Bendy: Dreams Come to Life
- This article refers to the first published novel. For its graphic novel adaptation, see Bendy: Dreams Come to Life (graphic novel).
- For other uses, see Bendy (disambiguation).
Bendy and the Ink Machine: Dreams Come to Life, abbreviated as DCtL, is a young adult horror novel written by Adrienne Kress and published on September 3, 2019, by Scholastic Inc. Taking place in 1946, the novel sets as an indirect prequel to the Bendy game saga.
The audiobook version was published on September 3, 2019, with narration done by Christopher Carley. The graphic novel adaptation was released on August 6, 2024.
Summary
Seventeen-year-old Buddy has spent most of his life trying to escape the Lower East Side slums of New York City. Working as a delivery boy to support his family, Buddy wants to become an artist, a dream he’s sure will never be realized. But that all changes when a delivery job puts him face-to-face with Mister Joey Drew, the eccentric owner of an animation studio.
Mister Drew takes Buddy under his wing as an apprentice, thrusting him into a world unlike anything Buddy has ever seen before. There’s the colorful cast of the studio, from the cranky, yet driven composer Sammy Lawrence to Dot, the writing intern, and Buddy’s counterpart. Working for Mister Drew, Buddy starts to think that maybe it’s really as simple as Mister Drew says: Dreams do come true. But not everything at the studio is as picture-perfect as it seems...
Something is going bump in the night at Joey Drew Studios, something that leaves behind trails of thick, dark ink. While the studio frantically works toward their latest deadline, Buddy and Dot team up to find out just what is tormenting the studio after-hours, even if it means tracking the trail to Mister Drew himself.
Don't miss this official, original, pulse-pounding story from award-winning author Adrienne Kress, developed with theMeatly, Mike Mood, and Bookpast!
Synopsis
Characters
- Main article: List of characters (Bendy: Dreams Come to Life)
- Buddy Lewek - A young boy who dreams of being an artist, and is hired on as a gofer by Joey. And later he's reincarnated as Boris the Wolf.
- Dot - A curious writer at Joey Drew Studios with a nose for trouble.
- Joey Drew - The founder of Joey Drew Studios. He is an overarching antagonist of Bendy and the Ink Machine and every book.
- Richie - A ragamuffin artist at Joey Drew Studios, and Buddy's friend.
- Jacob - A stylish artist at Joey Drew Studios, and Buddy's friend.
- Dave - An elderly artist at Joey Drew Studios who tends to keep to himself.
- Irena Lewek - Buddy's hardworking mother.
- Mr. Unger - Buddy's grandfather, and a Holocaust survivor, who teaches Buddy about art.
- Sammy Lawrence - The music director of Joey Drew Studios.
- Ink Demon - The monstrous failed experiment at creating Bendy that haunts Joey Drew Studios.
- Ink - A strange living organism that terrorizes Joey Drew Studios and anything that's around itself.
Story
Prologue
Buddy Lewek narrates, talking about how the Ink Demon is essentially haunting him, causing him to be on alert at all times. He reveals he's writing the book for Dot to find and read, in hopes it will help her stay safe.
Chapter 1
Buddy begins by narrating and describing his life. He lived in the Lower East Side of New York in the year of 1946. He describes the place as humid, hot and stinking of urine. Ever since his pa died, Buddy had to dropped out of school in order to help his ma, who both work for Mr. Schwartz; delivering both sewed and pieces to be sew by his ma. Buddy describes his ma smile as not like the Ink Demon's, however soon moves on to by him talking about how he was too old to be doing the job. As he was turning 17 and got promoted to be Mr. Schwartz's go-to delivery guy. Which Buddy agrees to as he gets to see better parts o New York City: greener and cleaner neighborhoods, along with his favourite past time being to watch artist draw for tourist. However most of the time he gets shoo away due to being real close and into thier personal space.
Buddy's backstory reveals that he would stay up late and try to mimic cartoons in order to learn how to draw. As a result of staying up late, he would sleep in, causing him to be late for class; and get sent to the principal's office a lot for doodling. Once he got the hang of drawing, he started to create his own characters and adventures up. This all under the assumption that his grandfather Mr. Unger must have been an artist, a painter in Poland who gifted a painting to Buddy's family called "the old country". Buddy wishes they could sell the painting for money, however ma refuses to do so.
