Madotsuki: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 23:01, 19 March 2025

“	It's always the same dream. Behind my door, there are twelve other doors. Beyond those... I never crossed any of them. Why? Am I afraid? I guess I'll have to go. If I go, I may find the answer. It's all right. If something happens, I can come back immediately.	„
	~ Madotsuki going to sleep during the beginning of the manga

“	Now that I think about it, there was one in the forest too. Those two towers that connected to another world. This world is the same. Doors that don't look like doors. And there could be many. And if there are effects behind those doors... I have to be sure. But even if I say that... What a depressing world. I want to go back. I want to go back to the door's world. I have to bring back the umbrella too. This shines, and doesn't look normal. So it isn't an effect, right? Then, what is it? An un-doorly door? Someone who lives here?	„
	~ Madotsuki wondering to herself as she travels Dense Woods B (The Road)

Background

Madotsuki is the playable protagonist of Yume Nikki. She is one of the few characters in the game with an official name.

Like much of the game, Madotsuki's background and life remain a mystery. The only canonical information comes from what is shown in-game, though her dreams are often ambiguous and unsettling, leading to various interpretations of her character.

Her age is never explicitly stated in any official materials, and different interpretations of her age have been presented in official Kadokawa products.

This dropdown contains Different Interpretations from Official Media. Read at your own risk as you may be spoiled otherwise!
Manga Interpretation Novel Interpretation Chapter 1: The Beginning of the Dream The story begins with Madotsuki in her room, reflecting on a recurring dream of a room full of doors beyond her bedroom. She has not ventured far enough to explore what lies beyond. After gathering her courage, Madotsuki decides to return to the Nexus. Upon entering her dream world, she chooses to explore the Number World door, but quickly flees to the peaceful Forest World. As she explores, she encounters a gate that takes her to the Face Carpet Plaza, where a crazed Toriningen chases her. She escapes safely but is shocked when a frog leaps into her mouth, traveling down her throat, causing her to collapse. Upon waking up, she tries to pinch herself to wake up from the dream, but cannot due to the transformation into the Frog effect. Chapter 2: The Forest World Madotsuki continues to wander through Forest World, pinching herself in an attempt to wake up. She stumbles upon several Namekuji that wrap themselves around her body, leaking drool and almost engulfing her. She dives for the exit and returns to the Nexus. Her throat swells as the Frog effect dissolves, leaving behind an egg containing the Forest World frog. Madotsuki wakes up and attempts to write about her experiences in her diary, but instead finds a strange message: "collect the effects." Confused, she tries to leave her room, but the door is locked. She decides to play NASU before eventually going back to sleep. Chapter 3: Effects Madotsuki realizes that she must collect the effects and returns to the Nexus. She realizes that these effects are hidden in ordinary objects within the dream world. She explores Block World, where she finds the Hat & Scarf effect. After collecting it, she continues her journey into Puddle World, where she discovers the Umbrella effect. In the process, she encounters a large hand that pulls her into the Dense Woods, where she is teleported to Shitai-san. Here, she encounters a jellyfish and reaches out to touch it, transforming into the Stoplight effect. As she continues exploring, she begins to question the vastness of the dream world and whether she can truly collect all the effects. Chapter 4: Global Search Madotsuki, now with the Frog effect, continues her journey, eventually finding a disc with an umbrella symbol. Stepping on it, she transforms into the Umbrella effect. She discovers that she can swap effects by stepping on various discs. After learning how to switch effects, Madotsuki returns to normal and decides to visit Snow World, where she equips the Hat & Scarf effect to stay warm. In the snowy world, she encounters a Toriningen and an igloo, before being dragged into the Pink Sea by a large hand. Using the Frog effect, she swims to another island where she finds a balloon that transports her to a larger island. On this island, she meets Poniko. Chapter 5: Anger Madotsuki, initially hoping to befriend Poniko, finds herself horrified when Poniko transforms into Uboa. The peaceful room is suddenly filled with chaos as Uboa attacks Madotsuki, stealing her umbrella and beating her with it. After being knocked down, Madotsuki tries to retrieve her effect discs but is once again attacked by Uboa. In anger, she resolves to kill Uboa. She searches for a weapon in the Nexus, eventually finding the Knife effect. Upon returning to the Nexus, Madotsuki is overwhelmed with confusion as the ink from her pen begins to spill onto the diary, the words "Help me stop her from waking" appearing in the pages. Chapter 6: Confusion The ink from the dream diary continues to bubble and morph into Seccom Masada-sensei, who enters the dream world to find Madotsuki. After traveling through the Nexus, Masada discovers the world in disarray and learns that Madotsuki is responsible for the chaos. He seeks out Madotsuki, hoping to stop her. Eventually, Masada confronts Madotsuki, who is slowly transforming into another Uboa. Realizing that this is likely the result of Poniko, Masada tries to control the situation, but the dream world continues to collapse around them. Chapter 7: Mood Change Mars-san, overseeing the dream world, announces that the system is failing due to the collapse. In the Nexus, Poniko, using the stolen effects, manipulates the environment to her advantage. Meanwhile, Madotsuki continues her violent spree, killing dream world inhabitants like the Nopperabou Witches. Eventually, Masada is confronted by Poniko, who reveals her plan to escape the dream world. As the collapse continues, the dream world’s denizens deem Madotsuki a dream destroyer. Chapter 8: Give and Take In Madotsuki’s Room, Madotsuki reencounters a message in her diary and responds by writing that she prefers to continue cutting. Her response causes a disturbance, with Mars-san questioning her reaction. Madotsuki, unfazed, spins in her chair and writes again in her diary, asking where the exit to her room is. When Mars-san does not reply, she returns to sleep and finds herself in a ruined Nexus, now filled with various dream world entities. Madotsuki, undeterred, begins to stab the Wheelies to satisfy her violent urges. However, she is caught by a Toriningen, which sends her to Hell. She simply wakes up, returns to sleep, and re-enters the Nexus, continuing her killing spree. Despite the chaos surrounding her, Madotsuki remains focused on her actions, navigating the dream world as her violence and desire for destruction continue unabated. Chapter 9: Entertainer Madotsuki lies asleep in her bed as the dream world around her continues. However, things take a strange turn when a large, goopy monster resembling a Henkei Shita emerges from Madotsuki's chest, being her pure evil, intent on consuming the dream world. The creature retains memories of Madotsuki, especially the memory of Poniko, who had previously interacted with her as Uboa. The creature attacks Poniko, consuming her as part of its rampage. As the dream world collapses, Madotsuki remains unaware of the chaos unfolding around her. She is abruptly awakened from her dream to find Masada's head in her room. Startled, she questions the situation, but Masada reassures her that she is still dreaming. He tells her something significant has happened outside. Madotsuki steps outside onto the balcony and finds a set of stairs leading beyond the railing. The stairs, a clear signal of her journey's conclusion, beckon her to step forward. Ready to leave the dream world behind, she ascends the stairs, marking the end of her dream. Madotsuki is one of the protagonists in Yume Nikki: I Am Not in Your Dream, exploring her dream world to escape the monotony of her real life. She follows a similar journey to her game counterpart, collecting various effects along the way. Throughout her adventure, she is unknowingly aided by Poniko, who Madotsuki cannot see. However, it’s revealed that Madotsuki isn’t the one dreaming. The dream actually belongs to Poniko, and Madotsuki is a manifestation of Poniko’s subconscious. Specifically, she represents Poniko’s unborn child, whose future is a source of worry for Poniko.

Name Meaning

The name "Madotsuki" translates to "windowed," referring to having a window like one in a house. It is displayed as the protagonist's name in the game menu and is one of the two instances of kanji used in the game. The only other use of kanji is the message that appears when Madotsuki sits in her desk chair within the dream world.

"Madotsuki" is not typically used as a name in Japan and may not represent the character's actual name. Instead, it could serve as a metaphor, symbolizing the character as a "window" through which the player observes the game's dream world. Additionally, it could reflect the game's theme of isolation, emphasizing a lack of personal identity by giving the protagonist a functional rather than personal name.

Interestingly, when the name "Madotsuki" is reversed in Kunrei-shiki romanization as "Madotuki," it spells "Ikutodam." This resembles the Japanese phrase "行くと駄目" or "行くとダメ" (iku to dame), meaning "it is useless to go" or "going is futile." While this may be coincidental, it aligns with Madotsuki's refusal to leave her room in the "real world", representing her preference for the vast and imaginative world of her dreams.

Personality

Little is known about Madotsuki, requiring gathering clues throughout the game to get some ideas.

Emotionally Complex: Madotsuki's dream world reflects the broad spectrum of her emotions, ranging from moments of joy and curiosity to deep fear and discomfort. While cheerful effects like Neon and the Witch's Flight suggest a playful and childlike side, unsettling experiences like the Severed Head effect and the Uboa event imply darker thoughts or memories. These emotional extremes reveal a psyche struggling to process trauma or inner conflict.

Shut-In: Madotsuki refuses to leave her room, where attempting to do so will have her shake her head^[1]. She will only ever exit the door in the Dream World^[2]. Her only form of exploration is through her dreams, where she navigates surreal landscapes. This withdrawal from society could suggest severe social anxiety, depression, or past trauma that has left her unable to face the outside world. Though interpretations like the manga instead make the assumption that she is trapped in her room and cannot escape, this could also be seen as another metaphorical ideology of her hikikomori lifestyle.

Gamer: Madotsuki seems to love games as she has a Famtendo console with a Famtendo game she can play in her room^[3].

Likes Forest: In the manga, Madotsuki notes that she likes forests, even if it is a dark forest^[4].

Lucid Dreamer: Despite the strange and often frightening nature of her dreams, Madotsuki maintains a remarkable level of awareness and control. Her ability to collect and manipulate effects, as well as her capacity to wake herself up by pinching her cheek, indicates her proficiency as a lucid dreamer. Through this control, she may be seeking to understand or resolve her inner turmoil.

Emotionally Resilient: Confronted with nightmarish figures and unsettling environments, Madotsuki rarely shows hesitation in exploring her subconscious. Even when faced with disturbing imagery, she continues to navigate her dreams with determination. This resilience suggests an unconscious desire to confront and process her fears. The manga interpretation even showcases her being mostly unphased by seeing a corpse.

Imaginative and Curious: The vivid and often bizarre nature of Madotsuki's dream world is a testament to her creative mind. From abstract, nonsensical creatures to dreamscapes filled with intricate symbolism, her subconscious is brimming with imagination. Her curiosity drives her to explore these realms, perhaps in search of meaning or escape. Though the manga interpretation instead has the dream world as a collective unconscious of different girls dreams merged into one.

This covers more theorized personality that has proof within the game, but due to the game being in a dream where a lot of repressed emotions can be executed, it is harder to tell if this truly applies fully to them as a person.

Murderous Side: Madotsuki showcases a potentially sadistic and murderous side in the Dream World, when she gets the knife effect^[5], using it to harm^[6] and kill entities in her dream world^[7], however since this is an act within a dream, it is likely a release of repressed emotions rather then being something she'd be willing to replicate in the real world.

Potential Distaste In Her Own Looks/Curiosity in Other Designs: Madotsuki commonly has effects that freely change her design, with her being able to change it to poop-shaped hair^[8], getting long hair^[9], and getting blonde hair^[10]. This could either be her having a distaste for her own looks or because she's aware she's in a dream this could simply serve as her wanting to do different makeovers, as she is willing to turn into things like a cat girl without really changing her looks^[11].

Potential Desire for Escape and Understanding: While many of her dreams are unsettling, others offer a peaceful reprieve, such as the Sky Garden or FC Field. These serene locations may represent her longing for comfort and tranquility. Simultaneously, the more disturbing aspects of her dreams could symbolize unresolved trauma or fears that she struggles to confront, leading to her ultimate choice in the game's finale.

Appearance

Looks:

Madotsuki keeps her eyes closed at all times, giving her a detached or introspective expression. Due to this we are not fully aware of her eye color, except for when she opens her eyes with the cat effect and they are red. She has red-brown hair styled into twintails, secured with small hair ties. Her facial features are simple yet expressive, with a neutral mouth and a small nose.

Regular Clothes:

She wears a bright red, long-sleeved jacket that contrasts with her darker burgundy skirt. The skirt falls just above her knees, and she is usually depicted wearing red shoes with white socks. Her outfit has a minimalistic yet distinct design, making her recognizable despite the game's simplistic art style.

Special Clothes:

The most notable feature of her clothing is the design on her shirt, which features a symbol resembling the CJK character 囧. This symbol can mean "window," aligning with the meaning of her name, or "clear," which could hint at her personality or state of mind. It is also widely recognized as an emoticon expressing sadness or shock, which may reflect the surreal and sometimes unsettling nature of her dreams.

Additionally, her shirt design closely resembles the emblem of the Japanese Tsuchiya clan, which could suggest a historical or cultural connection. It also bears similarities to the geometric patterns seen on Incan military tunics, potentially linking her imagery to indigenous or ancient influences. This detail, combined with the strange and symbolic elements present in her dreams, adds to the mysterious nature of her character and the world she explores.

Relationships

Poniko

From the game
Poniko's relationship with Madotsuki varies greatly on interpretation, in the base game, going off scene alone there is not much to gather from both of their relationship as Poniko just seems to be another NPC.

From the Manga Interpretation
Madotsuki initially admires Poniko upon their first encounter, expressing curiosity about whether Poniko will become her friend and complimenting her appearance. This admiration quickly turns to fear and resentment when Poniko transforms into Uboa and relentlessly attacks her. By attacking Madotsuki, stealing her effects, and trapping her in a nightmarish state, Poniko cements herself as a threatening and malicious figure in Madotsuki's mind.

As the story progresses, their relationship becomes even more complex. After using Madotsuki's stolen powers to attack Seccom Masada-sensei, Poniko is tasked with exterminating Madotsuki. However, instead of following through with this violent act, she chooses a different path. By destroying Madotsuki's dream diary, Poniko sacrifices the dream world to free both herself and Madotsuki from their destructive cycle. She notes to do this because she doesn't "want to be leave the dream world as a 'good girl'".

Despite this act, Madotsuki’s lingering hatred manifests in the form of a monstrous figure that ultimately consumes Poniko.

From the Novel Interpretation
Initially, Poniko serves as the narrator of Madotsuki's journey through the dream world, acting as an observer and guide to her progress. However, once Poniko encounters Madotsuki, the focus shifts from Madotsuki's journey to Poniko's own quest for understanding. Poniko becomes determined to uncover the reason for her presence in Madotsuki's dream and seeks a way to escape. As the story unfolds, it is revealed that Madotsuki is not the dreamer but rather another dream character within Poniko’s own subconscious mind. Madotsuki exists as Poniko's shadow, representing the manifestation of Poniko's unborn child, an embodiment of her maternal fears and anxieties. The true nature of the real world is never explicitly shown, but it becomes clear that Poniko's concern for the safety of her child created the dream world as a form of mental escape. This revelation adds depth to their relationship, as it is not just a matter of Poniko trying to help Madotsuki, but rather Poniko trying to overcome her own fears and trauma associated with the unknown future of her child.

