DESCRIPTION

CAST

MANGA ActionDandadan
MUSIC Sci-FiTAIDADA
ANIME ActionDandadan 2nd Season

REVIEWS

• 

  H8ter

  90/100
  The Greatest Romance Shounen To Date

  ••••• MY EXPERIENCE WITH SHOUNEN ROMANCE •••••

  Maybe it's because I'm losing interest in the genre, or maybe it's that I've watched too many, but romance anime is getting very repetitive. I'm always looking for something with a twist- a change from boring student council arcs and thirsty harems. There are exceptions of course, but the consensus is that the same tropes are being exhausted.

  Romance Shounen seems like a good idea!

  Most Shounen romances suffer from the same thing- there is almost no room in the plot for the main leads to bond, as it is mostly fighting. There are two that I can think of as exceptions: Sword Art Online & Fate Stay Night: Unlimited Bladeworks. They both have good romance, but the tone of the story isn't funny and cheerful, the glue for a good romance.

  And that's where DAN DA DAN comes in.

  ••••• OVERVIEW •••••

  ★ Okarun is a nerdy and socially awkward guy who loves to talk about aliens and UAPs (UFOS). He has always been bullied for his interests and awkwardness - resulting in an inferiority complex.

  Okarun first meets Momo when she saves him from being bullied.

  ★ Momo is a feisty, bold, and aggressive "popular girl" who is intimidated by almost nothing. She has just broken up with her boyfriend, as she really only dated him because he looked like her favorite actor.

  Momo believes in ghosts, and Okarun believes in aliens. Neither of them thinks the other is sane, and they want to prove each other wrong. So they both go to places where aliens and ghosts should be, proving that aliens and ghosts do in fact exist.

  DAN DA DAN is about two kids fighting aliens and ghosts while falling in love.

  ••••• MIGHT NOT BE FOR YOU •••••

  DAN DA DAN isn't for everyone. And that's a fact. The first episode has Momo chained down in a chair while aliens try to take her genitals. Just by hearing that you can probably guess that the show will have many more things like this to come, and you'd be right. Nothing ever happens when the aliens chain Momo down, and I think that also speaks volumes about the story. There are crazy scenes that have outrageous things happening like a demon asking for Okaruns banana, but they are clearly there for lighthearted fun. The “plot” of the story is Okarun trying to get his balls back after an alien took them (plus the romance). And if that doesn't sound like your thing, then DAN DA DAN isn't for you.

  I know a lot of people don't like fanservice, so I'll say this: There is almost no direct fanservice in the whole series except for weird alien moments like the one mentioned at the beginning. The only direct fanservice is Momo's grandma, and even that is rare. The author of the series doesn't add unnecessary sexual innuendoes and that earns a lot of respect.

  ••••• ROMANCE •••••

  The chemistry and pacing are some of the best I've seen, and not in the way you think.

  DANDADAN is weird because the confession doesn't feel important. Most romances out there have the clear goal of confession, where weak points in the plot are the catalyst for entertainment, while Momo and Okaruns relationship thrives off of pure chemistry and learning what it means to understand. Now there are points in the story where problems in their relationship arise, but they aren't dragged on for countless episodes. The reason that this works so well is because of the characters, and how they view human connection. Okarun has obviously lacked connection all his life, so when something comes up, he understands the importance of making it right with the other person. Momo on the other hand, is a "popular girl" that doesn't really have trouble making friends- though these friends clearly dont value their relationship as much as Okarun. I love Momo as a character, because she's a likeable "half" Tsundere that can be harsh at times but realizes what shes doing is wrong, unlike every other female lead. (cough cough Taiga cough cough Alya cough cough Chitoge )

  What I'm really trying to get at is that 70% of the reason this works is because of Okarun.

  A lot of people praise Hachiman because hes "relatable" and a "loner" but I think that Okarun is a million times better. Comparing these two seems weird as these anime aren't similar at all, but I'm using it as a baseline to say this:

  Okarun is the one of the most relatable and real male leads I have ever seen.

  ••••• ACTION •••••

  The fight scenes in DANDADAN are beautiful and full of color, thanks to Science Saru. Momo and Okarun work together as a team, patching together their weaknesses, and most importantly, adding comedic relief while sprinkling in some cute moments. There's nothing bad I can say about the action.

  ••••• STORY •••••

  DANDADAN is MUCH different as it's structured more as a slice of life, with there not really being an end goal like One Piece for example (actually I guess Okarun getting his balls back could be it.) The balance between romance and fight scenes is awesome, as you'll get some episodes full of Okarun and Momo growing closer, beautiful fights, and incredible backstories that make you cry (9.7 on IMDB).

