Cast in Shadow

I think this piece of art deserves a full critique instead of just a comment. So let's start:

The first impression of the work, that comes to my mind, is a dark toned feeling with elements of mystery, threat and fear. The overall number of the characters feels a bit overwhelming, but not overcrowded for a knowing reader. More like a warfield picture, where details are first spotted at the second view. If I would give the picture a short description, it would be 'clash of fates'.

The layout has a loose positioning structure without being too strikt, organising the most characters in fitting connected groups like the Troika, the dark dreamkeepers, the nightmares, the government or the main heroes.
The focus is on the main cast, where the other groups are organised around them in a halfed circle action line. That underlines the main cast without focussing too much on them.
The placement at all is well chosen, placing groups like the Troika and the government against each other, but the 'main evil' as a constant thread in the upper half and background.

The placing ground of the characters is multishaped, featuring locations from the story. They blend in each other very good with a believable transition, without cutting the picture in strict pieces.

The background with the stars and clouds looks convincing and maches the detailed rest of the picture. The moon may be too clean drawn and detailed, drawing too much attention and putting it too close in the foreground.

The characters are drawn dynamically and in motion, giving the picture a flowing living touch and breaking with the problem of group shots being too static and thus uninteresting.

The details are high and sometimes, like the motion, throwing up questions, for example Kalei evoking some power not yet seen. Or the whole 'Neon Knives' cast, where the reader may ask: Will there be more focus on some characters of them just seen as background until now?
A recurrent pattern are the ryuu-nekos placed all around the picture, some being mere decoration, some being part of the story. There are many detailed elements to discover if one views longer at the picture and searches around. It invites the viewer to take a closer look.

The overall color sheme appears to be based on a variance of purple, grey and blue tones, supporting the dark and mysterious feel, but also making it feel cold and denying. A viewer not familiar with the story gets the impression of Dreamkeepers being a more horror based storyline. If thats right or not one should find out on its own <img src="e.deviantart.net/emoticons/w/w…" width="15" height="15" alt="" data-embed-type="emoticon" data-embed-id="387" title=" (Wink)"/> Maybe the picture is a bit too purple based at all.

The drawing style is detailed and clean without significant errors to find. The shadowing is a mix between mostly cell-shading, combined with soft-shading to support a three-dimensional look and picture depth. The ground and object surface patterns look convincing and believable.

Conclusion: The art consists of clean, well set lines and drawn with high technique ability, featuring a great variance of details and variety. For the knowing reader, it is a pleasure to look closer to it and find all the story relevant characters and even some background ones. Some elements throwing up story questions, making it more interesting.
For a new reader or an unknowing viewer it may be a bit overwhelming with too many characters. Though the positioning tries to focus some spots like the main cast to break with that impression. The positioning itself is chosen with thought and not just mere by accident.
The idea of a group shot of a story cast is not new, but the dynamic and interesting poses and the combined settings and completeness of the appearing characters of the story offers unequaled opportunities.
The color sheme supports the dark and mysterious feeling, but may be a bit too purple based, if one doesn't like that color.
So if you like anthro comic art and a dark setting with many details, there is no reason to not approve it highly. For Dreamkeeper readers this picture is a must have in the favourites list. I would hang it as a poster in my room <img src="e.deviantart.net/emoticons/b/b…" width="15" height="15" alt="" data-embed-type="emoticon" data-embed-id="366" title=" (Big Grin)"/>