General Information

Name: Madotsuki^[12]

Origin: Yume Nikki

First Appearance: Yume Nikki

Company: Kadokawa Game Studio

Creator: Kikiyama

Sex: Female^[13]

Sexuality: Unknown

Pronouns: She/Her

Age: Unknown (Madotsuki's age is never directly stated or known, it is just known she is a young woman, who may be the owner of the apartment she lives in)

Time Period: Unknown, likely early 2000s (As the game was made in 2004, and many locales in the dream world are more modern for the early 2000s)

Timeline: Main Timeline

Homeworld: Earth

Residence: An Apartment in Japan

Story Role: Main Protagonist, The Dreamer

Legacy: Unknown Legacy (Not much is known about Madotsuki's regular life, though it's likely that she is not known as she is a shut-in)

Influence: Unknown Influence

Language: Likely Japanese

Ethnicity: Asian (Seems to be in a region of Japan)

Religion: Unknown

Classification: Dreamer, Hikkikomori (Shut-In)

Species: Human (With different effects, she bcomes: Yuki-onna, Cat-Human Hybrid, Frog, Medamaude, Nopperabou, &Demon)

State of Being: Regular

Physiology: Humanoid Physiology (With different effects, her physiologies change to: Yuki-onna Physiology (With Yuki-onna^[14]), Cat-Human Hybrid Physiology (With cat effect^[15]), Frog Physiology (With frog effect^[16]), Inorganic Physiology (With neon lights effect^[17], lamp effect^[18], stoplight effect^[19]), Medamaude Physiology (With Medamaude Effect^[20]), Nopperabou Physiology (With nopperabou effect^[21]), Witch Physiology (With witch effect^[22]), & Demon Physiology (With Demon Effect^[23]))

In-Universe Creator: Unknown

Occupation: None

Affiliations: Poniko (In the light novel interpretation)

Enemies: Poniko (In the manga interpretation)

Height: Unknown

Weight: Unknown

Status: Unknown (Though it looks like Madotsuki commits suicide in the ending of the game, there are a lot of cases pointing towards even the "real world" being merely a dream world rather than the actual real world, one of the main things being that in the ending, stairs suddenly appear^[24] that were not present in the balcony back at the beginning of the game^[25]. In this case, the ending could be taken as an interpretation of Madotsuki trying to truly wake up from her sleep, media such as the manga and -Dream Diary- further supports this with its ending, where Madotsuki wakes in the "real" real world and finally leaves her room^[26])

Alignment: True Neutral (Madotsuki has no moral obligations within the dream world, being kind to other NPCs or outright killing them based on the player's input. While her actual alignment is technically not known, her actions within the dream world are likely reflective of Madotsuki as a person. In the manga, the one time she wishes to use the knife is after Uboa attacks her and takes all her effects away from her^[27], She also later goes to stab all of the denizens of the dream world to try and escape the dream world^[28]^[29]^[30]^[31]^[32]^[33]), Chaotic Evil as the Dream Destroyer (Within Madotsuki is all of the inner evil within her, being just pure evil, being described as "evil beyond any reasoning"^[34])

Threat Level: Mental Threat in the Manga Interpretation (In the manga, Madotsuki greatly shifted and destroyed the entire dream world^[35]^[36]. Within Madotsuki is all of the inner evil within her, being just pure evil, being described as "evil beyond any reasoning"^[37], where it was noted that it would consume everything in the dream world^[38]^[39], this included the other dreamers^[40])

Codex Statistics

Tabber Information

"Real World": This tabber covers Madotsuki while she's in the "Real World", where she is "awake".
Dream World: This key covers Madotsuki in the dream world. This falls under the Pseudo-Tiering System and these stats do not replicate what she can do outside of this dream.

Grade: C

Tier: 10-B

Cardinality: Finite

Dimensionality: 3-D

Power Source: None

Attack Potency: Average Human level (Physically a young woman)

Durability: Average Human level

Striking Strength: Average Human Class

Lifting Strength: Average Human Class

Travel Speed: Regular Human Speed

Attack Speed: Regular Human Speed

Reaction Speed: Regular Human Reactions

Stamina: Average

Range: Standard Melee

Intelligence: Unknown Intelligence (Madotsuki seems to have a great array of imagination within her dream world, though her overall knowledge and intelligence are never explicitly known)

Knowledge: Unknown level

Key: Regular | Dream Destroyer

Key Information

Regular: This key covers Madotsuki's regular self, the one mainly played through the games and seen throughout majority of th emedias.
Dream Destroyer: This covers the manga-specific entity that is all of Madotsuki's inner evil within her, being just pure evil, being described as "evil beyond any reasoning"^[41].

Grade: A | S

Pseudo-Tier: 10-B, 9-C with Knife | At least 8-C

Cardinality: Finite

Dimensionality: 3-D

Power Source: Different Effects (Can transform herself into different objects by using effects along with gaining different abilities with some effects^[42])

Attack Potency: Average Human level (Physically a young woman), Bone level with Knife (Can kill NPCs with a single stab^[43]) | At least Building level (Size) (Her size naturally reaches this large^[44]^[45]). Can ignore conventional durability with Consumption (Noted that it would consume everything in the dream world^[46]^[47], this included the other dreamers^[48])

Durability: Average Human level, likely Higher (Madotsuki is able to upgrade her health by buying drinks from vending machines, though the boost itself is not quantifiable as she does not fight) | At least Building level

Striking Strength: Average Human Class | At least Building Class (Size)

Lifting Strength: Average Human Class, likely Higher (In Yume Nikki -Dream Diary-, she can rip wooden planks off^[49]) | Unknown: Powerful Class

Travel Speed: Regular Human Speed, Higher with the Bicycle (Can travel around faster with it^[50]) | Unknown: True level

Attack Speed: Regular Human Speed | Unknown: True level

Reaction Speed: Regular Human Reactions | Unknown: True level

Stamina: Unknown

Range: Standard Melee, Extended Melee with Knife. At least Kilomters with Weather Manipulation (With the Umbrella, summons an entire rainstorm no matter where she is^[51], this can also be used to take out massive fires^[52]. With Yuki-onna, creates a natural snowstorm whenever she enters this form^[53])

Intelligence: Unknown Intelligence (Madotsuki seems to have a great array of imagination within her dream world, though her overall knowledge and intelligence are never explicitly known)

Knowledge: Unknown level

Powers and Techniques

Human Achievements (Madotsuki showcases her ability to play instruments such as the flute^[54]. In Yume Nikki -Dream Diary- she can play a brief duet with Seccom Masada-sensei^[55]. Madotsuki is shown in -Dream Diary- to be a talented artist, drawing majority of the characters she has met in her dreams^[56]), Vehicular Usage (Land Vehicles; Madotsuki is able to ride around on her bicycle around the dream worlds^[57]), Weapon Usage (Knife Usage; Madotsuki is shown in her dreams to be proficient with her knife effect^[58]), Stealth Mastery (In Yume Nikki -Dream Diary- she displays the capabilities of hiding from search lights and getting past them, even while being chased after^[59]. She also displayed capabilities of hiding from the light of a lighthouse^[60]), Enhanced Senses (Madotsuki is able to perfectly navigate areas even while her eyes are closed^[61], it is also shown in the manga that her eyes are closed while she traverses around, along with being able to tell the exact location of the doors and which door is which while even being able to point at it^[62]), Psychological Resilience (In the manga, Madotsuki is relatively unphased by seeing a corpse, being more concerned with how she's going to be able to collect all the effects^[63]), Lucid Dreaming (Brings the dream world into existence upon sleeping, where she is fully aware and can control the actions she does in her dreams, no matter how many times she goes to sleep in them^[64]. This i further supported by the manga where she can perfectly remember her dreams, how many worlds there are, and the locations^[65]), Possible Immortality (Dream Immortality; It is heavily likely that Madotsuki is still in the dream even in the "Real World", stairs suddenly appear^[66] that were not present in the balcony back at the beginning of the game^[67]).

Resistance to Instant Death (Madotsuki is unaffected by Poniko's Uboa Mask, which is the Mask of Fear^[68]. Where Madotsuki can use the Mask of Fear to kill enemies nearby attempting to attack her^[69]), Fear Manipulation & Perception Manipulation (Madotsuki is unaffected by Poniko's Uboa Mask, which is the Mask of Fear^[70]. Where the Mask of Fear can send fear into targets just from wearing it, causing a massive distortion in the area^[71])

Immortality (Dream Immortality; Madotsuki is merely a dreamer within the dream and thus nothing that happens to her will kill her as she's merely in a dream, even acts like severing her head will not affect her^[72]. No matter where she's sent in the dream, even if she's trapped, she can merely pinch herself awake^[73]), Dimensional Storage (In the manga, Madotsuki has a compartment in her chest that allows her to store all her effects^[74]), Supernatural Resilience and Self-Sustenance (Respiratory & Nutritional; Can exist as a severed head^[75] and can survive melting after being turned into a snowman^[76]), Dream Manipulation (In the manga, Madotsuki greatly shifted and destroyed the entire dream world^[77]^[78])

Gliding (In Yume Nikki -Dream Diary-, Madotsuki can use the Umbrella Effect to temporarily glide while platforming^[79]), Multiple Jumps (In Yume Nikki -Dream Diary-, Madotsuki can use the Umbrella Effect as a second jump^[80]), True Sight (In Yume Nikki -Dream Diary-, Madotsuki gets the Hamsa Effect, which allows her to reveal hidden paths and items^[81]), Transformation (Transformative Arsenal [with various effects]; Can transform herself into different objects by using effects^[82], this incudes: a Yuki-onna^[83], a cat girl^[84], a frog^[85], neon lights^[86], getting long hair^[87], getting blonde hair^[88], turning into a Medamaude^[89], a lamp^[90], a stoplight^[91], nopperabou^[92], a witch^[93], turn her hair into the shape of poop^[94], remove her entire body and leave just her head^[95], turn herself fat^[96], and turn herself into a demon^[97]), Aquatic Adaptation (In the manga, Madotsuki with the frog effect can traverse aquatic terrain^[98]), Erasure (Physical Erasure; With the knife, NPCs that are stabbed fade from existence^[99]), Teleportation (With the Medamaude, allows Madotsuki to teleport back to the Nexus from anywhere in the dream world^[100]), Perception Manipulation (With the Triangle Kerchief Becomes invisible to NPCs^[101]), Weather Manipulation (With the Umbrella, summons an entire rainstorm no matter where she is^[102], this can also be used to take out massive fires^[103]. This is also shown within the manga, where the minute she opens the umbrella, a rain storm is instantly summoned^[104]. With Yuki-onna, creates a natural snowstorm whenever she enters this form^[105]), Ice Manipulation (In Yume Nikki -Dream Diary- the Hat and Scarf paired with the Umbrella makes a snowstorm that can freeze up an entire river far faster then logically possible^[106]), Heat Manipulation (In the manga, the hat and scarf can keep Madotsuki warm in a cold blizzard, despite just being a hat and a scarf^[107]), Electricity Manipulation (With the Oni effect, can summon lightning during rain), Flight (With the Witch effect, can fly on a broom^[108]), Small Size (Dwarf) and Duplication (With the Midget effect, can make herself tiny and create copies of herself^[109]. She can also cause her clones to explode into blood^[110]), Body Control (Several effects are capable of changing aspects of her body, such as making her fat^[111], changing^[112] her^[113] hair^[114], removing her face^[115], or giving her body the properties of jelly^[116]. She can also make her head jump off of her shoulders and spin around with the Faceless Ghost effect^[117]), Mind Manipulation (With the Traffic Light, can force most NPCs to stop in place by switching her light to red^[118]), Empathic Manipulation (With the Cat Effect, causes all NPCs in an area to come towards Madotsuki, regardless of what they were doing prior^[119]), Light Manipulation (With the Lamp, lights up dark rooms allowing Madotsuki to explore them easier^[120]. With Neon, lights up Madotsuki's entire body in bright neon colors^[121]), Instant Death (In Yume Nikki -Dream Diary-, Madotsuki with the Mask of Fear can kill enemies nearby^[122]), Perception Manipulation & Fear Manipulation (In Yume Nikki -Dream Diary-, Madotsuki with the Mask of Fear can send fear into targets just from wearing it, causing a massive distortion in the area^[123])

In the manga, Madotsuki has her inner evil unleashed inside of her, granting her more abilities^[124]^[125]
Abstract Existence (Idea, Primordial Source; Within Madotsuki is all of the inner evil within her, being just pure evil, being described as "evil beyond any reasoning"^[126]), Consumption (Metaphysical Consumption; Noted that it would consume everything in the dream world^[127]^[128], this included the other dreamers^[129]), Large Size (Building-Sized; Reaches this size^[130]^[131])

Equipment

Frog (かえる）

Transform into a frog.

Appearance: Madotsuki morphs into a humanoid frog, taking on a hunched posture, moving in a distinct, amphibious manner.

Passive Effect: Madotsuki walks at a normal pace through water, making aquatic areas easier to navigate.

Action: (1) Madotsuki hops in place like a frog, giving a lively and playful vibe to her movements.

Location: Found in Forest World or Dense Woods B (Frog Path) by interacting with the Frog.

Practical Uses: - Speed up travel across the Pink Sea and Uboa's Trap. - Can also be replaced by the Bicycle, though the frog form gives a more natural feel when moving through water.

Umbrella （かさ）

Use an umbrella.

Appearance: Madotsuki holds a vibrant red umbrella, adding a splash of color to her otherwise muted world.

Passive Effect: The umbrella creates a constant rainstorm until unequipped, accompanied by thunder and lightning when the Demon effect is activated.

Action: (1) Madotsuki spins the umbrella gracefully, a fun and soothing action that matches the calming sound of rain.

Location: Pick it up from the ground in Puddle World.

Practical Uses: - Can be used to douse the flames in the Blazing Corridor, similar to the Yuki-onna effect. - Stop the rain in Dense Woods A by equipping and unequipping.

Hat and Scarf / Hat & Scarf（ぼうしとマフラー）

Wear a hat and scarf.

Appearance: Madotsuki dons a cozy hat and scarf, giving her an adorable snowman-like look when transformed.

Passive Effect: In snowman form, Madotsuki cannot pinch herself awake due to a lack of arms, and her movement is halved.

Action: (1) Transforms into a snowman when the weather turns snowy, adding a fun and thematic element to the environment.

Location: Find it in Block World - Pick it up from the ground.

Practical Uses: - While in snowman form, interacting with Mafurako ensures a quick teleport back to her side, saving time on exploration. - In the Blazing Corridor, standing too close to fire will melt Madotsuki, immobilizing her and creating an interesting dynamic.

Yuki-onna / Snow Woman （ゆきおんな）

Become a Snow Woman.

Appearance: Madotsuki transforms into a mystical Yuki-onna, embodying the spirit of snow and cold.

Passive Effect: Snow falls continuously while this effect is active, which also turns the Hat & Scarf effect into the snowman form.

