Off the Radar: Coffins, Dream Eaters, and Desperate Measures

Presenting my new line of posts, “Off the Radar,” where I talk about anything within the world of anime that needs more attention and/or love. Hidden gems, underrated or obscure anime/manga, unpopular music or movies – anything I just happen to come across that you all should check out!

Shoulder-A-Coffin Kuro

It’s likely some of you guys out there heard of this one. A charming tale of a tomboy traveller dressed in black named “Kuro,” who’s often mistaken as a boy. Or a vampire. Or a coffin salesman. The list goes on. Told in 4-koma style with absolutely adorable art, and whimsical stories that range from cute & heart-warming to nightmarishly dark & twisted. The characters are all loveable, quirky and memorable, within a world that manages to capture the vast and gothic nature of an endless journey. Don’t be fooled by the cover; it’s an endearing series that I encourage readers of all ages to pick up.

Believe it or not, this manga was on a 5 year hiatus since 2008; with only two volumes, I felt it was hard to recommend. Then the reclusive author, Satoko Kiyuouki, finally finished & released the 3rd volume on January 2012. Yen Press will release it in NA by November this year.

Yumekui Merry

Has anyone heard of this one? If not, shame on you. Unarguably one of my most favourite manga series of all time – Yumekui Merry is about a boy named Yuumeji Fujiwara who has the ability to tell what dreams a person can have through multicoloured auras, although only 30% of the time. However, black auras always mean nightmares. One morning, a weird girl falls on top of him after being pecked by crows. Her name is Merry Nightmare, and she’s trying to find her way back home, wherever it is. So begins a perilous journey through dreams and nightmares, encountering other “Dream Demons” along the way.

It’s a lot better than it sounds. Perhaps the only manga I know that uses a “dream” theme, and does it excellently. Don’t watch the anime, though – it’s horrible.

AMV: Desperate Measures

Who doesn’t love a good AMV? A collaboration by xsmatthijsse & QuidnamInferorum, this is one of the most addicting AMVs I’ve seen in a while. But it doesn’t even have 1,000 views yet! It’s a fantastic effort, and I encourage you all to check it out! And remember to support them by commenting & liking their videos!

That’s all for now. Thanks for reading! ^_^