Editing Dream Eater

{{youmay|the species as a whole|[[Dream Eaters (track)|the musical theme]]'''. For '''Spirit creation, training, and mechanics''', see '''[[Spirit]]}}

{{redirect|Nightmare|Nightmare (ability)|the ability|The Nightmare|the musical theme}}

There are two types of Dream Eaters: benevolent {{nihongo|'''[[Spirit]]s'''|スピリット|Supiritto}}, which feast upon bad dreams, and malevolent {{nihongo|'''Nightmares'''|ナイトメア|Naitomea}}, which plant bad ones.<ref>'''''[[Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance]]''''', '''Yen Sid:''' "You'll recall, in your first journey, that you brought many worlds back from the darkness—but some never returned completely. They still sleep, cut off from all outside channels. Not even the Heartless can enter. But these Sleeping Worlds are said to have their own manner of darkness. They are called "Dream Eaters," and there are two kinds- "Nightmares," which devour happy dreams- and benevolent "Spirits," which consume the Nightmares. The Dream Eaters will guide you, just as the Heartless once guided you, to the Keyhole you seek at the heart of each world."</ref> During their [[Mark of Mastery exam]], [[Sora]] and [[Riku]] recruit Spirit Dream Eaters as [[party member]]s to help combat the Nightmares plaguing the [[Sleeping Worlds]].   

[[Tetsuya Nomura]] designed the [[Meow Wow]]; all of the others were designed by other staff members.<ref>'''''[[Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance Ultimania]]''''', '''Interviewer''': "Which Dream Eaters did you design yourself?" / '''Tetsuya Nomura''': "The only one I drew myself is Meow Wow. I drew it basically all in one go, and didn't edit it at all. As for the other Spirits, I showed Meow Wow to the staff and requested that they 'please give them a design that is strange, charming without being too cute'. They drew for me in high spirits, and came out with one interesting design after another." [https://www.khinsider.com/news/KH3D-Ultimania-Interviews-Translated-2602 Translation via Goldpanner]</ref> Several Dream Eater designs were scrapped, but the [[Queen Buzzerfly]] was revived as a boss.<ref>'''''[[Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance Ultimania]]''''', '''Mamoru Ohashi''': "Of course, halfway through development, many Dream Eaters were cut, to my extreme sadness. Among them was Queen Buzzerfly, which began designed as a normal small-fry enemy and cut, but made a miraculous recovery as a Dive Mode boss, which is rare to have happen. By the way, when it was small-fry it attacked by sitting in the eye of a needle and spinning like a top." [https://www.khinsider.com/news/KH3D-Ultimania-Staff-Interviews-2947 Translation via Goldpanner]</ref> A lapine Dream Eater concept was planned for inclusion at one point, and is depicted in the [[Ultimania]]. It would have fought using carrots plucked from the ground.

Like the [[Unversed]], Heartless, and [[Nobody|Nobodies]], Dream Eaters come in many shapes, sizes, and colors. They resemble real-world animals, and they bear emblems that designate them as either Spirits or Nightmares. While Spirit Dream Eaters are brightly colored, Nightmares are typically less vibrant. Spirits' eyes depend on their [[Disposition]], while Nightmares' eyes are round, red, and lack pupils.