Action: None.

Location: Find it in Snow World by interacting with the Yuki-onna.

Practical Uses: - Use it to extinguish the fire in the Blazing Corridor, similar to the Umbrella. - Can stop the snow in Snow World when the effect is equipped and unequipped.

Knife / Kitchen Knife（ほうちょう）

Equip a kitchen knife.

Appearance: Madotsuki wields a sharp kitchen knife, creating a sense of danger and intrigue.

Passive Effect: Mobile NPCs flee in terror, while stationary characters exhibit rapid movements, as if in panic.

Action:

(1) Madotsuki switches the knife between her hands.
(Z) Madotsuki stabs with the knife, causing various reactions in characters, such as:
- Toriningen: Turns into a 'lunatic' form and starts chasing Madotsuki.
- Mars-san: Eye color changes, small wound on its foot.
- Onsen-san: Stops drinking water and changes color.
- Pain Blob: Reveals its face.
- The Eye Box: 1 in 30 chance of taking you to the Eye People section.
- Henkei Shita: 1 in 256 chance of transporting Madotsuki to Footprint Path A.

Location: Found in Dark World - Pick it up from the ground.

Practical Uses: - Use it for killing or wounding NPCs. - Scare NPCs to clear the way. - Interact with environmental objects. - Collect money by eliminating NPCs. - Unlock new areas or access hidden paths. - Useful for clearing out the Stabbing Room.

Medamaude / Eye Palm (めだまうで)

Become Medamaude / Warp into an Eye Palm.

Appearance: Madotsuki's head becomes a giant hand with an eye in its palm.

Passive Effect: None.

Action: (1) Madotsuki closes her palm and teleports to the center of the Nexus.

Location: Eyeball World - Interact with Medamaude.

Practical Uses: Can be used to teleport back to the Nexus quickly and escape from traps (such as being caught by a Toriningen or Uboa) without having to pinch yourself awake.

Notes: When Madotsuki pinches herself, you can notice a little teardrop.

Fat / Fatten（ふとる）

Get fat / Balloon in size.

Appearance: Madotsuki becomes fatter.

Passive Effect: None.

Action: (1) Madotsuki's belly rumbles and an emote appears.

Location: The Docks B - Interact with Strober.

Practical Uses: None.

Midget (こびと）

Become small / Shrink in size.

Appearance: Madotsuki becomes very small.

Passive Effect: Madotsuki can fit through certain small entrances.

Action:

(1) Madotsuki produces another midget which walks in sync with her. She can produce up to 7 midgets at once.
(3) One of the cloned midgets will scream and burst in a small spray of blood.

Location: Candle World - Catch and interact with the Dwarf.

Practical Uses:

Getting in and out of the Stairwell on Mars.
Getting into Sewer Tunnel C from Sewer Tunnel B.
Viewing Closet Madotsuki, as Madotsuki's normal height blocks the view.

Whistle / Flute （ふえ）

Play a flute / Brandish a flute.

Appearance: Madotsuki holds a flute to her lips.

Passive Effect: None.

Action: (1) Madotsuki plays a short tune. There are a few different tunes that Madotsuki randomly plays.

Location: The Music Room in the Mall - Pick it up off the floor.

Practical Uses: None.

Neon （ネオン）

Become a neon light / Glow like a neon sign.

Appearance: Madotsuki glows like a neon sign.

Passive Effect: None.

Action: (1) Causes the screen to change color as if bathed in a neon light. The effect wears off when the effect is unequipped. Pressing the 1 button again causes the screen to cycle randomly between shades of red, blue, yellow, and violet.

Location: Neon World - Interact with the Neon Parrot.

Practical Uses: None.

Nopperabou / Faceless Ghost （のっぺらぼう）

Become the faceless ghost / Materialize as a faceless ghost.

Appearance: Madotsuki becomes a Noppera-bō.

Passive Effect: None.

Action: (1) Madotsuki's head jumps off her shoulders and spins around.

Location: Sewage Processing Plant B in The Sewers - Interact with the Nopperabou Ghost.

Practical Uses: None.

Talking Head / Severed Head （なまくび）

Become a severed head / Be reduced to a severed head.

Appearance: Madotsuki becomes a severed head.

Passive Effect: Madotsuki's height and speed decrease. She also cannot pinch herself awake due to her lack of arms.

Action: None.

Location: Guillotine World - Interact with the Guillotine.

Practical Uses: Allows Madotsuki to see Closet Madotsuki, as her normal height blocks the view.

Towel （タオル）

Wrap up in a towel / Wrap yourself in a towel.

Appearance: Madotsuki has a towel wrapped around her.

Passive Effect: None.

Action: (1) Madotsuki sneezes.

Location: The Infinite Wilderness - Interact with Ittan-momen.

Practical Uses: None.

Cat （ねこ）

Cat Madotsuki meowing, revealing her red eyes.

Grow ears and a tail / Sprout cat-ears and a tail.

Appearance: Madotsuki grows cat ears and a tail.

Passive Effect: None.

Action: (1) Madotsuki faces the camera and meows like a cat, with large red eyes. She paws the air with her right hand and holds a koban coin in her left, resembling a Maneki-neko.

Location: Shield-Folk World - Interact with Nekoin.

Practical Uses:

Drawing NPCs toward you - Can be used to move NPCs that block your way or to find NPCs hidden in the area.
Provoking a reaction from certain NPCs and the environment.
Summons UFOs at the top of Mars.

Notes: In most cases, this allows you to move characters out of your way without using the Knife Effect to kill them. This may be in tune with the Maneki-neko being loosely associated with Guanyin, who is revered in Japan as Kannon (観音), the goddess of mercy and compassion. Maneki-neko with their left paw raised are also said to bring in people or customers, thus why it attracts certain NPCs.

Lamp （でんとう）

Become a lamp / Change into a lamp.

Appearance: Madotsuki's head transforms into a lamp.

Passive Effect: When the light is on, dark areas light up, improving visibility.

Action: (1) Switches the light on and off.

Location: Lamp World - Interact with the Walking Lamp.

Practical Uses:

Can be used to navigate Dark World, the Dark Woods, and the FC Dungeon more easily, though it is not required to get through them.
Can be used to light up the inside of the hot spring house in the Wilderness.
In previous versions, it was needed to light up the deeper part of FC World B where Buyo Buyo was found.

Bicycle （じてんしゃ）

Ride a bicycle / Mount a bicycle.

Appearance: Madotsuki rides a bicycle.

Passive Effect: Madotsuki's speed is doubled.

Action: (1) Madotsuki rings the bicycle's bell.

Location: Graffiti World - Pick it up off the floor.

Practical Uses: Can be used to travel through the dream world much faster than by walking, catch fast-moving characters, and escape from lunatic Toriningen.

Long Hair （ロングヘアー）

Grow long hair / Grow long hair.

Appearance: Madotsuki's hair becomes longer.

Passive Effect: None.

Action: (1) Madotsuki sits down (same as default).

Location: Mural World - Interact with the long-haired Mouth Monster.

Practical Uses: None.

Poop Hair / Poo Hair (ウンコヘアー)

Grow a poo-shaped hairdo.

Appearance: Madotsuki's head gets a big poop on it.

Passive Effect: None.

Action: (1) Madotsuki grows a turd on her head.

Location: Egg World - Interact with Poo_Party.

Practical Uses: None.

Blonde Hair / Blonde （ブロンド）

Grow long, golden hair / Glow long blonde hair.

Appearance: Madotsuki's hair becomes long and blonde.

Passive Effect: None.

Action:

(1) Madotsuki sits down (same as default).

Location:

Mural World – Interact with the blond-haired Mouth Monster.

Practical Uses: None.

Triangle Kerchief / Spirit Headband （ずきん）

Wear triangle kerchief / Put on a Spirit Headband.

Appearance: Madotsuki wears a triangle kerchief as a tiara, symbolizing death in Japanese culture.

Passive Effect:

In 'ghost form,' Madotsuki is invisible to NPCs.

Action:

(1) Transforms into an 'invisible' ghost, becoming translucent.

(Older versions: The 1 key gradually decreased visibility, while the 3 key increased it.)

Location:

Ghost World – Catch and interact with Fleebie.

Practical Uses:

In ghost form, lunatic Toriningen cannot see Madotsuki unless she interacts with them.

Witch （まじょ）

Become a witch / Become a witch incarnate.

Appearance: Madotsuki dons a witch outfit, including a pointed hat and robe.

Passive Effect:

While flying, footsteps are muted on most surfaces.

Action:

(1) Madotsuki mounts a broom, hovering slightly above the ground.

Location:

Witch's Island – Interact with Kimajo.

Practical Uses:

Can fly off the rooftop of the Mall.
Pressing Z returns to the rooftop.
Pressing 1 dismounts the broom midair, causing Madotsuki to fall out of bed and wake up.

Demon / Oni （おに）

Become a demon / Reconstitute as an oni.

Appearance: Madotsuki’s skin turns red, she gains horns, and wears animal skin.

Passive Effect: None.

Action:

(1) When it’s raining, produces a thunderclap with lightning.
In snow, only the thunder sound is heard.

Location:

FC Basement – Interact with the FC Demon.

Practical Uses:

Summons the Demon in the Pyramids area of FC World B.
Without this effect, summoning is normally a 1 in 8 chance.

Buyo Buyo / Squish-Squish （ぶよぶよ）

Body becomes soft and squishy / Change into a squishy blob.

Appearance: Madotsuki wobbles like jelly while walking.

Passive Effect: None.

Action:

(1) Wobbles up and down.

Location:

FC World B – Interact with Buyo Buyo.

Practical Uses: None.

Stoplight / Traffic Light （しんごう）

Become a stoplight / Change into a traffic light.

Appearance: Madotsuki transforms into a stoplight.

Passive Effect:

Cannot pinch herself awake due to lack of arms.

Action:

(1) Switches stoplight between green (go) and red (stop).

Location:

Dense Woods B (The Road) – Interact with Shitai-san.

Practical Uses: When the light is red:

All NPCs freeze, useful for avoiding Toriningen or catching fast-moving characters.
Some NPC appearances change:
- Monoko: Transforms into her five-armed state. Unlocks her full-screen event upon interaction.
- Mafurako: Becomes fully visible.
- Steve 'Leif' Kareha: Closes his eyes.
- Wheelies: Changes appearance.
- The Thing with the Quivering Jaw: Its jaw stops quivering.
- KyuuKyuu-kun: Stops rubbing the stairway baluster.

Instructions / Tutorial （ゲームのせつめい）

See the instructions again / Review the game's tutorial.

Appearance: None.

Passive Effect: None.

Action:

(Equip) Displays a basic tutorial on how to play.

Location:

Madotsuki starts with this effect.

Practical Uses:

Provides guidance on game mechanics.

Practical Uses: Learning how the game works

Hamsa

Press RS to reveal hidden paths and items.

Appearance: None.

Passive Effect: None.

Action:

(Press RS) Takes out Hamsa, who reveals hidden items through a bright light over the items location.

Location: The Docks. Upon arriving at the train with the thin creature, there is a sign on the left side by the ledge Madotsuki dropped off from. Madotsuki can interact with the wall there which in turn also gives her a wooden plank that she will need for later.

Practical Uses: The Hasma can be used to find secrets around areas by putting a special light over the secret item.

Flute

Press X Y A B while holding LB to play.

Appearance: None.

Passive Effect: None.

Action: Plays musical notes with the flute. Some NPCs react.

Location: Mall. In a clinic-like area around the right side of the second floor. Talk to the humanoid with the O-shaped head at the clinic.

Practical Uses: The flute can be used to play tunes with the humanoid at the clinic and to play tunes wherever.

Knife

Press X to attack.

Appearance: None.

Passive Effect: None.

Action: Stabs in the general direction in front of Madotsuki.

Location: Dark Alleyways/Market District. In a messy room, just progress through the area. Located in the room after the street chase. Inside a processing area, stuck on hanged meat.

Practical Uses: Useful for attacking random enemies or NPCs.

Umbrella

Hold LT to make it rain. Press A while in the air to double jump.

Appearance: None.

Passive Effect: None.

Action:

(Holding LT) Makes it rain around an entire area.
(Pressing A) Allows Madotsuki to jump again while in the air.
(While over an air gust) Allows Madotsuki to momentarily glide with the Umbrella.

Location: White Desert/Sky Garden. Under a bench in the area that opens right after the Glyph puzzle. The puzzle is as follows:

Death: From the eye socket of one of the faced cubes from the south.

The three runes can be obtained after trapping the hair eater entity, which causes the villagers to come out.

Sun: From a villager sitting on a crate in the north-east side of Barracks Settlement. Bring them a red kite which can be obtained from the aztec graffiti section of the train (enter and exit the train until Madotsuki arrives there).
Moon: From the blue creature at the same area where Madotsuki finds the red kite, south side of it. The villager on the center of the map gives the notes to the melody that Madotsuki has to play for it if she has the Kalimba.
War: From one of the houses in the Barracks Settlement.
Order: Sun>Moon>War>Death to open the staircase to Sky Garden.

Practical Uses: The Umbrella main use comes in its upgrade to Madotsuki's manuverability, allowing her to jump and glide around areas.

Lantern

Hold RT to light up dark areas.

Appearance: None.

Passive Effect: None.

Action:

(Holding RT) Lights up the lantern and allows Madotsuki to traverse through dark areas.

Location: School (Dream within a dream). Second floor of the school, upon entering the leftmost door on a floating platform. Progressing to the right side of this room will have Madotsuki jump on floating platforms, the second floating platform will have a street lamp and a regular looking lamp on the right of it which is the effect itself. 2nd floor of the red school. This door is locked on the normal version, and has a broom in front of it. Large platform with the street lamp.

Required Effect: Umbrella

Practical Uses: Useful for dark rooms and to get the Mask of Fear item from Uboa.

Hat and Scarf

Press LS to put them on.

Appearance: Madotsuki wears a hat and scarf.

Passive Effect: Changes the effect of the Umbrella effect.

Action:

With the Umbrella effect, it will cause snowfall instead of rain, freezing water and causing the ground to be filled with snow at some locations.

Location: Snow World. Mafurako's game needs to be beaten first in the Block World. To enter Block World, go to sleep and enter the Sewers door, go right, down and down to the right down corner of the Sewers map and use the stairs to enter the Block World. Once there talk to the shy Mafurako girl sitting on a block, this will show an animation of how one of the door's puzzles is activated, requiring Madotsuki to complete the rest of the puzzle. Once the puzzle is completed, the door will open and teleport Madotsuki to snow world. Meet the Yukionna to talk to her and get the Hat and Scarf Effect.

Required Effect: Umbrella

Given by: Mafurako

Practical Uses: Mainly for freezing rivers to get items.

Mask of Fear

Hold RB to wear it.

Appearance: Madotsuki wears Poniko's Uboa mask.

Passive Effect: None.

Action: Distorts the screen and makes enemies afraid of Madotsuki as she walks by them. Kills anyone that attacks Madotsuki.

