#KetchupCut: The Sandman: Dream of a Thousand Cats is about whimsy, belief and the power of dreams

With a peculiar take on how living beings pursue dreams, the standalone episode from Netflix's The Sandman Season One, Dream of a Thousand Cats, shows us the power of believing.

If you are a pet owner, you understand the feeling of watching your pet sleep. While it is one of the most wholesome things you could ever witness, you can’t help but wonder if they dream too. If they do, what do they dream about? Since human are often driven by the desire to acquire material possessions or ambitions that shape their waking life, what motivates a pet's dreams, since they are not bound by these concerns? Netflix's The Sandman’s bonus episode, 'Dream of a Thousand Cats' from season one, boldly explores these questions in the most whimsical way possible.

An inventive reminder of the power of dreams, this episode is an ode to one of the most celebrated chapters of the popular comic. The show, known for taking us on the journey of Morpheus, the Dream Lord, relies heavily on helping us understand the importance of maintaining balance between the dream world and waking life. You are constantly reminded of how the stories woven by our unconscious mind, within a world we believe to be unreal, are controlled and meant to inspire us when we wake up. The episode ‘Dream of a Thousand Cats’ emphasizes this. It reinforces the idea that dreams are not exclusive to humans but are something that drives every living creature.

The story follows a kitten who, while domesticated by a loving family, attends a gathering of cats to listen to an old Siamese cat speak. Known as the Prophet, the cat moves around the world, sharing the story she learned in the Dreaming world. Voiced by Sandra Oh, the cat talks about the revelation that was given to her by Cat of Dreams, a feline version of Morpheus (Tom Sturridge), about a world where cats domesticated humans and ruled over the world. This changed when one human decided to dream of a new world. As the cats basked in the game of 'cats and man', the world was transformed when the man inspired his fellow human beings to dream of a world where they are ‘no longer hunted, no longer preyed.’ As more and more people began seeing the same dream, the world truly changed into what we witness today. 

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What makes the episode, which has little to push the plot forward, stand out is definitely the fact that it is entirely animated. The visuals are a blend of classically drawn 2D and realistic 3D animation that helps us imagine the world that could have been, if it were not for a man to dreams of a world we currently reside in. Adding to the mystic and magical world of the Sandman universe, the episode truly convinces us to believe in the world of dreaming. With its hypnotic score and incredible ensemble of talented voice actors, the episode successfully conveys its central idea, that dreams truly impact and shape our reality. 

It’s easy for us to be smitten by the adorable little kitten to guide us to the gathering, introducing us to the Siamese cat whose tragedy of losing her kids opened her eyes to a world that is long forgotten. The episode explores the unfairness of life, illustrating how one person’s dream can be a tragedy for another. As the cat narrates the tale of an ester year, it highlights how, through the power of dreaming, they can reclaim their throne and take over the world that now treats them as an inferior being. It’s a gateway for us to discover the power that our unconscious minds have, the idea that the world can be reshaped through determination, regardless of the species.

Although we see this unfairness through the eyes of a cat, we know for sure that it is anything but a reflection of our own lives. In light of everything happening in the world, it is becoming increasingly clear that we, as human beings, are naturally drawn to dreaming. We long for a vision of a world that differs from our current experiences. If enough of us dream together, we have the power to reshape our reality and witness a better version of the world.

What did you think of this standalone episode of the show? Let us know in the comments below.

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