellishPupils: Merry's pupils are rectangular (like a sheep's or a tapir's). She has UnusualEars, too.

** [[spoiler: In chapter 24, Yumeji's eyes took on the pattern of John's mouth on his mask when he first formed John's weapon. In Chapter 25, Yumeji's eyes took on the pattern of Ichima's swirly eye pattern when he used her power to call forth one of her giant toys to protect John. In Chapter 30, Yumeji's right eye takes on Chris's eye pattern when Yumeji uses Chris' RocketPunch move.]]

* InTheBlood: Hercules [[InvokedTrope attributed this]] as the reason for [[spoiler: Yumeji's]] recovering in chapter 57. But as it turns out, [[spoiler:they are not brothers.]]

* ImprobableHairstyle: Engi's hair is shaped like wings.

** [[spoiler: The NewTransferStudent in volume 5 has his hair combed back where it spikes into AnimeHair.]]

* {{Meganekko}}: Mei with her NerdGlasses.

** [[spoiler:Shiragi, as the new villain, seems to be specializing in inflicting this: he somehow fulfills people's dreams, at the same time killing any Dream Demon that has started to nest in them, but which has left several people feeling empty and drained after, as if now they have nothing worth striving for. Particularly harsh with Ren as he had been partnered with his Dream Demon, "Hunter" Quartier, and briefly forgot all about Dream Demons after Shiragi "fulfilled his dream" of restoring his collapsing family life.]]
* MundaneMadeAwesome: Isana's dad showing off his legendary Kick the Can technique, [[spoiler: not to mention how he and Yumeji smash the watermelon in the BeachEpisode]].
* NewTransferStudent: Chizuru
** [[spoiler: Shiragi Kyou in volume five]]

* OhCrap: [[spoiler: Yumeji gets this when he hears the people in his class talking about how they all had the same nightmare. He uses his dream-seeing trick and...every single person has the same black aura.]]

* RunningGag: Two so far. Yumeji walking into the bath...and someone's already there, usually it's Isana. She notes that he's done this fourteen times before the two that we see in story. Later, Merry walks in on HIM. Also Yui telling people to depend on her as an older sister, and then being told she's younger than they are.

* SheIsNotMyGirlfriend: Yumeji about Merry in episode 5.

** [[spoiler: "Chain" Noir]]'s costume fits this to a T.

** She calls Mistilteinn Treesea as "Wood Lady".

* TrademarkFavoriteFood: Merry loves donuts.

* WhiteMaskOfDoom: Chaser John Doe.

* YouHaveOutlivedYourUsefulness: Hercules gives [[spoiler: and eventually receives,]] this.

* AdaptationExpansion: The three Dream Demons Merry meets before "Chaser" John Doe have been given names with their roles, powers and personalities expanded upon.
* TheCameo: [[spoiler: The real Merry Nightmare makes a few through out the manga. A notable one at the end of the manga is her passing behind Yuuki and [[MissedHimByThatMuch neither meeting each other]].]]

** [[spoiler: It turns out that the Merry of the story is one of the Wiles copies who, upon touching the Gate, became a copy of Merry Nightmare.]]
* GoOutWithASmile: [[spoiler: As she dies, doppelganger Merry smiled at Yuuki as she [[LastRequest asks]] him to call the real Merry "[[TitleDrop Kagefumi Merry]]" for her if he meets her.]]
* MeaningfulEcho: Both Merry and Wiles say the lines "Lights! Camera! Action!" in their "yards" when initiating their power in it. [[spoiler: It turns out that the Merry of this story is one of the Wiles copies.]]

* TheReveal: In the last chapter it is revealed that [[spoiler: the Merry of the story is actually a Wiles copy who became a MirrorSelf {{Doppelganger}} of the real Merry Nightmare when she touched the Gate.]]

* SpannerInTheWorks: Merry for Wiles' plan to posses people with his copies. [[spoiler: More so since the Merry of the story is actually one of Wiles' copies.]]