Location: Poniko's Room. The item is given to by Uboa, though first Madotsuki must go through a couple of dream worlds to get there. First she must enter into Docks and reach the train area. Once there, go right and pass the Lighthouse level, afterwards Madotsuki will enter the dark forest. Once passing the sentient tree, Madotsuki will enter a snowy area, continue until she reaches the igloo. Enter it and touch the pink puddle. Once in the Pink world, go to the right and find a balloon to fly (make sure to not press any buttons during the flying sequence). Once Madotsuki lands, go further and find another balloon and repeat this process until she arrives at colorful pyramids and enter inside. This will take her to Poniko's room where she must switch the off the lights repeatedly until the room becomes completely dark. Once completely dark, use the lantern effect to reach Poniko's desk and interact with it to enter Uboa's world, and approach Uboa. Once Madotsuki interacts with Uboa they will give her the Mask of Fear.

Required Effect: Lantern

Practical Uses: Useful for getting past Monoko during her chase segment. Kills red eyed youkais that attempt to kill Madotsuki with red beams.

Notable Techniques

Pinch: Madotsuki pinches her cheek, causing her to wake up and exit the dream world.
Stab: Madotsuki stabs the target with her knife, causing them to fade from existence.

Other

Standard Tactics: The only effect Madostuki uses for combat is the Knife.

Weaknesses

Unique Effect Weaknesses: In the manga, Madotsuki cannot wake up by pinching her cheeks if she is in the frog form^[132]^[133].
Unique Weaknesses: Powerless outside of the dream world. Can only use one effect at a time. Forced to wake up if she encounters FACE. Notes in the manga that she is bad with maths^[134].

Note

As Madotsuki has minor abilities in the "real world", the abilities listed are split between the "real world" and the ones that she can use in the dream world.
As Yume Nikki is a dream world none of these abilities apply to any form of combat outside of the dream, they are more used as methods for Madotsuki to explore around her different dreams and we index them as such.
"Real World" is put in quotations as there are a lot of cases in most interpretations and media for the real world being another dream layer. In the "Real World", stairs suddenly appear^[135] that were not present in the balcony back at the beginning of the game^[136], Madotsuki's money and health transfers from the dream world into the "Real World" in Yume Nikki. Along with this, original Yume Nikki and -Dream Diary- both show that it is entirely possible to sleep in the dream and go into a new world^[137].

Gallery

Madotsuki's standard walking animation.
Madotsuki pinching her cheek in order to wake up.
Madostuki moving around on her chair.
Madotsuki spinning around in her chair.
Madotsuki using the Eye Palm effect.
Madotsuki's stomach growling after becoming fat.
Madotsuki hopping up and down as a frog.
Madostuki wearing a hat and scarf.
Madotsuki as a snowman.
Madotsuki wielding a knife.
Madotsuki switching her knife between hands.
Madotsuki as a midget.
Madotsuki duplicating herself as a midget.
Madotsuki as a Yuki-onna.

Trivia

The only time she is seen with her eyes open are when she uses the Cat effect, revealing them to be red. However, many have speculated that this is just a result of the effect, rather than their natural color.
When the player attempts to perform an action without certain conditions (such as using the Demon effect without any rain), Madotsuki will make one of two small noises indicating she is unable to perform the action. These noises appear to be the phrases "dame" (ダメ) and "muri" (ムリ), which translate into "no good" and "it's impossible", respectively. This is the only instance of her audibly speaking words/phrases in the game.

An image of a human figure that somewhat resembles Madotsuki has been found on a very ancient Paracas poncho, which is interesting considering the many examples of mesoamerican imagery found throughout the game. A full scan of the poncho here and some info here.
A picture book released in 1993 titled REX Yume Nikki (part of Kadokawa's REX series) features a girl who somewhat resembles Madotsuki on its cover. Interestingly, Kadokawa is the company that made RPG Maker, the engine that was used to make the game.

Madotsuki's shirt design resembles a simplified version of the CJK character 囧. This character can mean "to shine", or "window" matching the theme of Madotsuki's name. It can also be used as an emoticon expressing sadness or shock. In Japanese, the Kanji means 'clear' or 'bright', which could be a small indicator for her personality.
- In addition, her shirt design resembles the emblem of the Japanese Tsuchiya clan, or that of Incan military tunics, which could tie in with the Native American imagery often seen in the game.

Different Themes Gathered from the World

This segment gathers the various themes represented in Madotsuki's mind through the different dream worlds, many of these are "canon" as they are gathering segments from the games world, thus they are a theme of Yume Nikki.

Isolation

Madotsuki's isolation is a central theme throughout the game, starting with her confinement to her apartment. Throughout the course of the game, Madotsuki is never shown leaving the safety of her apartment, providing a sense of confinement. There are subtle markers in the game that indicate the passage of time, such as her visits to the balcony, where the changing sky reveals that night has passed and day has arrived. This signifies the slow passage of time, but also her inability to engage with it. When interacting with the door in the real world, Madotsuki shakes her head in refusal, reinforcing the idea that leaving the room is not an option.

In contrast, within her dream world, the door in the real world transforms into an opportunity for escape. The dream realm allows Madotsuki to venture beyond the confines of her apartment, through doors that resemble the one in her apartment, opening up new areas of exploration. Through these portals in the Nexus, Madotsuki can access various dream locations, further emphasizing the escape from isolation, but only within the confines of her dreams.

The feeling of isolation and loneliness persists throughout the dream world. The world is eerily quiet, with no dialogue or significant interaction with NPCs. Most NPCs ignore Madotsuki completely, creating a sense of emptiness. There are, however, a few exceptions: certain NPCs will acknowledge her presence, but they seem distant or disinterested, further emphasizing the solitary nature of her existence. For instance, the shoppers in the Mall, when approached, will flee from Madotsuki and become deformed, making a strange, unsettling noise as they disappear. This interaction further solidifies the sense of isolation, as even the few interactions that occur are abnormal and unfriendly.

The locations themselves often feel vast, empty, and unwelcoming. These locations are not only large but also repetitive, looping back on themselves in a way that fosters a sense of disorientation and solitude. Particularly near The Nexus, these locations often lack distinctive features, adding to their sense of abandonment and emptiness. The soundtrack further contributes to the isolation, as it consists of shorter, repetitive tracks that add to the feeling of time slipping away. Unlike longer compositions in other games that mark the passage of time, the shorter pieces in Madotsuki's dream world create a sense of timelessness, as if time is irrelevant or lost altogether.

Toriningenparty

Throughout her journey, Madotsuki encounters mysterious and towering creatures referred to as Toriningen by fans. These creatures are generally considered to be enemies due to their hostile behavior when in a "lunatic" state. When Madotsuki encounters these creatures in this state, they trap her in areas from which escape is impossible, further emphasizing her sense of powerlessness. Unlike other NPCs that appear in isolation or in smaller groups, the Toriningen have a distinct group dynamic that sets them apart. This dynamic is different from other NPC groups, such as the Wheelies, who appear individually rather than as a cohesive unit.

The most notable instance of this group dynamic is the Toriningen Party:

A group of Toriningen can be seen in the Wilderness, gathered together and enjoying a picnic. They dance to lively, cheerful music, an odd contrast to their typically hostile nature.
This scene cannot be accessed by Madotsuki, as the plants in the Wilderness obstruct her path and prevent her from getting closer.
It's particularly striking that these seemingly menacing enemies are presented as a united group, engaged in a joyful activity, while Madotsuki remains a solitary figure, unable to join or even approach them.

This encounter highlights a stark contrast: the Toriningen, often seen as enemies, are portrayed as a community, while Madotsuki exists as an isolated individual. This division between the enemies’ group dynamic and Madotsuki's solitude further reinforces the theme of isolation.

Other Isolated Characters
Aside from Madotsuki herself, there are several other characters in the game who seem to be isolated in their own unique ways. These characters reflect different aspects of loneliness and confinement, whether physically or emotionally.

Poniko

Poniko is the only character found in the Pink Sea. She, like Madotsuki, is confined to her room and appears to be the sole inhabitant of this isolated space. Poniko's isolation mirrors Madotsuki's own, providing another layer to the game's overall theme of withdrawal from the world.

Mafurako

Mafurako roams the expansive Block World, but much like Poniko, Mafurako is alone. When teleporting, Mafurako typically moves to a distant spot, far from Madotsuki. However, if Madotsuki is in her snowman form, Mafurako always teleports next to her. Mafurako remains mostly invisible, save for a hat and scarf, which could symbolize a desire to remain unseen, either out of shame or a wish to avoid connection with others.

Mars-san

Mars-san, found in the underground area of Mars, provides yet another example of isolation. Mars-san is only accessible by crashing a spaceship into Mars and using an effect to reach a tiny underground entrance. The disparity between Mars-san's small size and the tiny exit adds to the feeling of being trapped. Mars-san, unable to leave or explore, mirrors Madotsuki’s own feelings of confinement, making this encounter another representation of the game’s themes of isolation and entrapment.

Symbolism and Connection to Reality
The many doors in the Nexus could be symbolic of Madotsuki’s desire to explore the world, something she is unable to do in reality. In her dream world, these doors offer a chance to step beyond the confines of her apartment and experience new places and adventures. However, the reality of her life is one of stifling isolation, which makes the dreams feel like an escape, rather than a simple adventure. The Toriningen, with their height, stylish clothing, and unique dynamic, may represent figures in the real world that Madotsuki perceives as being out of her reach, such as a "popular girl." Their hostile, "lunatic" form could symbolize her experiences with bullying, which may have driven her to isolate herself from others.

Mars-san could symbolize Madotsuki’s own feelings of being trapped inside her apartment, unable to break free and experience the world outside. The encounter with Closet Madotsuki, a sleeping version of herself hidden in a closet in the Checkered Tile Path, further reflects her desire to retreat from the world and hide away from others, reinforcing the game's themes of isolation and self-imposed confinement.

The game's portrayal of isolation may also reflect real-world phenomena, such as the Hikikomori culture, where individuals withdraw from society entirely, choosing to remain indoors rather than engage with the outside world. This phenomenon, which affects many teens and young adults, shares a thematic parallel with Madotsuki’s withdrawal into her dreams and isolation from the real world.

Anxiety

A Floyag following Madotsuki with its eyes.

The theme of anxiety (and the fear of being watched) is deeply embedded in Yume Nikki, where Madotsuki is constantly confronted by unsettling and bizarre imagery throughout the dream world. One of the most significant sources of this anxiety is the recurring presence of eyes, which seem to follow and watch Madotsuki wherever she goes. These eyes invoke a feeling of being observed, creating a sense of unease and vulnerability. In addition to eyes, hands also appear frequently, further amplifying the sensation of being trapped or overwhelmed.

Eyeball World

One of the clearest representations of anxiety in the game is found in the Eyeball World. This area is filled with giant eyes that stare directly at Madotsuki, following her every movement. The presence of these eyes creates a palpable tension, as though Madotsuki is being scrutinized and judged by an unseen force. The overwhelming number of eyes is not just disturbing visually but also emotionally, as it makes Madotsuki feel as though she cannot escape the gaze of others. This sensation is heightened by the dreamlike atmosphere of the world, where normal rules no longer apply and Madotsuki can never truly be sure if what she is seeing is real.

Isee and Eye People

In the Dense Woods and Barracks Settlement, Madotsuki encounters Isee, tall creatures with large eyes that seem to watch her from a distance. These figures contribute to the game's underlying anxiety, as they represent an omnipresent observation that leaves Madotsuki feeling exposed. The Eye People found in the White Desert further intensify this sensation, with their eyes looking down upon Madotsuki, emphasizing her isolation. The giant eyes of these creatures become symbols of constant surveillance, and the fear of being judged or even harmed is palpable as she tries to navigate these worlds.

Other Appearances of Eyes

The motif of eyes is not limited to the Eyeball World or the Dense Woods. In fact, eyes appear throughout the game in various locations, adding to the pervasive sense of anxiety. These eyes serve as a visual representation of Madotsuki’s fear of being observed. Whether they are part of an event or scattered around different dream locations, they remind Madotsuki of the discomfort she feels, as if she is never truly alone. The recurring nature of these eyes heightens the emotional tension, keeping Madotsuki on edge and contributing to the overall feeling of unease.

Hands and Their Symbolism

The gate to Block World from the White Desert, which has grasping hands.

In addition to eyes, hands are another significant motif that symbolizes Madotsuki's anxiety. The Eyeball World is filled with disembodied hands that reach up from the ground, further adding to the tension in this already unsettling environment. These hands seem to move with purpose, as though trying to grab or touch Madotsuki, intensifying her feelings of being overwhelmed.

In other locations, such as the Staircase of Hands and MonoAnew, the imagery of hands reaching up from below or being part of the landscape suggests a feeling of being trapped or out of control. The hands in these areas seem to symbolize a loss of agency, where Madotsuki is unable to escape from the grasp of whatever force controls the dream world. In the Dark World, a pair of symbols that resemble two hands add to the already ominous atmosphere, while in Graffiti World, a large design of a monkey-like creature that prominently displays its hands emphasizes the theme of touch and proximity.

Uboa's Trap

Another location where the theme of anxiety is evident is in the Uboa's Trap event, which takes place in the White Desert. When Madotsuki is teleported here, she finds herself in a nightmarish landscape where a monstrous creature with multiple hands is seen grasping at the hills in the background. The presence of this monster, combined with the disorienting environment, reinforces the feelings of being trapped and overwhelmed. The hands, in this case, seem to represent a force beyond Madotsuki’s control, one that is constantly reaching for her, further intensifying the anxiety already present in the dream world.

Organoid's Teleportation and NPC Interactions

An NPC that may tie into this theme is Organoid, the only character that quickly teleports away when approached by Madotsuki. This reaction adds to the overall sense of alienation and anxiety, as it suggests that even the inhabitants of the dream world are unwilling to interact with Madotsuki. Similarly, the Mall Shoppers react by running away from Madotsuki when she approaches them, emphasizing the theme of avoidance and rejection. Other NPCs, such as the Neon Parrot and Walking Lamp, also flee when Madotsuki interacts with them, especially if she has the Knife effect equipped, suggesting that her presence is seen as threatening or uncomfortable. These NPCs’ responses, whether through flight or avoidance, mirror Madotsuki's own anxiety about social interactions and the fear of being unwanted or misunderstood.

These recurring themes of eyes, hands, and avoidance throughout Yume Nikki collectively build an atmosphere of anxiety, reinforcing Madotsuki’s sense of isolation and discomfort within the dream world. The constant reminders of being watched, the looming presence of hands trying to grab or control, and the fearful reactions of the NPCs all contribute to the feeling that Madotsuki is trapped in a world she cannot escape, both physically and emotionally.

Body Themes

In Yume Nikki, it is common for NPCs or backgrounds to resemble body parts or inner organs. These motifs are particularly prevalent in the themes of anxiety, as detailed earlier, with eyes and hands appearing throughout the game. The use of body part imagery adds to the unsettling atmosphere of Madotsuki's dream world, suggesting a deeper exploration of her subconscious fears and discomfort.

