Connect with us
Colorful Dreams Review
Vertical

Manga and Anime

Colorful Dreams Review

This is the perfect book for a rainy day of introspection.

If you’ve ever wanted to experience another person’s daydream, Colorful Dreams by VOFAN may be what you’re looking for. It’s a mixed media art book featuring ruminations on life, photography, and art, all combining to share the experience of living life and sharing in the smaller moments. If you give this book a chance you’ll find it’s a unique experience and one you don’t see often in the marketplace.

Split up across 14 stories, VOFAN opens each story with a title and some context, cuts to some manga-style art and story, and finishes the same story with the same title and further reflection. Each story is different from one another and unconnected, but the format keeps a thread in each story so as to draw your interest and reflect on the subject well. Much of the book is focused on living in Taiwan which is unique in itself, but it helps share and builds on the culture of the area. A lot is covered over the stories and the calm in each story creates a pace and flow to the overall book that’s unmistakably hard to resist.

Colorful Dreams Review

A preview of all the stories.
Vertical Comics

Stories range from waiting for the bus on a hot summer day, to taking refuge under a makeshift roof containing idols, and working outside a restaurant with competition staring right at you. VOFAN is very good at capturing a bit of the magic of being alive in every story. A personal favorite is a story about the back alley of apartments on the first day of snow. VOFAN captures the beauty of the dark and tight space while reflecting on why it’s so touching to stand between apartment buildings. Most stories feature young female characters which help add softness and sense of youth to every story too.

Colorful Dreams Review

Hot summer days are the worst.
Vertical Comics

Adding to the overall package is VOFAN’s photography, which is at times abstract, obtuse, and vaguely reflective of life. It adds a personal layer to the subject and makes the book feel intimate. Also of note is the lettering and placement, which sometimes runs at an angle or rests in an unexpected place. Translated by Sze K. Chan, the lettering and language is beautiful and draws you into the narrative in its own way. There truly is a blending of artistic styles from translation, photography, art, and personal story. It’s a richly layered story well worth exploring.

Added to all this is a Q&A with VOFAN, which is helpful especially for readers like myself who aren’t familiar with the artist. It’s a nice way to finish the book since it helps add context and personal personality after sharing in VOFAN’s journey along the way.

Colorful Dreams Review

The prose can be quite good.
Vertical Comics

This is quite a book that’s beautiful, introspective, and really a celebration of life via the smaller moments. The blending of artistic types and stories helps make this feel like a day in the life that’s intimate and well worth exploring. This is the perfect book for a rainy day of introspection.

Colorful Dreams Review
Colorful Dreams
Is it good?
This is quite a book that's beautiful, introspective, and really a celebration of life via the smaller moments. The blending of artistic types and stories helps make this feel like a day in the life that's intimate and well worth exploring. This is the perfect book for a rainy day of introspection.
A blending of art forms that can be quite moving
Interesting unconnected chapters that have a structure in themselves
Q&A adds to the experience by the end
I'll fully admit the unconnected stories and more artist day-dream style won't be for everyone!
10
Fantastic

Join the AIPT Patreon

Want to take our relationship to the next level? Become a patron today to gain access to exclusive perks, such as:

  • ❌ Remove all ads on the website
  • 💬 Join our Discord community, where we chat about the latest news and releases from everything we cover on AIPT
  • 📗 Access to our monthly book club
  • 📦 Get a physical trade paperback shipped to you every month
  • 💥 And more!
Sign up today
Comments

In Case You Missed It

WWE SmackDown preview, full card: March 1, 2024 WWE SmackDown preview, full card: March 1, 2024

WWE SmackDown preview, full card: March 1, 2024

Pro Wrestling

AEW Dynamite preview, full card: February 28, 2024 AEW Dynamite preview, full card: February 28, 2024

AEW Dynamite preview, full card: February 28, 2024

Pro Wrestling

AEW Rampage preview, full card: March 1, 2024 AEW Rampage preview, full card: March 1, 2024

AEW Rampage preview, full card: March 1, 2024

Pro Wrestling

Marvel unveils the new villains Bloodcoven appearing in 'Blood Hunt' Marvel unveils the new villains Bloodcoven appearing in 'Blood Hunt'

Marvel unveils the new villains Bloodcoven appearing in ‘Blood Hunt’

Comic Books

Connect
Newsletter Signup