* TitleDrop: [[spoiler: The Merry doppelganger [[LastRequest asks]] Yuuki that if he sees the real Merry Nightmare, he should call her "Kagefumi Merry"[[note]]Shadow Stomper Merry[[/note]] for her.]]

* BreakTheCutie: See below. Also what happens to kids after the dream demons are killed.
* BreakingSpeech: [[spoiler: Maze gives one to Engi. See HeroicBSOD]]

* CatGirl: Chaser John Doe has some working for him.
** [[spoiler: He later brings a whole army of them to help Merry and Yumeji. They can transform into cats, sans-clothing, in order to escape from being hurt then transform back again with clothing starting to form itself around them. Yes, they ''are'' made of {{fanservice}}, why do you ask?]]

* DemonicPossession: What some dream demons attempt with their vessels.

* ExpressiveMask: Chaser John Doe. It's very subtle, but his otherwise motionless mask can change from a frown to a smile or vice versa between shots.

** [[http://www.mangafox.com/manga/yumekui_merry/v05/c025/3.html This page shows some of the eye patterns that were seen in the manga.]] Clockwise from the the bottom-left: [[spoiler: Chain Noir's]] looks like a chain-link, Engi Threepiece's is a triangle, Ichima's is a swirl, Chaser John Doe's is his mouth on his mask, Chris Evergreen looks like a sideways '''H''', Maze Landsborough's looks like a sideways '''#''', and [[spoiler: "Pharos" Hercules]] looks like a sun or a shining light.

* ImprobableWeaponUser: Chaser John Doe has something that the author said was a cross between a saw and a guillotine. [[spoiler: Yumeji, using his Lucid Gadget, creates a smaller version to use against Chain Noir.]]

** [[spoiler: [[PlayingWithATrope Played with]] in the manga by villain Maze Landsborough. At one point he winds up on the floor between Merry's feet, looking up; we see stripes reflected in his one eye, but not from her stockings. Yoshitake Ushiki's inventiveness and subtlety - establishing what kind of panties the heroine wears WITHOUT a single PantyShot - is to be admired.]]

** Many of the Dream Demon's names are this, like Chaser John Doe being a hunter, [[spoiler: Maze Landsborough traps people in a maze, Chain Noir uses chains, etc.]]

* MonsterClown: Maze Landsborough, the one-eyed imp-like Dream Demon could be seen as this. His Mooks, however, are this without a doubt.

* MoodWhiplash: At one point, Yumeji is injured and at the mercy of Chaser John Doe, who coldly tells him that it would be incredibly easy to take over his body at that moment. Yumeji cringes at what's coming – but John promptly states that to do so would be crude and unsportsmanlike ("I am a hunter, not a ''thief''"), and summons a pair of cute voluptuous {{cat girl}}s to tend to Yumeji's wounds!

** [[spoiler:Shiragi, as the new villain, seems to be specializing in inflicting this: he somehow fulfills people's dreams, at the same time killing any Dream Demon that has started to nest in them, but which has left several people feeling empty and drained after, as if now they have nothing worth striving for. Particularly harsh with Ren as he had been partnered with his Dream Demon, Quartier, and briefly forgot all about Dream Demons after Shiragi "fulfilled his dream" of restoring his collapsing family life.]]

** Pharos Hercules/Heracles/Elcres

* StealthPun: Chaser calls Merry a "lost little lamb" when they first meet. [[spoiler: We later find out that Merry's full name is Sheep Merry Nightmare.]]

** [[spoiler: Chain Noir]]'s costume fits this to a T.

** [[spoiler:Sonar Clione]] can contend with anyone just on the sheer impossibility of her outfit. No, [[http://www.batoto.net/read/_/102564/yumekui-merry_v9_ch47_by_dkthias/3 that isn't just]] [[http://www.batoto.net/read/_/102564/yumekui-merry_v9_ch47_by_dkthias green decorative trim]] on a low-cut dress...