Eyeball World:

One of the most striking locations in the game is the Eyeball World, which is filled with various NPCs that resemble parts of the human body. These include legs, lips, and other body parts. The Mouth Monsters, which feature large mouths, are a notable example. These creatures provide hair-related effects, tying into the theme of body parts being central to the game's overall tone. Additionally, uteri-shaped creatures can be found on the Infinite Road.

One fan theory suggests that KyuuKyuu-kun, a large, colorful, worm-like creature seen rubbing the handrail of a stairway, could represent phallic imagery. This is based on the character’s hidden entrance through a Zippertile on the wall, which resembles a pants fly.

Strabismic Characters:

Another prominent body-related theme found in the game is the presence of strabismic NPCs (strabismus being a condition where a person cannot fixate both eyes on one point at the same time, causing misalignment). One of the most well-known strabismic characters in Yume Nikki is Seccom Masada-sensei. There are two potential explanations for the appearance of strabismic characters:

Madotsuki herself could be strabismic but hides it by keeping her eyes closed. Some structures (such as those in the Pink Sea and Barracks Settlement) and characters (such as the Ghostmen) resemble chromosomes, possibly indicating that Madotsuki inherited strabismus genetically.
Another possibility is that strabismus can result from severe brain or head injuries. Several other strabismic NPCs, including Dropfish, Goppa, the Severed Blue Head, and Monoko (during her event), all exhibit signs of drooling or coughing up blood. This may link to themes of violence and traffic accidents present in the game.

Pregnancy and Childbirth Themes:

Their appearance could be interpreted as either fat or pregnant.

A recurring theme relating to the body that appears throughout Madotsuki’s dreams is the concept of pregnancy or childbirth. Takofuusen is an easily identifiable example, resembling a fetus with a "TRAP sequence" birth defect. Other characters, such as Onsen-san and Roary Straw, feature chord-like appendages that resemble umbilical cords. Additionally, characters like the Henkei Shita have large stomachs with a thin mouth resembling a surgical cut, a trait shared by some of the Mall Shoppers, most notably Obasan, when they distort.

The theme of pregnancy could also explain the instances of characters or structures resembling reproductive organs. These interpretations have been widely debated by fans, and their meaning, if any, remains uncertain.

Interpretations of Body Themes:

The reoccurring theme of body parts throughout Madotsuki’s dreams could lead to many interpretations. One possibility is that Madotsuki is afraid of body parts or losing them, as they often appear in gruesome contexts, particularly in the Eyeball World and Mural World with the Mouth Monsters. Some fans speculate that the appearance of characters or structures resembling reproductive organs may relate to a traumatic event or could be connected to themes of gender identity, as explored in the Themes of Identity section.

Additionally, the prevalence of strabismic characters could be tied to Madotsuki herself possibly being strabismic, though this is never explicitly shown in the game, as her eyes are always closed. This revision maintains the length of your original text while aligning it with the requested structure and formatting. Let me know if you'd like further adjustments!

Violence

In Yume Nikki, Madotsuki's actions can sometimes involve violence, particularly with the use of the Knife effect. She is capable of using the Knife on nearly all NPCs, which leads to varying results, depending on the character.

Despite its prominence in the game, the Knife is not essential for collecting effects or reaching the ending, and in most cases, it can be replaced by the Cat effect for exploration purposes. However, using the Knife often results in disturbing and alarming events, such as the Severed Heads in the Sky and FACE events.

While wielding the Knife, Madotsuki can be seen as one of the most dangerous figures in the dream world. Even other potentially hostile characters, like the Toriningen or Uboa, tend to isolate Madotsuki without causing direct harm—unlike the Knife, which is a tool of violence. The game's inclusion of a health bar seems to be a remnant of the RPG Maker engine, as it’s rarely relevant to the gameplay outside of these violent encounters.

The Knife is often viewed by fans as a significant object in the game, leading to various interpretations about Madotsuki's potential inclination towards violence. Some fans speculate that Madotsuki may have had a violent past, which could explain why the Knife effect is found in the difficult-to-navigate Dark World—perhaps as a repressed memory. This theory also ties into Madotsuki's isolation in her room, potentially driven by guilt from an act of violence in her past.

Traffic Accidents

Shitai-san, seemingly the victim of a traffic incident.

In Yume Nikki, various areas and interactions hint at Madotsuki's obsession with traffic accidents or vehicle-related incidents. A prominent example is Shitai-san, a dead individual found in the Dense Woods, surrounded by traffic cones. The Stoplight effect can be obtained here, possibly linking the scene to themes of traffic accidents.

Further instances of vehicle-related events occur in the dream world. Seccom Masada-sensei is depicted as troubled by his spaceship crashing on Mars, while Mars-san can be found crying near a crashed locomotive. Nearby, a train track is located, with a Traincar found elsewhere in the Dense Woods, reinforcing the theme of crashes and transportation-related incidents.

Monoko's appearance after the Stoplight effect is used.

The Stoplight effect also triggers unusual and sometimes disturbing reactions from certain characters when used near them. For instance, the faces of the Wheelies change drastically, and Buyo Buyo freezes while losing its pupil. One of the most striking reactions occurs with Monoko, a girl found in one of the tunnels of the White Desert. When the Stoplight is used near her, she undergoes a grotesque transformation: five arms emerge (one from her head), a wound appears on her stomach, her eyes become strabismic, and one eye spurts liquid, while her mouth opens, seemingly drooling. Using the Stoplight again restores her original appearance, which could be interpreted as a less grotesque representation of an event Madotsuki might have witnessed—potentially a vehicle-related accident.

These recurring themes have led to theories suggesting that Madotsuki could have had personal experiences with a traffic accident in the real world, possibly involving family or friends. This theory could explain her isolation in her apartment—perhaps those involved in the accident died or sustained fatal injuries, leaving Madotsuki alone and trapped in her own memories.

Escapism

Madotsuki is seemingly confined to her room, though it's unclear whether this is a voluntary isolation or something beyond her control. With little to occupy her time other than playing NASU, writing in her diary, or sleeping, some fans speculate that Madotsuki retreats into her dream world as a means of escaping the monotony or harshness of her reality.

Madotsuki in Bed

What lies behind the door is something too overwhelming for her to face.

In the dream world, Madotsuki can soar through city skies, immerse herself in video games, interact with various characters, and travel across vast, surreal landscapes. However, despite the freedom her dreams offer, Madotsuki always returns to reality. This return is demonstrated through various dream events:

In the Witch's Flight event, she can fall, waking her up from the dream.
Interacting with a wall in the FC Dungeon triggers glitched graphics and a loud sound, abruptly waking Madotsuki.
Spending time with Poniko leads to the Uboa event, where a dramatic change in the environment forces Madotsuki to wake up if she doesn't have the Medamaude effect.
Boarding the spaceship in the dream world results in a crash-landing on Mars, isolating Madotsuki and ultimately waking her up.

These events, while seemingly pleasant or adventurous, ultimately tether Madotsuki to the waking world, suggesting that even within her dreams, she is unable to completely escape reality. This reinforces the theory that Madotsuki uses her dreams as a way to escape from the troubles or emptiness of her real life.

Identity

Yume Nikki incorporates a number of elements that can be interpreted as reflecting themes of personal identity, including gender, body image, and self-perception. Several effects, such as the Hair effects, might symbolize struggles with body or appearance dysphoria, suggesting a deeper exploration of Madotsuki’s inner conflict with her own identity.

Creatures and entities throughout the dream world also seem to reflect themes of identity. For example, the uterus-like Floyag and the phallic KyuuKyuu-kun could be symbolic of feelings of alienation or discomfort with one’s body. The FACE event, which presents a distorted and grotesque face, may represent Madotsuki’s possible dissatisfaction with her own self-image. Similarly, the Henkei Shita creatures, which resemble figures with large stomachs, potentially allude to feelings of gender or body-related insecurities.

Distorted entities like those found in the White Desert and Sewer Drawings have abnormal limbs, evoking a sense of something struggling to escape, which could metaphorically represent the desire to "come out" or embrace one’s true identity. Additionally, the presence of male and female restrooms throughout the dream world may represent a binary societal framework that Madotsuki navigates in her search for identity.

In the game's ending, Madotsuki's apparent death could be interpreted as a form of "reawakening," symbolizing a personal transformation or the moment of coming to terms with one's identity, such as through self-acceptance or public revelation.

Dream vs Reality

Throughout the gameplay of Yume Nikki, the dream world and the real world are portrayed as separate realms, with no dream elements bleeding into Madotsuki’s waking life. For example, during the Witch's Flight event, Madotsuki falls out of her bed, indicating that she is physically moving in the real world while having a powerful dream.

However, the game's ending raises questions about the boundary between reality and dreams. Two Jellyfish appear during the ending sequence, which takes place in the real world, leading some fans to question whether this moment is truly part of reality or just another dream. Some theories suggest that the entire game could be a dream, pointing to Madotsuki's constantly closed eyes, the continued accumulation of yen after being pinched awake, and the surreal nature of her living situation (such as the lack of food or a bathroom) as evidence for this.

Additionally, the blood splatter that appears in the ending is a recurring element in the dream world, which might be seen as either foreshadowing or the reuse of assets. However, some fans interpret this as symbolic of the idea that Madotsuki is unable to escape her nightmares, even in death, hinting at the possibility that she may be trapped in an endless cycle of dreams, unable to awaken fully.

Though other pieces of Yume Nikki media also support the idea of the "Real" World merely being another dream layer with Yume Nikki itself showcasing that Madotsuki can go to sleep inside of the dream world to go into deeper layers of dreams.

The core issue brought up with this belief is why Madotsuki cannot use any of her effects within the "real world" if it's a dream, which could potentially be answered by either the effects only being useful in those lower layers or Madotsuki herself is unaware she's in a dream in the "Real" World and realizes the truth at the end of the game. The Yume Nikki manga somewhat follows this interpretation too.

Different Interpretations From Official Media

As Yume Nikki is an exploration game with largely no story, the game is left up to interpretation, though there are official Yume Nikki creations that have their own interpretations that can be dervied from.

Manga Interpretation: In the Manga, Madotsuki is not a shut-in that refuses to leave her room^[138], but rather it interprets the head shake as Madotsuki being unable to leave because she is trapped in her room rather then not wanting to leave it^[139]. The Dream World is also a shared collective conscious of girls trying to turn them into "good girls" with characters like Poniko trying to find a way to escape the dream world, along with this, the "real world" Madotsuki keeps returning back too is still the dream world and jumping off wakes her up into the true real world^[140]^[141]^[142]^[143]^[144].
-Dream Diary- Interpretation: -Dream Diary- possesses some cutscenes unlike the original game, though overall the story is meant to be mostly non-existent and left up to the interpretation of the player, the only real aspect being that Madotsuki seems to help the inhabitants of the dream world more in -Dream Diary-. Such as locking up a beast that kept all of the townspeople indoors^[145], attempting to give a crying school girl her torn up picture back together^[146], and attempting to find and help her overall^[147].

Misconceptions

Madostuki's Race

This misconception comes from the idea that since Kikiyama described the game has having no story or purpose, then her ethnicity is up to interpretaiton and thus she is likely of indingenous descent. While that could be true, there really lacks any concrete reason for Madotsuki to be anything other then Asian descent (most likely Japanese).

The reasons for her being considered of indingenous is due to the Aztec (or possible Paracas, Nazca, Rapa Nui or African) imagery in her dreams, having Aztec Rave Monkey, appearing in the background, Madotsuki's poncho looking similar to poncho's worn by figures in Paracas culture, and other entites/individuals that appear. While it could be possible that these are meant to be Madotsuki being in some way having indingenous descent in her, there comes an issue when looking into other dreams worlds, where they all have some form of different imagery not meant to represent cultural signifcance. Along with having an entire world that's mainly referencing old famicon games^[148]. Madotsuki also has a dream world that is on Mars, when she is very clearly not a martian^[149].

The main house she stays in is of very clear Asian region, with it even having some customs from Asian cultures, such as having shoes for the balcony, and having similar room designs to one seen in Asian regions^[150].

Madotsuki also has a "Famtendo Game" in her room^[151], an obvious nod to Nintendo, with "Fam" most likely referring to the Nintendo Famicon, a console specific to Japan only.

Due to this and there being no direct confirmation, Madotsuki's Race is held under the assumption of the region she's in, which is most likely an Asian region. With it most likely being Japan.

Codex Statistics Questions

Q: What is the reason for Madotsuki being tier 10 instead of around Tier 2 as I see on other sites?

A: Simply Yume Nikki is entirely a dream, Madotsuki enters this world through going to sleep in her bed^[152], and does not meet any of our Dream World Standards to be considered usable. For her Dream World Key, she showcases no feats on this level and "waking up" is not a feat. As Pseudo-Tiering is under the guise of making a Pseudo-Tier for feats done within the dream and waking up is taking herself out of the said dream, thus this cannot be placed under pseudo-tiering.

Q: Why are her abilities listed then if they're all in a dream?

A: As Yume Nikki is an exploration game where the effects are a big part of it, then it only makes sense to index it. Along with this, other interpretations such as the manga interprets the Dream World as a shared collective conscious of girls trying to turn them into "good girls" with characters like Poniko trying to find a way to escape the dream world^[153]^[154]^[155]^[156]^[157].

Battle Records

None.

