Currently, actor Kim Soo Hyun is receiving a lot of attention as the most popular Korean drama of 2024 so far. queen of tearsBut one of the first dramas that caught my eye on him came out four years ago. It's okay if it's not okay.
On the surface, it's a beautiful and melancholy romance between writer Go Moon-young (Seo Ye-ji) and hospital janitor Moon Kang-tae (Kim Soo-hyun), but in reality, this drama is about our personal flaws. It's a celebration of acceptance. And it reminds us that even people who struggle with mental illness or social illness are just as valuable and beautiful as anyone else.
It is also a tribute to the caretakers, guardians, friends and families of people with special needs, including adults on the autism spectrum. The acting is great and the well-written stories range from thrilling to sweet and funny to heartbreaking. Additionally, the storybook art provided by Concept Her artist Jamsan is the perfect combination of creepy and heartfelt.
The central characters of the story are the Moon brothers Gang-tae and his autistic older brother Sang-tae (Oh Jeong-se), who is gifted with artistic talent. There are many meanings behind their names. Sang can refer to more (Sang) ability or talent (Tae). Gang-Tae means great courage or strength (Gang). Please forgive my rough interpretation. But did you get the point?
Now, there's Mante, the third “brother” you'll meet along the way. This one is more interesting. Mantae is a small handmade rag doll created to help Gangtae capture, trap, and hopefully defeat his brother's nightmares. Mantae Grandpa (Net Bag Grandpa) is a part of Korean folklore that warns children to be respectful and good towards their parents. You don't want Grandpa Mante to lock you in his backpack and take you away. From Krampus to La Llorona, many cultures have similar characters that seem familiar.
But Mantein, the bone of contention between Sangtae and Munyeong's stubborn spirits, will rather trap your bad dreams. Since the drama first came out in 2020, when many of us felt lonely and alone, Man-tae has struck a chord with creative K-drama fans, and even now, he continues to share his love for Man-tae on Etsy and more. Find inspired fan art and homemade items. Along with YouTube DIYS and more.
Mante is a symbol of overcoming the nightmares that many of us face. I've been plagued by nightmares and night terrors most of my life, but having something like a “nightmare trapper” might help alleviate these.
Since May is Mental Health Awareness Month, I'd like to introduce you to a very easy way to make one. It's okay if it's not okay Inspire Mang-Tae dolls to capture your own nightmares and fears.
All you need is stuffing (polyfibre fill or rice is fine), felt, two buttons, and black thread. You don't have to be a master sewer to know this looks like something a young man put together to comfort his younger brother.
Prepare 4 pieces of felt. One each in light grey, dark grey, mustard yellow, and beige.
For the head: Cut two identical small irregular rounded edge squares from the beige piece, including a small “neck” on one side. Sew one plain black button eye and a small green button eye onto one of the circles. Sew a simple opening using black embroidery thread. The slightly “rumpy'' look in the drama is cute, but you can also go for a simple black line if you wish. Sew the sides together, leaving a small opening in the “neck” area. Any simple stitch will do. It doesn't matter if the thread is visible or not.
for limbs: Cut 8 pieces of equal length from mustard felt with rounded ends. If you need a guide, a school ruler or tongue depressor can be helpful. For each limb he sews two pieces together, leaving one end open for stuffing. Fill each one in and sew the edges. Let's put them aside.
For the body: Cut two long pieces of the trapezoid. Sew the short edges on each side of the neck opening of the head. Next, sew the arm part from both sides just below the neck. Sew both sides of the main body together, leaving the bottom open. Sew the legs on the inside of the back or front section. Close the doll by filling the body and head and sewing the bottom together (leaving a little ruffle at the edges). Use a red or black felt-tip pen to draw some dots on the front of the body.
It's your mante. Now all he needs is an accessory.
For backpacks: Cut out two dark gray squares and sew them together, leaving one end open. Unlike dolls, it's turned inside out so you can't see the seams. Sew a light gray band around the pack using a piece of gray felt.
To attach the pack to the doll, cut two small dark gray strips and pin them to one end of the open top of the backpack. Wrap the straps around each doll's arms and sew the bottom part to the backpack. It's easier if you don't cut the straps first. Sew as tightly as you need, then cut off the excess edge.
Put some more stuffing or cotton balls in your pack to help your nightmares land quietly.
Place it by your bed to catch your own bad dreams or gift it to someone who needs a little sleep companion.
I would be happy if I could help you with your journey and give you some peace of mind and body.
As Ko Moon-young herself says, The boy who ate nightmaresbad dreams and memories may not be forgotten, but they can be overcome.
“Only those who have buried such (bad) memories in their hearts can become stronger, more passionate, more flexible in their emotions. Only those can achieve happiness,” she said. wrote. “So, don't forget anything. Remember everything and get over it. If you don't get over it, you'll remain a child whose soul never grows.”