* TalkingIsAFreeAction: Averted frequently. Someone will try to explain something in the middle of a fight and get punished hard for being too wordy and ignoring the enemy. Yumeji nearly gets killed because of this during [[spoiler:the fight with Chain Noir]].

* {{Doppelganger}}: The overall story is about a Dream Demon named Wiles making other Dream Demons into copies of himself to control many humans and Merry's attempt to stop him.

* ShoutOut: Merry leaves a message for the real Wiles with the blood of one of the copies that says, "[[VideoGame/ZeroWing All your Wiles belong to me.]]"

* SpinOff: This story is an official spin-off the main series.

* ShoutOut: [[Anime/PuellaMagiMadokaMagica Kyubey]]'s iconic face appears on the side of a jet [[http://www.mangahere.co/manga/yumekui_merry/v01/c040/ in chapter 40]].

* ShoutOut: There are a few.
** Merry leaves a message for the real Wiles with the blood of one of the copies that says, "[[VideoGame/ZeroWing All your Wiles belong to me.]]"

* AdaptationExpansion: The three Dream Demons Merry met before "Chaser" John Doe have been given names with their roles and personality expanded upon.

* {{Prequel}}: The SpinOff is set sometime between after Merry met her first three Dream Demon after coming to reality and before the first chapter of the main story.

* TheCameo: [[spoiler: The real Merry Nightmare makes one at the end of the manga, passing behind Yuuki and [[MissedHimByThatMuch neither meeting each other]].]]

* AwesomeMcCoolname: Merry Nightmare, Chaser John Doe, Engi Threepiece, Pharos Hercules, [[spoiler:Chain Noir, Familiar Legion]]... Most of the nightmares, really, crossing over with MeaningfulName.

** [[http://www.mangafox.com/manga/yumekui_merry/v05/c025/3.html This page shows some of the eye patterns that were seen in the manga.]] Clockwise from the the bottom-left: [[spoiler: Chain Noir's]] looks like a chain-link, Engi Threepiece's is a triangle, Ichima's is a swirl, Chaser John Doe's is his mouth on his mask, Chris Evergreen looks like a sideways '''H''', Maze Landsborough's looks like a sideways '''#''', and [[spoiler: Pharos Hercules]] looks like a sun or a shining light.

* HiddenAgendaVillain: Pharos Hercules draws nightmares to the waking world, brutally kills any that won't follow him, and lets his followers run wild. John Doe is trying to puzzle out his plans, questioning every revelation, even those from Hercules's right hand minions. Merry thinks Hercules is just out to cause chaos and is using the appearance of a master plan as cover to keep his foes guessing. Hercules eventually reveals his grand scheme: to [[spoiler:destroy the Gate between Dream and Reality so nightmares may be physically present in the real world, but not so he may conquer the world - but so he may crush and destroy ''everyone'', nightmares and humans both. He is a nightmare of ''fire'' after all, the signaling flame, and as a living fire all he wants is to consume and burn brighter. So technically Merry was right, but his methods were frightfully sophisticated.]]

* InTheBlood: Pharos [[InvokedTrope attributed this]] as the reason for [[spoiler: Yumeji's]] recovering in chapter 57. But as it turns out, [[spoiler:they are not brothers.]]

** [[spoiler: Pharos gets one as well. And it's deliciously so, when Yumeji copies his ability.]]

* TheNicknamer: Merry gives nicknames to some of the characters. She calls Engi Threepiece "Eggplant Lady". She calls Chaser John Doe "Cat Mask". She calls Pharos Hercules "Lighthouse Guy". She calls Mistilteinn Treesea "Wood Lady"

Based on a manga by Yoshitake Ushiki, ''Yumekui Merry'' was adapted into an anime in the winter of 2011 by Creator/JCStaff. VideoGame/{{Touhou}} fans may recognize the author from his doujinshi work ''[[FanficRecs/{{Touhou}} Advent Cirno]]'', and the people handling the music as {{IOSYS}}.

* RocketPunch: Since he has RaymanianLimbs, Chris Evergreen does this. [[spoiler: Yumeji is also able to do it later.]]