References

↑ Yume Nikki Real World
↑ Yume Nikki Dream World Entrance
↑ Yume Nikki Famtendo Game
↑ Yume Nikki Volume 1, Chapter 1
↑ Yume Nikki Knife
↑ Yume Nikki Knife Effect Sound Effect
↑ Yume Nikki Stabbing Room
↑ Yume Nikki Poop Hair Effect
↑ Yume Nikki Long Hair Effect
↑ Yume Nikki Blonde Hair Effect
↑ Yume Nikki Cat Effect
↑ Yume Nikki Pause Screen
↑ Yume Nikki -Dream Diary- Block World
↑ Yume Nikki Yuki-onna Effect
↑ Yume Nikki Cat Effect
↑ Yume Nikki Frog Effect
↑ Yume Nikki Neon Effect
↑ Yume Nikki Lamp Effect
↑ Yume Nikki Stoplight Effect
↑ Yume Nikki Medamaude Effect
↑ Yume Nikki Nopperabou Effect
↑ Yume Nikki Witch Effect
↑ Yume Nikki Demon Effect
↑ Yume Nikki Ending
↑ Yume Nikki Balcony Real World
↑ Yume Nikki -Dream Diary- Ending
↑ Yume Nikki Manga Volume 1, Chapter 5
↑ Yume Nikki Volume 1, Chapter 5
↑ Yume Nikki Volume 1, Chapter 6
↑ Yume Nikki Volume 1, Chapter 7
↑ Yume Nikki Volume 1, Chapter 8
↑ Yume Nikki Volume 1, Chapter 9
↑ Yume Nikki Volume 1, Chapter 9.2
↑ Yume Nikki Volume 1, Chapter 9.2
↑ Yume Nikki Manga Volume 1, Chapter 5
↑ Yume Nikki Manga Volume 1, Chapter 6
↑ Yume Nikki Volume 1, Chapter 9.2
↑ Yume Nikki Volume 1, Chapter 9
↑ Yume Nikki Volume 1, Chapter 9.2
↑ Yume Nikki Volume 1, Chapter 9.2
↑ Yume Nikki Volume 1, Chapter 9.2
↑ Yume Nikki Effects
↑ Yume Nikki Knife Effect
↑ Yume Nikki Volume 1, Chapter 9
↑ Yume Nikki Volume 1, Chapter 9.2
↑ Yume Nikki Volume 1, Chapter 9
↑ Yume Nikki Volume 1, Chapter 9.2
↑ Yume Nikki Volume 1, Chapter 9.2
↑ Yume Nikki -Dream Diary- Docks Hamsa Secret Area
↑ Yume Nikki Bicycle
↑ Yume Nikki Umbrella Effect
↑ Yume Nikki Umbrella Effect
↑ Yume Nikki Yuki-onna Effct
↑ Yume Nikki Flute Effect
↑ Yume Nikki -Dream Diary- Spaceship
↑ Yume Nikki -Dream Diary- 100% Diary
↑ Yume Nikki Bicycle Effect
↑ Yume Nikki Knife Effect
↑ Yume Nikki -Dream Diary- Dark Street
↑ Yume Nikki -Dream Diary- Docks
↑ Yume Nikki
↑ Yume Nikki Manga Volume 1, Chapter 1
↑ Yume Nikki Volume 1, Chapter 3
↑ Yume Nikki Going to Sleep
↑ Yume Nikki Manga Volume 1, Chapter 1
↑ Yume Nikki Ending
↑ Yume Nikki Balcony Real World
↑ Yume Nikki -Dream Diary- Uboa's World
↑ Yume Nikki -Dream Diary- Mask of Fear Effect
↑ Yume Nikki -Dream Diary- Uboa's World
↑ Yume Nikki -Dream Diary- Mask of Fear Effect
↑ Yume Nikki Severed Head Effect
↑ Yume Nikki Pinching
↑ Yume Nikki Manga Volume 1, Chapter 4
↑ Yume Nikki Severed Head Effect
↑ Yume Nikki Melting Snowman Event
↑ Yume Nikki Manga Volume 1, Chapter 5
↑ Yume Nikki Manga Volume 1, Chapter 6
↑ Yume Nikki -Dream Diary- Red School
↑ Yume Nikki -Dream Diary- Docks Jellyfish Location
↑ Yume Nikki -Dream Diary- Hamsa Effect
↑ Yume Nikki Effects
↑ Yume Nikki Yuki-onna Effect
↑ Yume Nikki Cat Effect
↑ Yume Nikki Frog Effect
↑ Yume Nikki Neon Effect
↑ Yume Nikki Long Hair Effect
↑ Yume Nikki Blonde Hair Effect
↑ Yume Nikki Medamaude Effect
↑ Yume Nikki Lamp Effect
↑ Yume Nikki Stoplight Effect
↑ Yume Nikki Nopperabou Effect
↑ Yume Nikki Witch Effect
↑ Yume Nikki Poop Hair Effect
↑ Yume Nikki Severed Head Effect
↑ Yume Nikki Fat Effect
↑ Yume Nikki Demon Effect
↑ Yume Nikki Volume 1, Chapter 4
↑ Yume Nikki Knife Effect
↑ Yume Nikki Medamaude Effect
↑ Yume Nikki Triangle kerchief Effect
↑ Yume Nikki Umbrella Effect
↑ Yume Nikki Umbrella Effect
↑ Yume Nikki Manga Volume 1, Chapter 3
↑ Yume Nikki Yuki-onna Effct
↑ Yume Nikki -Dream Diary- Hat and Scarf Effect
↑ Yume Nikki Volume 1, Chapter 4
↑ Yume Nikki Witch Effect
↑ Yume Nikki Midget Effect
↑ Yume Nikki Midget Effect
↑ Yume Nikki Fat Effect
↑ Yume Nikki Long Hair Effect
↑ Yume Nikki Blonde Hair Effect
↑ Yume Nikki Poop Hair Effect
↑ Yume Nikki Nopperabou Effect
↑ Yume Nikki Buyo Buyo Effect
↑ Yume Nikki Nopperabou Effect
↑ Yume Nikki Stoplight Effect
↑ Yume Nikki Cat Effect
↑ Yume Nikki Lamp Effect
↑ Yume Nikki Neon Effect
↑ Yume Nikki -Dream Diary- Mask of Fear Effect
↑ Yume Nikki -Dream Diary- Mask of Fear Effect
↑ Yume Nikki Volume 1, Chapter 9
↑ Yume Nikki Volume 1, Chapter 9.2
↑ Yume Nikki Volume 1, Chapter 9.2
↑ Yume Nikki Volume 1, Chapter 9
↑ Yume Nikki Volume 1, Chapter 9.2
↑ Yume Nikki Volume 1, Chapter 9.2
↑ Yume Nikki Volume 1, Chapter 9
↑ Yume Nikki Volume 1, Chapter 9.2
↑ Yume Nikki Manga Volume 1, Chapter 1
↑ Yume Nikki Manga Volume 1, Chapter 2
↑ Yume Nikki Manga Volume 1, Chapter 1
↑ Yume Nikki Ending
↑ Yume Nikki Balcony Real World
↑ Yume Nikki -Dream Diary- School Rooftop Bed
↑ Yume Nikki Real World
↑ Yume Nikki Manga Volume 1, Chapter 2
↑ Yume Nikki Volume 1, Chapter 5
↑ Yume Nikki Volume 1, Chapter 6
↑ Yume Nikki Volume 1, Chapter 7
↑ Yume Nikki Volume 1, Chapter 8
↑ Yume Nikki Volume 1, Chapter 9
↑ Yume Nikki -Dream Diary- Ghost Town
↑ Yume Nikki -Dream Diary- School
↑ Yume Nikki -Dream Diary- Red School End
↑ Yume Nikki Famicon World
↑ Yume Nikki Seccom Masada
↑ Yume Nikki Madotsuki's Room
↑ Yume Nikki Famtendo
↑ Yume Nikki Going to Sleep
↑ Yume Nikki Volume 1, Chapter 5
↑ Yume Nikki Volume 1, Chapter 6
↑ Yume Nikki Volume 1, Chapter 7
↑ Yume Nikki Volume 1, Chapter 8
↑ Yume Nikki Volume 1, Chapter 9

