| Ghost Talker's Daydream | |
| 低俗霊DAYDREAM (Teizokurei Daydream) |
|
|---|---|
| Genre | Comedy, Drama, Horror |
| Manga | |
| Written by | Saki Okuse |
| Illustrated by | Sankichi Meguro |
| Published by | Kadokawa Shoten |
| English publisher | Dark Horse |
| Demographic | Shōnen |
| Magazine | Shōnen Ace |
| Original run | 2001-02-26 – 2006-01-26 |
| Volumes | 10 |
| Original video animation | |
| Directed by | Osamu Sekita |
| Studio | Hal Film Maker |
| Licensed by | Geneon |
| Released | June 25, 2004 – December 23, 2004 |
| Episodes | 4 |
Ghost Talker's Daydream, known in Japan as Vulgar Ghost Daydream (低俗霊DAYDREAM Teizokurei Daydream), is a shōnen manga written by Saki Okuse and illustrated by Sankichi Meguro, set in modern Japan. There are 10 volumes in total, and the series was also adapted as a four episode OVA. The English version released by Geneon changed the title to Ghost Talker's Daydream, which is not a direct translation of the formal manga title.
The protagonist is the virgin albino woman Saiki Misaki holding down two jobs, neither of which she finds herself particularly happy with, one as a dominatrix in a BDSM club and writer of a column for a porno magazine and the other as a civil servant in the employ of The Livelihood Preservation Group as a necromancer able to perceive and to communicate with ghosts, sometimes allowing them to speak through her with the living. Her government job usually entails exorcism. Misaki considers her shamanic civil service position even more tawdry and less respectable than her sex work.
Subplots, often of one or two chapters in length, include such as introduce important characters, and others to help develop motivations of leading characters.
There are three major characters, at least one of whom appears in every chapter with the exception of chapter 16 "Dead Man's Hand". In order of introduction they are: Saiki Misaki, Mitsuru and Souichirou. Various recurring and often important characters also populate the series.
Fan service, nudity and sexual themes are all integral to motivation and backstory, along with insight into Japanese suicide culture and sexual dysfunction with sexual and physical abuse, such carnal troubles of the soul from which even death may guarantee no release.
The Japanese title translates as teizoku = vulgar + rei = ghost. However there is a pun on the word rei, which can also refer to a companion. In other words it can be said either Vulgar Ghost or Vulgar Companion, for Misaki Saiki is indeed a vulgar companion in contending with vulgar apparitions.
Contents |
| No. | Original | English | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Release date | ISBN | Release date | ISBN | |
| 1 | 02-26-2001 | ISBN 4047133981 | 07-29-2008 | ISBN 1593079508 |
| Ghost Talker's Daydream is a horror anime created by Saki Okuse and Sankichi Meguro. It tells the story of Misaki Saiki, a young woman with a troubled past, who is a professional dominatrix in one of Tokyo's most exclusive S&M clubs. However, her real money is something she likes even less than being a dominatrix. Ever since childhood, Misaki had the ability to see and communicate with ghosts, and that talent is put to use by the Livelihood Protection Agency, who has Misaki paired with Souichiro Kadotake, a martial-artist who happens to be deathly afraid of ghosts. Using her gifts, Misaki is able to help troubled departed spirits to resolve what is troubling them and allow them to move on to the afterlife. If all THAT isn't odd enough, Misaki is an albino AND a virgin! | ||||
| 2 | 07-27-2001 | ISBN 4047134457 | 11-11-2008 | ISBN 1595821864 |
| Welcome to the sexy, spooky, and suspenseful world of Ghost Talker's Daydream. In the continuing story of Saiki Misaki, the albino dominatrix necromancer, Misaki has to put her wits, looks, and knowledge of ghosts to the test. Follow Misaki as she dodges cops, fights psychos, and exorcises the dead. Fast-paced, smart, and sassy, Ghost Talker's Daydream is everything you loved about the anime and much, much more. | ||||
| 3 | 04-25-2002 | ISBN 4047134937 | 01-27-2009 | ISBN 1595822348 |
| After a young lesbian mysteriously dies, her spirit begins to haunt her lover. Who do you call when the ghost of your ex-lover keeps terrorizing you? Saiki Misaki, the albino dominatrix necromancer, of course! The highly sexualized, and eerily suspenseful tale of Ghost Talker's Daydream hits a provocative high point. Follow Saiki as she uses her powers to solve another nail-biting mystery filled with terrifying twists. | ||||
| 4 | 10-29-2002 | ISBN 4047135127 | 09-21-2009 | ISBN 1595822607 |
| If having hallucinations is scary, then seeing them at school would be terrifying. But when the hallucinations talk back to you, that's the kind of fright you've come to expect from the world of Ghost Talker's Daydream. Come join Saiki Misaki, the albino dominatrix necromancer, as she jumps head-first into another supernatural mystery. This time around the case becomes more personal, as the power that gives Saiki the ability to see and talk to the dead is the very thing terrorizing her client. Prepare yourself for an anything-but-typical "speaks to ghosts" manga that will blow you away with beautiful and sensual art coupled with a terrifying story. Dark Horse Manga continues to deliver top-notch Japanese horror manga at its finest. From writer Saki Okuse (Twilight of the Dark Master) and artist Sankichi Meguro. | ||||
| 5 | 05-01-2003 | ISBN 4047135607 | 02-15-2011 | ISBN 1595826661 |
| Saiki Misaki, our albino dominatrix necromancer hero, can't seem to get away from dead people. Even while on vacation! Far from home, resting at a spa resort, Misaki still seems to be a magnet for tragic stories and creepy scenes. And sometimes the creepy stuff just comes looking for her! In volume five of Ghost Talker's Daydream, Misaki's partner from back home is racing to find her with a few colorful characters in tow, namely the young stalker who's obsessed with Misaki, and a young girl who is also a budding necromancer. The result is a long trip to the world of the dead. | ||||
| 6 | 07-01-2004 | ISBN 404713645X | 06-07-2011 | ISBN 1595827153 |
| Three words: virgin, albino, dominatrix. But wait! One more word: necromancer. Yes, Japan has its fetishes, but not often does one find so many of them packed into one storyline, especially one with good writing. Enter Ghost Talker's Daydream. Suicide never goes on vacation, and our heroine can't seem to get a break, either. Back from a short time away, Misaki gets thrown right back into it, attempting to exorcize a particularly nasty, evil presence from an apartment building, before it kills all the tenants! | ||||
| 7 | 06-25-2005 | ISBN 4047137308 | TBA | ISBN TBA |
| 8 | 01-26-2006 | ISBN 4047137790 | TBA | ISBN TBA |
| 9 | 09-21-2006 | ISBN 4047138584 | TBA | ISBN TBA |
| 10 | 01-29-2008 | ISBN 404713953X | TBA | ISBN TBA |
Vulgar Ghost Daydream has also been produced as a short run OVA Anime of four episodes. In Japanese the title is still Teizokurei Daydream but United States distributor, Geneon Animation has re-titled the release Ghost Talker's Daydream. Of the four episodes, two follows the chapters from the manga closely, but the other two have very little relationship to the manga.
Episodes one and two of Ghost Talker’s Daydream, “Ghost Talker” and “Bindweed”, closely follow the events in volume one, chapter 2 (Ghost Talker) and volume two, chapter two (Bindweed) of the manga respectively. Episodes three and four, “Mad Bones” and “Water Spirit”, however, are original episodes that do not follow the manga.