Kuwentong Bangtan: The Anima and the Gemini in J-Hope's Sweet Dreams

J-Hope’s Sweet Dreams (ft. Miguel) and the campaign leading up to its release have been nothing short of phenomenal. He performed it in the concert in Seoul prior to its official date of release making the experience a treat for fans and ARMY -- that was beyond special. What with the sweet and wholesome concept photos, we’re all left wondering where the sexy and sensual lyrics fit in the music video. At last. It is here!

After 12 hours – and more of live broadcast on Weverse that includes a fan meet (this is another story worthy of remembering in BTS History) today, fans and ARMYs from all over had it in full. The memes are out and comeback theories abound. This is me, jumping in the bandwagon.

Because I’m a big fan of Map of the Soul 7 and the Jungian framework from which it is based on, it is from this lens that I will base my theory.

The MV of Sweet Dreams is a striking fusion of sensuality and introspection, both in its sound and its visuals. The music video presents a world in chaos—his house flying, structures crumbling—yet in the end of, he meets a woman on the road and smiles at her. Through a Jungian lens, this imagery suggests the house as a symbol of the Self, while the woman represents the Anima, the unconscious feminine energy that serves as a creative and emotional guide. The timing of the release, following his military service and in the midst of Hope on the Stage Concert Tour, makes this moment even more significant. It is a meeting not just with another person but with a deeper part of himself—a grounding in his artistic roots even as the world around him shifts and changes.

At first glance, the sensual lyrics of Sweet Dreams seem to contrast with this interpretation, but they actually reinforce it. The Anima is not only an abstract muse; she is a source of intuition and passion. By including desire and pleasure in the song’s lyrics, Hobi is embracing the physical and emotional impulses that fuel his artistry. Creativity is not just about thought—it is deeply felt, instinctual, and alive in the body. The meeting with the Anima in the MV, then, is more than just recognition—it is a surrender to his true artistic self, a recovery of the emotions and desires that drive his creative expression.

It is interesting to note the word “Gemini” in the lyrics which can also be the embodiment of the Anima representing Hobi’s internal dialogue between two sides: one who dreams (cue in Future) and one who doubts (cue in What if). What ties this metaphor of the Gemini in the zodiac to the Anima of Jung is its balance and mediator role between opposing views be it conscious or not. The Gemini girl could be the voice that leads him into the realm of dreams where emotional honesty opens to the road of transformation.

This moment ties into HOTS Vol. 1, representing a return to Hobi’s roots in movement and expression. The chaos symbolizes destruction, but his smile as he meets the Anima/Gemini girl shows acceptance and trust in what comes next.

BTS is consistent in their messaging of change, growth and evolution. These themes span 5 eras of their discography. As the Military Era comes to a close in three months, we are seeing a BTS in constant motion and movement. The beautiful thing about their on-going narrative is that, they remain tethered to their roots as they clear paths and pave new ways of creative expression.

Only Bangtan! Apobangpo! Purple and true!