One day, Buddy gets distracted by an artist in Central Park and loses the suit that he was delivering at the time. Mr. Schwartz threatened him on losing his job and his promotion, threatening his financial support from the job that him and ma are reliable on. This not the first offense, as there were situations like this in the past. One more chance is given to Buddy after forgiveness and he carries Joey's suit to Joey Drew Studios at Broadway; where after meeting Norman and Mrs. Miller after a blackout in the city, Norman leads him up halfway up to Mister Drew's office, which Buddy trips causing racket outside his office. Mister Drew welcomes Buddy to his office and gives him a glass of water to make sure he is okay. Which leads into a conversation about how the suit was done well, made by ma, and wondering if Buddy is a artist. In response, he said he drew sometimes in his free time, which Joey replied with having drawn sometimes as well. Mister Drew offers Buddy a job as the studio gofer, delivering from department to department, and also offered twice the amount of what Mr. Schwartz is currently paying him. Joey then introduced Buddy to Bendy.
Chapter 2
Mister Drew rambled about how no one knew about Bendy, even at Buddy's age. Power was restored with a clap, and Joey almost took Buddy on a studio tour. However, Thomas Connor, who waited in the front lobby for a special meeting to discuss the future of the Ink Machine, was taken aback by Mister Drew, and Buddy was left with paperwork for the following day.
Buddy ended up getting home late after quitting his job at Mr. Schwartz’s and stopped by Ms. Pank's deli, where the Jankowski kids wanted to play pickleball, and then sat on the beach. That day itself made him calmer than he had ever been. Excited to work at Joey Drew Studios, Buddy had hopes that it would bring more money into the household, so his ma wouldn’t have to work any more than she already had to. And nobody was going to stop him from working there.
While trying to sleep, Buddy had a nightmare that later scared him away from his grandfather. Ma was worried when she heard the screams; however, she explained that it was his grandfather. Having to share a bed in order with him to stay was last-minute, since he arrived the same day that Buddy got the job at Joey Drew Studios. Buddy didn’t bother to argue, as there was no point. He also apologized for being out late and explained to Ma what Joey Drew Studios is: making and producing Bendy cartoons.
Chapter 3
In the morning, Buddy gets caught up to Dot, who begins commenting on how Buddy looks like a baby horse off balance. However, soon after Dot leaves for Story, Abby Lambert introduces herself to Buddy before the entire Art Department. One employee is confused why Buddy was hired; as Joey froze new hirings, however, Abby shrugs is off. Then, after a while when sitting at his desk, Jacob introduces himself and the characters in the Bendy cartoons. Such as Bendy, Boris, and Alice. Along with the discovery of the name "Henry" on the desk. Buddy, wanting to make him proud.
His first task of being the gofer is taking drafts of art to Story. Buddy is confused about where Dot is, despite being the only woman in the Story Department. Then his second task was the Music Department. Which was a maze to find due to have it was laid out. He ends up finding music, and the violinist acts weirdly. Buddy hears thuds, reminding him of the nightmare from the night before. Sammy comes crashing in, and scaring Buddy at first. However, Buddy grabs a cup of water and a rug, and Sammy cleans himself. While putting all his anger on Buddy about the busted pipe in the sheet music closet. Sammy demands that Buddy clean up the mess. Going to vent about ink stains stays with the people when touched. From Buddy Boris's view.
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Buddy ends up deciding that he would do what Dot had suggested from the night before. First move being to sneak around the sheet music closet instead of the art supply. As he would not get caught as easy if he had gone to the art supply closet.
Buddy proceeds to go to the Music Department. Into the sheet closet and get the materials; thick paper, ink bottle with ink. But right before he was able to get a fountain pen, he stops as he hears footsteps, staying still. Hearing the argument between Sammy and Thomas. Further complaints that Sammy steals the ink from his work station. Along with not having the respect he deserves from an authority position.
After this, Buddy asked Dot to see if she knew anything about the Ink Machine and about Tom. No response, she would investigate further on the claims. The chapter ends with Buddy noticing that Sammy had drank a bottle of ink when not looking.
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Development
Reception
Gallery
Audiobook cover.
Videos