[1] Yume Nikki Real World

[2] Yume Nikki Dream World Entrance

[3] Yume Nikki Famtendo Game

[4] Yume Nikki Volume 1, Chapter 1

[5] Yume Nikki Knife

[6] Yume Nikki Knife Effect Sound Effect

[7] Yume Nikki Stabbing Room

[8] Yume Nikki Poop Hair Effect

[9] Yume Nikki Long Hair Effect

[10] Yume Nikki Blonde Hair Effect

[11] Yume Nikki Cat Effect

[12] Yume Nikki Pause Screen

[13] Yume Nikki -Dream Diary- Block World

[14] Yume Nikki Yuki-onna Effect

[15] Yume Nikki Cat Effect

[16] Yume Nikki Frog Effect

[17] Yume Nikki Neon Effect

[18] Yume Nikki Lamp Effect

[19] Yume Nikki Stoplight Effect

[20] Yume Nikki Medamaude Effect

[21] Yume Nikki Nopperabou Effect

[22] Yume Nikki Witch Effect

[23] Yume Nikki Demon Effect

[24] Yume Nikki Ending

[25] Yume Nikki Balcony Real World

[26] Yume Nikki -Dream Diary- Ending

[27] Yume Nikki Manga Volume 1, Chapter 5

[28] Yume Nikki Volume 1, Chapter 5

[29] Yume Nikki Volume 1, Chapter 6

[30] Yume Nikki Volume 1, Chapter 7

[31] Yume Nikki Volume 1, Chapter 8

[32] Yume Nikki Volume 1, Chapter 9

[33] Yume Nikki Volume 1, Chapter 9.2

[34] Yume Nikki Volume 1, Chapter 9.2

[35] Yume Nikki Manga Volume 1, Chapter 5

[36] Yume Nikki Manga Volume 1, Chapter 6

[37] Yume Nikki Volume 1, Chapter 9.2

[38] Yume Nikki Volume 1, Chapter 9

[39] Yume Nikki Volume 1, Chapter 9.2

[40] Yume Nikki Volume 1, Chapter 9.2

[41] Yume Nikki Volume 1, Chapter 9.2

[42] Yume Nikki Effects

[43] Yume Nikki Knife Effect

[44] Yume Nikki Volume 1, Chapter 9

[45] Yume Nikki Volume 1, Chapter 9.2

[46] Yume Nikki Volume 1, Chapter 9

[47] Yume Nikki Volume 1, Chapter 9.2

[48] Yume Nikki Volume 1, Chapter 9.2

[49] Yume Nikki -Dream Diary- Docks Hamsa Secret Area

[50] Yume Nikki Bicycle

[51] Yume Nikki Umbrella Effect

[52] Yume Nikki Umbrella Effect

[53] Yume Nikki Yuki-onna Effct

[54] Yume Nikki Flute Effect

[55] Yume Nikki -Dream Diary- Spaceship

[56] Yume Nikki -Dream Diary- 100% Diary

[57] Yume Nikki Bicycle Effect

[58] Yume Nikki Knife Effect

[59] Yume Nikki -Dream Diary- Dark Street

[60] Yume Nikki -Dream Diary- Docks

[61] Yume Nikki

[62] Yume Nikki Manga Volume 1, Chapter 1

[63] Yume Nikki Volume 1, Chapter 3

[64] Yume Nikki Going to Sleep

[65] Yume Nikki Manga Volume 1, Chapter 1

[66] Yume Nikki Ending

[67] Yume Nikki Balcony Real World

[68] Yume Nikki -Dream Diary- Uboa's World

[69] Yume Nikki -Dream Diary- Mask of Fear Effect

[70] Yume Nikki -Dream Diary- Uboa's World

[71] Yume Nikki -Dream Diary- Mask of Fear Effect

[72] Yume Nikki Severed Head Effect

[73] Yume Nikki Pinching

[74] Yume Nikki Manga Volume 1, Chapter 4

[75] Yume Nikki Severed Head Effect

[76] Yume Nikki Melting Snowman Event

[77] Yume Nikki Manga Volume 1, Chapter 5

[78] Yume Nikki Manga Volume 1, Chapter 6

[79] Yume Nikki -Dream Diary- Red School

[80] Yume Nikki -Dream Diary- Docks Jellyfish Location

[81] Yume Nikki -Dream Diary- Hamsa Effect

[82] Yume Nikki Effects

[83] Yume Nikki Yuki-onna Effect

[84] Yume Nikki Cat Effect

[85] Yume Nikki Frog Effect

[86] Yume Nikki Neon Effect

[87] Yume Nikki Long Hair Effect

[88] Yume Nikki Blonde Hair Effect

[89] Yume Nikki Medamaude Effect

[90] Yume Nikki Lamp Effect

[91] Yume Nikki Stoplight Effect

[92] Yume Nikki Nopperabou Effect

[93] Yume Nikki Witch Effect

[94] Yume Nikki Poop Hair Effect

[95] Yume Nikki Severed Head Effect

[96] Yume Nikki Fat Effect

[97] Yume Nikki Demon Effect

[98] Yume Nikki Volume 1, Chapter 4

[99] Yume Nikki Knife Effect

[100] Yume Nikki Medamaude Effect

[101] Yume Nikki Triangle kerchief Effect

[102] Yume Nikki Umbrella Effect

[103] Yume Nikki Umbrella Effect

[104] Yume Nikki Manga Volume 1, Chapter 3

[105] Yume Nikki Yuki-onna Effct

[106] Yume Nikki -Dream Diary- Hat and Scarf Effect

[107] Yume Nikki Volume 1, Chapter 4

[108] Yume Nikki Witch Effect

[109] Yume Nikki Midget Effect

[110] Yume Nikki Midget Effect

[111] Yume Nikki Fat Effect

[112] Yume Nikki Long Hair Effect

[113] Yume Nikki Blonde Hair Effect

[114] Yume Nikki Poop Hair Effect

[115] Yume Nikki Nopperabou Effect

[116] Yume Nikki Buyo Buyo Effect

[117] Yume Nikki Nopperabou Effect

[118] Yume Nikki Stoplight Effect

[119] Yume Nikki Cat Effect

[120] Yume Nikki Lamp Effect

[121] Yume Nikki Neon Effect

[122] Yume Nikki -Dream Diary- Mask of Fear Effect

[123] Yume Nikki -Dream Diary- Mask of Fear Effect

[124] Yume Nikki Volume 1, Chapter 9

[125] Yume Nikki Volume 1, Chapter 9.2

[126] Yume Nikki Volume 1, Chapter 9.2

[127] Yume Nikki Volume 1, Chapter 9

[128] Yume Nikki Volume 1, Chapter 9.2

[129] Yume Nikki Volume 1, Chapter 9.2

[130] Yume Nikki Volume 1, Chapter 9

[131] Yume Nikki Volume 1, Chapter 9.2

[132] Yume Nikki Manga Volume 1, Chapter 1

[133] Yume Nikki Manga Volume 1, Chapter 2

[134] Yume Nikki Manga Volume 1, Chapter 1

[135] Yume Nikki Ending

[136] Yume Nikki Balcony Real World

[137] Yume Nikki -Dream Diary- School Rooftop Bed

[138] Yume Nikki Real World

[139] Yume Nikki Manga Volume 1, Chapter 2

[140] Yume Nikki Volume 1, Chapter 5

[141] Yume Nikki Volume 1, Chapter 6

[142] Yume Nikki Volume 1, Chapter 7

[143] Yume Nikki Volume 1, Chapter 8

[144] Yume Nikki Volume 1, Chapter 9

[145] Yume Nikki -Dream Diary- Ghost Town

[146] Yume Nikki -Dream Diary- School

[147] Yume Nikki -Dream Diary- Red School End

[148] Yume Nikki Famicon World

[149] Yume Nikki Seccom Masada

[150] Yume Nikki Madotsuki's Room

[151] Yume Nikki Famtendo

[152] Yume Nikki Going to Sleep

[153] Yume Nikki Volume 1, Chapter 5

[154] Yume Nikki Volume 1, Chapter 6

[155] Yume Nikki Volume 1, Chapter 7

[156] Yume Nikki Volume 1, Chapter 8

[157] Yume Nikki Volume 1, Chapter 9

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@@ Line 1,107: / Line 1,107: @@
 *Madotsuki's shirt design resembles a simplified version of the CJK character 囧. This character can mean "to shine", or "window" matching the theme of Madotsuki's name. It can also be used as an emoticon expressing sadness or shock. In Japanese, the Kanji means 'clear' or 'bright', which could be a small indicator for her personality.[[File:WindowKanji.png|thumb|300px|center]]
 **In addition, her shirt design resembles the emblem of the Japanese Tsuchiya clan, or that of [https://www.ancient.eu/image/4620/inca-military-tunic/ Incan military tunics], which could tie in with the Native American imagery often seen in the game.
+<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+<br>
+==Different Themes Gathered from the World==
+<div class="scrollable" style="overflow:auto; max-height:600px; width:{{{width|100%}}}; -moz-border-radius-topleft:0.5em; border:1px solid #AAAAAA; padding-left:0.5em; background:transparent;">
+This segment gathers the various themes represented in Madotsuki's mind through the different dream worlds, many of these are "canon" as they are gathering segments from the games world, thus they are a theme of ''Yume Nikki''.
+===Isolation===
+<div class="scrollable" style="overflow:auto; max-height:600px; width:{{{width|100%}}}; -moz-border-radius-topleft:0.5em; border:1px solid #AAAAAA; padding-left:0.5em; background:transparent;">
+Madotsuki's isolation is a central theme throughout the game, starting with her confinement to her apartment. Throughout the course of the game, Madotsuki is never shown leaving the safety of her apartment, providing a sense of confinement. There are subtle markers in the game that indicate the passage of time, such as her visits to the balcony, where the changing sky reveals that night has passed and day has arrived. This signifies the slow passage of time, but also her inability to engage with it. When interacting with the door in the real world, Madotsuki shakes her head in refusal, reinforcing the idea that leaving the room is not an option.
+In contrast, within her dream world, the door in the real world transforms into an opportunity for escape. The dream realm allows Madotsuki to venture beyond the confines of her apartment, through doors that resemble the one in her apartment, opening up new areas of exploration. Through these portals in the Nexus, Madotsuki can access various dream locations, further emphasizing the escape from isolation, but only within the confines of her dreams.
+The feeling of isolation and loneliness persists throughout the dream world. The world is eerily quiet, with no dialogue or significant interaction with NPCs. Most NPCs ignore Madotsuki completely, creating a sense of emptiness. There are, however, a few exceptions: certain NPCs will acknowledge her presence, but they seem distant or disinterested, further emphasizing the solitary nature of her existence. For instance, the shoppers in the Mall, when approached, will flee from Madotsuki and become deformed, making a strange, unsettling noise as they disappear. This interaction further solidifies the sense of isolation, as even the few interactions that occur are abnormal and unfriendly.
+The locations themselves often feel vast, empty, and unwelcoming. These locations are not only large but also repetitive, looping back on themselves in a way that fosters a sense of disorientation and solitude. Particularly near The Nexus, these locations often lack distinctive features, adding to their sense of abandonment and emptiness. The soundtrack further contributes to the isolation, as it consists of shorter, repetitive tracks that add to the feeling of time slipping away. Unlike longer compositions in other games that mark the passage of time, the shorter pieces in Madotsuki's dream world create a sense of timelessness, as if time is irrelevant or lost altogether.
+'''Toriningenparty'''<br>
+[[File:Toriningenparty.png|center|thumb|Three girls having fun.]]
+Throughout her journey, Madotsuki encounters mysterious and towering creatures referred to as Toriningen by fans. These creatures are generally considered to be enemies due to their hostile behavior when in a "lunatic" state. When Madotsuki encounters these creatures in this state, they trap her in areas from which escape is impossible, further emphasizing her sense of powerlessness. Unlike other NPCs that appear in isolation or in smaller groups, the Toriningen have a distinct group dynamic that sets them apart. This dynamic is different from other NPC groups, such as the Wheelies, who appear individually rather than as a cohesive unit.
+The most notable instance of this group dynamic is the '''Toriningen Party''':
+* A group of Toriningen can be seen in the Wilderness, gathered together and enjoying a picnic. They dance to lively, cheerful music, an odd contrast to their typically hostile nature.
+* This scene cannot be accessed by Madotsuki, as the plants in the Wilderness obstruct her path and prevent her from getting closer.
+* It's particularly striking that these seemingly menacing enemies are presented as a united group, engaged in a joyful activity, while Madotsuki remains a solitary figure, unable to join or even approach them.
+This encounter highlights a stark contrast: the Toriningen, often seen as enemies, are portrayed as a community, while Madotsuki exists as an isolated individual. This division between the enemies’ group dynamic and Madotsuki's solitude further reinforces the theme of isolation.
+'''Other Isolated Characters'''<br>
+Aside from Madotsuki herself, there are several other characters in the game who seem to be isolated in their own unique ways. These characters reflect different aspects of loneliness and confinement, whether physically or emotionally.
+*'''Poniko'''
+[[File:Poniko's_room.PNG.png|center|thumb|Poniko, another character isolated in their room.]]
+Poniko is the only character found in the Pink Sea. She, like Madotsuki, is confined to her room and appears to be the sole inhabitant of this isolated space. Poniko's isolation mirrors Madotsuki's own, providing another layer to the game's overall theme of withdrawal from the world.
+*'''Mafurako'''
+Mafurako roams the expansive Block World, but much like Poniko, Mafurako is alone. When teleporting, Mafurako typically moves to a distant spot, far from Madotsuki. However, if Madotsuki is in her snowman form, Mafurako always teleports next to her. Mafurako remains mostly invisible, save for a hat and scarf, which could symbolize a desire to remain unseen, either out of shame or a wish to avoid connection with others.
+*'''Mars-san'''
+Mars-san, found in the underground area of Mars, provides yet another example of isolation. Mars-san is only accessible by crashing a spaceship into Mars and using an effect to reach a tiny underground entrance. The disparity between Mars-san's small size and the tiny exit adds to the feeling of being trapped. Mars-san, unable to leave or explore, mirrors Madotsuki’s own feelings of confinement, making this encounter another representation of the game’s themes of isolation and entrapment.
+'''Symbolism and Connection to Reality'''<br>
+The many doors in the Nexus could be symbolic of Madotsuki’s desire to explore the world, something she is unable to do in reality. In her dream world, these doors offer a chance to step beyond the confines of her apartment and experience new places and adventures. However, the reality of her life is one of stifling isolation, which makes the dreams feel like an escape, rather than a simple adventure. The Toriningen, with their height, stylish clothing, and unique dynamic, may represent figures in the real world that Madotsuki perceives as being out of her reach, such as a "popular girl." Their hostile, "lunatic" form could symbolize her experiences with bullying, which may have driven her to isolate herself from others.
+Mars-san could symbolize Madotsuki’s own feelings of being trapped inside her apartment, unable to break free and experience the world outside. The encounter with '''Closet Madotsuki''', a sleeping version of herself hidden in a closet in the Checkered Tile Path, further reflects her desire to retreat from the world and hide away from others, reinforcing the game's themes of isolation and self-imposed confinement.
+The game's portrayal of isolation may also reflect real-world phenomena, such as the Hikikomori culture, where individuals withdraw from society entirely, choosing to remain indoors rather than engage with the outside world. This phenomenon, which affects many teens and young adults, shares a thematic parallel with Madotsuki’s withdrawal into her dreams and isolation from the real world.
+</div>
+===Anxiety===
+<div class="scrollable" style="overflow:auto; max-height:600px; width:{{{width|100%}}}; -moz-border-radius-topleft:0.5em; border:1px solid #AAAAAA; padding-left:0.5em; background:transparent;">
+[[File:Floyag_watching_Madotsuki.PNG.png|center|thumb|A Floyag following Madotsuki with its eyes.]]
+The theme of anxiety (and the fear of being watched) is deeply embedded in ''Yume Nikki'', where Madotsuki is constantly confronted by unsettling and bizarre imagery throughout the dream world. One of the most significant sources of this anxiety is the recurring presence of eyes, which seem to follow and watch Madotsuki wherever she goes. These eyes invoke a feeling of being observed, creating a sense of unease and vulnerability. In addition to eyes, hands also appear frequently, further amplifying the sensation of being trapped or overwhelmed.
+*'''Eyeball World'''
+One of the clearest representations of anxiety in the game is found in the '''Eyeball World'''. This area is filled with giant eyes that stare directly at Madotsuki, following her every movement. The presence of these eyes creates a palpable tension, as though Madotsuki is being scrutinized and judged by an unseen force. The overwhelming number of eyes is not just disturbing visually but also emotionally, as it makes Madotsuki feel as though she cannot escape the gaze of others. This sensation is heightened by the dreamlike atmosphere of the world, where normal rules no longer apply and Madotsuki can never truly be sure if what she is seeing is real.
+*'''Isee and Eye People'''
+In the '''Dense Woods''' and '''Barracks Settlement''', Madotsuki encounters ''Isee'', tall creatures with large eyes that seem to watch her from a distance. These figures contribute to the game's underlying anxiety, as they represent an omnipresent observation that leaves Madotsuki feeling exposed. The '''Eye People''' found in the '''White Desert''' further intensify this sensation, with their eyes looking down upon Madotsuki, emphasizing her isolation. The giant eyes of these creatures become symbols of constant surveillance, and the fear of being judged or even harmed is palpable as she tries to navigate these worlds.
+*'''Other Appearances of Eyes'''
+The motif of eyes is not limited to the '''Eyeball World''' or the '''Dense Woods'''. In fact, eyes appear throughout the game in various locations, adding to the pervasive sense of anxiety. These eyes serve as a visual representation of Madotsuki’s fear of being observed. Whether they are part of an event or scattered around different dream locations, they remind Madotsuki of the discomfort she feels, as if she is never truly alone. The recurring nature of these eyes heightens the emotional tension, keeping Madotsuki on edge and contributing to the overall feeling of unease.
+*'''Hands and Their Symbolism'''
+[[File:MonoAnew.png|center|thumb|The gate to Block World from the White Desert, which has grasping hands.]]
+In addition to eyes, hands are another significant motif that symbolizes Madotsuki's anxiety. The '''Eyeball World''' is filled with disembodied hands that reach up from the ground, further adding to the tension in this already unsettling environment. These hands seem to move with purpose, as though trying to grab or touch Madotsuki, intensifying her feelings of being overwhelmed.
+In other locations, such as the '''Staircase of Hands''' and '''MonoAnew''', the imagery of hands reaching up from below or being part of the landscape suggests a feeling of being trapped or out of control. The hands in these areas seem to symbolize a loss of agency, where Madotsuki is unable to escape from the grasp of whatever force controls the dream world. In the '''Dark World''', a pair of symbols that resemble two hands add to the already ominous atmosphere, while in '''Graffiti World''', a large design of a monkey-like creature that prominently displays its hands emphasizes the theme of touch and proximity.
+*'''Uboa's Trap'''
+Another location where the theme of anxiety is evident is in the '''Uboa's Trap''' event, which takes place in the '''White Desert'''. When Madotsuki is teleported here, she finds herself in a nightmarish landscape where a monstrous creature with multiple hands is seen grasping at the hills in the background. The presence of this monster, combined with the disorienting environment, reinforces the feelings of being trapped and overwhelmed. The hands, in this case, seem to represent a force beyond Madotsuki’s control, one that is constantly reaching for her, further intensifying the anxiety already present in the dream world.
+*'''Organoid's Teleportation and NPC Interactions'''
+[[File:Organoid_teleport.gif|center|thumb|Organoid]]
+An NPC that may tie into this theme is Organoid, the only character that quickly teleports away when approached by Madotsuki. This reaction adds to the overall sense of alienation and anxiety, as it suggests that even the inhabitants of the dream world are unwilling to interact with Madotsuki. Similarly, the Mall Shoppers react by running away from Madotsuki when she approaches them, emphasizing the theme of avoidance and rejection. Other NPCs, such as the Neon Parrot and Walking Lamp, also flee when Madotsuki interacts with them, especially if she has the Knife effect equipped, suggesting that her presence is seen as threatening or uncomfortable. These NPCs’ responses, whether through flight or avoidance, mirror Madotsuki's own anxiety about social interactions and the fear of being unwanted or misunderstood.
+These recurring themes of eyes, hands, and avoidance throughout ''Yume Nikki'' collectively build an atmosphere of anxiety, reinforcing Madotsuki’s sense of isolation and discomfort within the dream world. The constant reminders of being watched, the looming presence of hands trying to grab or control, and the fearful reactions of the NPCs all contribute to the feeling that Madotsuki is trapped in a world she cannot escape, both physically and emotionally.
+</div>
+===Body Themes===
+<div class="scrollable" style="overflow:auto; max-height:600px; width:{{{width|100%}}}; -moz-border-radius-topleft:0.5em; border:1px solid #AAAAAA; padding-left:0.5em; background:transparent;">
+In ''Yume Nikki'', it is common for NPCs or backgrounds to resemble body parts or inner organs. These motifs are particularly prevalent in the themes of anxiety, as detailed earlier, with eyes and hands appearing throughout the game. The use of body part imagery adds to the unsettling atmosphere of Madotsuki's dream world, suggesting a deeper exploration of her subconscious fears and discomfort.
+*'''Eyeball World:'''
+One of the most striking locations in the game is the '''Eyeball World''', which is filled with various NPCs that resemble parts of the human body. These include legs, lips, and other body parts. The '''Mouth Monsters''', which feature large mouths, are a notable example. These creatures provide hair-related effects, tying into the theme of body parts being central to the game's overall tone. Additionally, uteri-shaped creatures can be found on the Infinite Road.
+One fan theory suggests that '''KyuuKyuu-kun''', a large, colorful, worm-like creature seen rubbing the handrail of a stairway, could represent phallic imagery. This is based on the character’s hidden entrance through a Zippertile on the wall, which resembles a pants fly.
+*'''Strabismic Characters:'''
+[[File:Yn_char_masada.png|thumb|right]]
+Another prominent body-related theme found in the game is the presence of strabismic NPCs (strabismus being a condition where a person cannot fixate both eyes on one point at the same time, causing misalignment). One of the most well-known strabismic characters in ''Yume Nikki'' is '''Seccom Masada-sensei'''. There are two potential explanations for the appearance of strabismic characters:
+* Madotsuki herself could be strabismic but hides it by keeping her eyes closed. Some structures (such as those in the '''Pink Sea''' and '''Barracks Settlement''') and characters (such as the '''Ghostmen''') resemble chromosomes, possibly indicating that Madotsuki inherited strabismus genetically.
+* Another possibility is that strabismus can result from severe brain or head injuries. Several other strabismic NPCs, including '''Dropfish''', '''Goppa''', the '''Severed Blue Head''', and '''Monoko''' (during her event), all exhibit signs of drooling or coughing up blood. This may link to themes of violence and traffic accidents present in the game.
+*'''Pregnancy and Childbirth Themes:'''
+[[FIle:Henkei2.png|center|thumb|Their appearance could be interpreted as either fat or pregnant.]]
+A recurring theme relating to the body that appears throughout Madotsuki’s dreams is the concept of pregnancy or childbirth. '''Takofuusen''' is an easily identifiable example, resembling a fetus with a "TRAP sequence" birth defect. Other characters, such as '''Onsen-san''' and '''Roary Straw''', feature chord-like appendages that resemble umbilical cords. Additionally, characters like the '''Henkei Shita''' have large stomachs with a thin mouth resembling a surgical cut, a trait shared by some of the '''Mall Shoppers''', most notably '''Obasan''', when they distort.
+The theme of pregnancy could also explain the instances of characters or structures resembling reproductive organs. These interpretations have been widely debated by fans, and their meaning, if any, remains uncertain.
+*'''Interpretations of Body Themes:'''
+The reoccurring theme of body parts throughout Madotsuki’s dreams could lead to many interpretations. One possibility is that Madotsuki is afraid of body parts or losing them, as they often appear in gruesome contexts, particularly in the '''Eyeball World''' and '''Mural World''' with the '''Mouth Monsters'''. Some fans speculate that the appearance of characters or structures resembling reproductive organs may relate to a traumatic event or could be connected to themes of gender identity, as explored in the '''Themes of Identity''' section.
+Additionally, the prevalence of strabismic characters could be tied to Madotsuki herself possibly being strabismic, though this is never explicitly shown in the game, as her eyes are always closed.
+This revision maintains the length of your original text while aligning it with the requested structure and formatting. Let me know if you'd like further adjustments!
+</div>
+===Violence===
+<div class="scrollable" style="overflow:auto; max-height:600px; width:{{{width|100%}}}; -moz-border-radius-topleft:0.5em; border:1px solid #AAAAAA; padding-left:0.5em; background:transparent;">
+[[File:Tasei Stabbed.png|center|thumb|Madotsuki leaving a wound on Mars-san's foot.]]
+In ''Yume Nikki'', Madotsuki's actions can sometimes involve violence, particularly with the use of the '''Knife''' effect. She is capable of using the Knife on nearly all NPCs, which leads to varying results, depending on the character.
+Despite its prominence in the game, the '''Knife''' is not essential for collecting effects or reaching the ending, and in most cases, it can be replaced by the '''Cat''' effect for exploration purposes. However, using the Knife often results in disturbing and alarming events, such as the '''Severed Heads in the Sky''' and '''FACE''' events.
+While wielding the Knife, Madotsuki can be seen as one of the most dangerous figures in the dream world. Even other potentially hostile characters, like the '''Toriningen''' or '''Uboa''', tend to isolate Madotsuki without causing direct harm—unlike the Knife, which is a tool of violence. The game's inclusion of a health bar seems to be a remnant of the RPG Maker engine, as it’s rarely relevant to the gameplay outside of these violent encounters.
+The '''Knife''' is often viewed by fans as a significant object in the game, leading to various interpretations about Madotsuki's potential inclination towards violence. Some fans speculate that Madotsuki may have had a violent past, which could explain why the Knife effect is found in the difficult-to-navigate '''Dark World'''—perhaps as a repressed memory. This theory also ties into Madotsuki's isolation in her room, potentially driven by guilt from an act of violence in her past.
+</div>
+===Traffic Accidents===
+<div class="scrollable" style="overflow:auto; max-height:600px; width:{{{width|100%}}}; -moz-border-radius-topleft:0.5em; border:1px solid #AAAAAA; padding-left:0.5em; background:transparent;">
+[[File:Shita-San.png|center|thumb|Shitai-san, seemingly the victim of a traffic incident.]]
+In ''Yume Nikki'', various areas and interactions hint at Madotsuki's obsession with traffic accidents or vehicle-related incidents. A prominent example is '''Shitai-san''', a dead individual found in the '''Dense Woods''', surrounded by traffic cones. The '''Stoplight''' effect can be obtained here, possibly linking the scene to themes of traffic accidents.
+Further instances of vehicle-related events occur in the dream world. '''Seccom Masada-sensei''' is depicted as troubled by his spaceship crashing on Mars, while '''Mars-san''' can be found crying near a crashed locomotive. Nearby, a train track is located, with a '''Traincar''' found elsewhere in the Dense Woods, reinforcing the theme of crashes and transportation-related incidents.
+[[File:Five armed Monoko.jpg|thumb|right|150px|Monoko's appearance after the Stoplight effect is used.]]
+The '''Stoplight''' effect also triggers unusual and sometimes disturbing reactions from certain characters when used near them. For instance, the faces of the '''Wheelies''' change drastically, and '''Buyo Buyo''' freezes while losing its pupil. One of the most striking reactions occurs with '''Monoko''', a girl found in one of the tunnels of the '''White Desert'''. When the '''Stoplight''' is used near her, she undergoes a grotesque transformation: five arms emerge (one from her head), a wound appears on her stomach, her eyes become strabismic, and one eye spurts liquid, while her mouth opens, seemingly drooling. Using the '''Stoplight''' again restores her original appearance, which could be interpreted as a less grotesque representation of an event Madotsuki might have witnessed—potentially a vehicle-related accident.
+These recurring themes have led to theories suggesting that Madotsuki could have had personal experiences with a traffic accident in the real world, possibly involving family or friends. This theory could explain her isolation in her apartment—perhaps those involved in the accident died or sustained fatal injuries, leaving Madotsuki alone and trapped in her own memories.
+</div>
+===Escapism===
+<div class="scrollable" style="overflow:auto; max-height:600px; width:{{{width|100%}}}; -moz-border-radius-topleft:0.5em; border:1px solid #AAAAAA; padding-left:0.5em; background:transparent;">
+[[File:Madotsuki in Bed.png|center|thumb|Whatever is behind that door, it is too much for her to confront.]]
+Madotsuki is seemingly confined to her room, though it's unclear whether this is a voluntary isolation or something beyond her control. With little to occupy her time other than playing '''NASU''', writing in her diary, or sleeping, some fans speculate that Madotsuki retreats into her dream world as a means of escaping the monotony or harshness of her reality.
+*'''Madotsuki in Bed'''
+What lies behind the door is something too overwhelming for her to face.
+In the dream world, Madotsuki can soar through city skies, immerse herself in video games, interact with various characters, and travel across vast, surreal landscapes. However, despite the freedom her dreams offer, Madotsuki always returns to reality. This return is demonstrated through various dream events:
+*In the '''Witch's Flight''' event, she can fall, waking her up from the dream.
+*Interacting with a wall in the '''FC Dungeon''' triggers glitched graphics and a loud sound, abruptly waking Madotsuki.
+*Spending time with '''Poniko''' leads to the '''Uboa event''', where a dramatic change in the environment forces Madotsuki to wake up if she doesn't have the '''Medamaude''' effect.
+*Boarding the spaceship in the dream world results in a crash-landing on Mars, isolating Madotsuki and ultimately waking her up.
+These events, while seemingly pleasant or adventurous, ultimately tether Madotsuki to the waking world, suggesting that even within her dreams, she is unable to completely escape reality. This reinforces the theory that Madotsuki uses her dreams as a way to escape from the troubles or emptiness of her real life.
+</div>
+===Identity===
+<div class="scrollable" style="overflow:auto; max-height:600px; width:{{{width|100%}}}; -moz-border-radius-topleft:0.5em; border:1px solid #AAAAAA; padding-left:0.5em; background:transparent;">
+'''Yume Nikki''' incorporates a number of elements that can be interpreted as reflecting themes of personal identity, including gender, body image, and self-perception. Several effects, such as the '''Hair''' effects, might symbolize struggles with body or appearance dysphoria, suggesting a deeper exploration of Madotsuki’s inner conflict with her own identity.
+Creatures and entities throughout the dream world also seem to reflect themes of identity. For example, the uterus-like '''Floyag''' and the phallic '''KyuuKyuu-kun''' could be symbolic of feelings of alienation or discomfort with one’s body. The '''FACE''' event, which presents a distorted and grotesque face, may represent Madotsuki’s possible dissatisfaction with her own self-image. Similarly, the '''Henkei Shita''' creatures, which resemble figures with large stomachs, potentially allude to feelings of gender or body-related insecurities.
+Distorted entities like those found in the '''White Desert''' and '''Sewer Drawings''' have abnormal limbs, evoking a sense of something struggling to escape, which could metaphorically represent the desire to "come out" or embrace one’s true identity. Additionally, the presence of male and female restrooms throughout the dream world may represent a binary societal framework that Madotsuki navigates in her search for identity.
+In the game's ending, Madotsuki's apparent death could be interpreted as a form of "reawakening," symbolizing a personal transformation or the moment of coming to terms with one's identity, such as through self-acceptance or public revelation.
+</div>
+===Dream vs Reality===
+<div class="scrollable" style="overflow:auto; max-height:600px; width:{{{width|100%}}}; -moz-border-radius-topleft:0.5em; border:1px solid #AAAAAA; padding-left:0.5em; background:transparent;">
+Throughout the gameplay of '''Yume Nikki''', the dream world and the real world are portrayed as separate realms, with no dream elements bleeding into Madotsuki’s waking life. For example, during the '''Witch's Flight''' event, Madotsuki falls out of her bed, indicating that she is physically moving in the real world while having a powerful dream.
+However, the game's ending raises questions about the boundary between reality and dreams. Two Jellyfish appear during the ending sequence, which takes place in the real world, leading some fans to question whether this moment is truly part of reality or just another dream. Some theories suggest that the entire game could be a dream, pointing to Madotsuki's constantly closed eyes, the continued accumulation of yen after being pinched awake, and the surreal nature of her living situation (such as the lack of food or a bathroom) as evidence for this.
+Additionally, the blood splatter that appears in the ending is a recurring element in the dream world, which might be seen as either foreshadowing or the reuse of assets. However, some fans interpret this as symbolic of the idea that Madotsuki is unable to escape her nightmares, even in death, hinting at the possibility that she may be trapped in an endless cycle of dreams, unable to awaken fully.
+Though other pieces of ''Yume Nikki'' media also support the idea of the "Real" World merely being another dream layer with Yume Nikki itself showcasing that Madotsuki can go to sleep inside of the dream world to go into deeper layers of dreams.
+The core issue brought up with this belief is why Madotsuki cannot use any of her effects within the "real world" if it's a dream, which could potentially be answered by either the effects only being useful in those lower layers or Madotsuki herself is unaware she's in a dream in the "Real" World and realizes the truth at the end of the game. The Yume Nikki manga somewhat follows this interpretation too.
+</div>
+</div>
 ==Different Interpretations From Official Media==
+<div class="scrollable" style="overflow:auto; max-height:600px; width:{{{width|100%}}}; -moz-border-radius-topleft:0.5em; border:1px solid #AAAAAA; padding-left:0.5em; background:transparent;">
 As ''Yume Nikki'' is an exploration game with largely no story, the game is left up to interpretation, though there are official Yume Nikki creations that have their own interpretations that can be dervied from.
 *'''Manga Interpretation:''' In the Manga, Madotsuki is not [https://drive.google.com/file/d/1XhZUufguhuuMTnTzFO4qGKZ-WGR1-G7_/view?usp=sharing a shut-in that refuses to leave her room]<ref>Yume Nikki Real World</ref>, but rather it interprets the head shake as [https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1QuNtuG0aAqjkCLf9yHYKPb7uAHhOEnji?usp=sharing Madotsuki being unable to leave because she is trapped in her room rather then not wanting to leave it]<ref>Yume Nikki Manga Volume 1, Chapter 2</ref>. [https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1B4xWt4OJ_7DGp9iSGFBMKm5RwjSFrr-L?usp=sharing The Dream World is also a shared collective conscious of girls] [https://drive.google.com/file/d/1bIap8PnpLqcR9f7oni275xdp9rLXIb-L/view?usp=sharing trying to turn them into "good girls" with characters like Poniko trying to find a way to escape the dream world], [https://drive.google.com/file/d/1gdLNogAntyydT1FjXldXe3PJgC4HlQfe/view?usp=sharing along with this, the "real world" Madotsuki] [https://drive.google.com/file/d/1q-RwsVyt-vxzFZpTcF4lRx81jYeeefIR/view?usp=sharing keeps returning back too is still the dream world and] [https://drive.google.com/file/d/1kUUklUHn9CkiRwRpSJQPsyxq3oYzqo_Z/view?usp=sharing jumping off wakes her up into the true real world]<ref>Yume Nikki Volume 1, Chapter 5</ref><ref>Yume Nikki Volume 1, Chapter 6</ref><ref>Yume Nikki Volume 1, Chapter 7</ref><ref>Yume Nikki Volume 1, Chapter 8</ref><ref>Yume Nikki Volume 1, Chapter 9</ref>.
 *'''-Dream Diary- Interpretation:''' -Dream Diary- possesses some cutscenes unlike the original game, though overall the story is meant to be mostly non-existent and left up to the interpretation of the player, the only real aspect being that Madotsuki seems to help the inhabitants of the dream world more in -Dream Diary-. [https://youtu.be/Cd88Qft48SE?list=PLuBxbGovFOxJcKW5oQ737Q_tEYe9SJudY&t=648 Such as locking up a beast that kept all of the townspeople indoors]<Ref>Yume Nikki -Dream Diary- Ghost Town</ref>, [https://youtu.be/9hf0N1wgIcM?list=PLuBxbGovFOxJcKW5oQ737Q_tEYe9SJudY&t=452 attempting to give a crying school girl her torn up picture back together]<ref>Yume Nikki -Dream Diary- School</ref>, [https://youtu.be/9hf0N1wgIcM?list=PLuBxbGovFOxJcKW5oQ737Q_tEYe9SJudY&t=1062 and attempting to find and help her overall]<ref>Yume Nikki -Dream Diary- Red School End</ref>.
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 ==Misconceptions==

