English Dub Review: Dreamland “Terrence”
Overview (Spoilers Below):
Terrorized by fiery nightmares, Terrence discovers a new world after overcoming his greatest fear.
Our Take:
Sometimes conquering our fears can lead to a bright, healthy future. But in most cases, it can lead to a fiery adventure in a world where dreams become reality. This is the case for Terrence, who develops a fear of fire after losing her mother in a fiery accident. Since then, he has been constantly haunted by nightmares of that terrifying fate, irritating his older brother, Ben. But that’s not the only thing he fears, as he’s paired with his crush, Lydia Neri, and influencer Eve for a school group project. When Terrence conquers that fear by defeating a nightmare demon, he becomes a Voyager in a mystical land called “Dreamland” and gains the ability to control fire.
“Terrence” takes a while to get into the world-building aspect of Dreamland, focusing solely on the main character’s background. But it still offers a suitable yet brief reflection on trauma and how it affects those the same age as Terrence. Also, it showcases characters who are just plain assholes towards his trauma, including Sealvia, who I just wish someone would rip his mouth off. This show also features a similar style to other French animated shows, mainly for its anime-inspired presentation, courtesy of Ellipse Animation and La Chouette Compagnie. In terms of the stylization and art design, particularly Terrence’s fight against the Nightmare Demon, it actually looks decent so far. The story and world-building still need to impress me with the show’s premise, but otherwise, it’s a fine start to the fantasy action series.