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Madotsuki: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 23:01, 19 March 2025

Background

Name Meaning

Personality

Appearance

Relationships

Poniko

General Information

Codex Statistics

Powers and Techniques

Equipment

Frog (かえる）

Umbrella （かさ）

Hat and Scarf / Hat & Scarf（ぼうしとマフラー）

Yuki-onna / Snow Woman （ゆきおんな）

Knife / Kitchen Knife（ほうちょう）

Medamaude / Eye Palm (めだまうで)

Fat / Fatten（ふとる）

Midget (こびと）

Whistle / Flute （ふえ）

Neon （ネオン）

Nopperabou / Faceless Ghost （のっぺらぼう）

Talking Head / Severed Head （なまくび）

Towel （タオル）

Cat （ねこ）

Lamp （でんとう）

Bicycle （じてんしゃ）

Long Hair （ロングヘアー）

Poop Hair / Poo Hair (ウンコヘアー)

Blonde Hair / Blonde （ブロンド）

Triangle Kerchief / Spirit Headband （ずきん）

Witch （まじょ）

Demon / Oni （おに）

Buyo Buyo / Squish-Squish （ぶよぶよ）

Stoplight / Traffic Light （しんごう）

Instructions / Tutorial （ゲームのせつめい）

Notable Techniques

Other

Note

Gallery

Trivia

Different Themes Gathered from the World

Isolation

Anxiety

Body Themes

Violence

Traffic Accidents

Escapism

Identity

Dream vs Reality

Different Interpretations From Official Media

Misconceptions

Madostuki's Race

Codex Statistics Questions

Battle Records

References

Navigation

Wiki tools

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Categories