  ••••• DANDAPEAK •••••

  Though DANDADAN might not sound like its for everyone, I think it marks a turning point in romance.

  If you have any feedback/thoughts, reply to this thread! Id love to talk about the show. https://anilist.co/activity/830705347

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• 

  JJWip7

  45/100
  Dandadan: The Neon Playground—what a tease

  A _Dan Da Dan_ Review Frustratingly average; I just can’t get those words out of my head. With a soundtrack, aesthetic, and sound design better than most new-gen shōnens, _Dan Da Dan_ (2024) has all the cards for a great 2020s anime. And yet, it falls flat. Even when the series plays with satire at just the right moments–when it’s on the verge of breaking the mold, the author frustratingly falls back onto the same old regurgitated storylines and plot beats that have plagued the shōnen world for years. I’ll start this with our two main characters. First we’ve got Momo Ayase, our feisty female lead who is fine, I guess. She’s got that certain archetype of modern teenage spunk and supernatural intrigue that many new gen series exhibit. Then we have Ken Takakura (Okarun), the nerdy male counterpart who isn’t that much better. He’s a walking trope: awkward, earnest, and tragically predictable. And the dynamic between the two? Sure, it’s cute at times, but it’s also as if someone took the blueprint for a quirky anime duo and just decided to control c, control v without bothering to tweak it. Now, I’ll give credit where credit is due: the sound design and aesthetic are exceptional. The atmosphere is honestly better than it has any right to be. Neon, shimmering throughout an alien infested playground, a place where kinetic energy feels like it’s being harnessed via raw unadulterated serotonin. The soundtrack too, is a standout. Tracks pair together and thread the needle between high-energy beats, haunting extraterrestrial synths, and slap-stick bumpers, pulling you into a world that, for all its narrative faults, feels genuinely alive. How about the story? The premise—a mix of ghost hunting, alien encounters, and supernatural brawls, I’ll give it to them, it is undeniably unique. It’s like someone threw _JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure_ (1986), _Mob Psycho 100_ (2012), and a splash of _Urusei Yatsura_ (1978) into a blender; except what we get is a chunky, lumpy mess. The story jumps from one outrageous set piece to another, barely giving you the time of day to digest what exactly just happened before they decide to throw another golden curveball at you. And while aimlessly swinging the bat is fun for the first few episodes (and when done right, can get you the holy grail of anime: _FLCL_ 2000), the novelty wears off quickly. By the midpoint, I started craving something more substantial from the series (and no, that half-baked Jujutsu Kaisen (2018) style character (Acrobatic Sarasara) doesn’t count). The satire, when it’s there, is sharp, witty. They’ll have you thinking they are deconstructing genre norms and poking fun at its contemporaries. But then it will revert to tired tropes and clichés, like it’s afraid to commit to its own ideas. I feel manic watching the damn thing. I’ll admit, there are moments of genuine enjoyment scattered throughout _Dan Da Dan_ (2024). I mean there is a genuine charm to the absurdity of it all. But charm only gets the series so far. Without narrative coherence and a proper amount of time rationed to each character the series will struggle to leave any sort of impact. PS: Hoping for more in the next season
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• 

  melamuna

  85/100
  A Comedic Fever Dream Disguised as a Shounen Spectacle

  ---

  

  __A Fever Dream__

  A “Fever Dream” is an expression that's used when you encounter dreams that's surreal—disorienting in a way where you find it difficult to understand what's around you—with its bizarre scenarios that are otherworldly, uncanny, and downright disorienting—ruining your perception of what reality is. With these moments, it can often be creepy—since you've been delving into the unknowns and the hidden triggers of human fear—especially many stories have tried to tackle into its grotesque yet spectacle-awe factor into it, like many Shounen titles tackling with Yokai (a Japanese term for supernatural entities), aliens, and fantastical elements sprinkled in between in a serious tone.

  Fever dreams can be unsettling in the moment, but they don't always have to be—especially when viewed from a third-person perspective. Dandadan embraces this idea, fully utilizing the limitless potential of its niche to craft engaging and imaginative storytelling. It goes beyond being a one-trick pony, delivering a genuinely compelling story along the way. ***

  __Part 1 Embracing the Weird__

  DanDaDan sticks out like a sore thumb along with its contemporaries, embracing the sci-fi and traditional Japanese yokai and fusing them both into this whimsical spectacle—despite things not making any form of sense. You will notice when watching the series that it doesn't completely explain the world-building other than the trope of having the setted skills whenever the plot fits and overwhelms you into every scene possible. But despite that, DanDaDan manages to keep its viewers following the story in a senseful way by keeping it in a more comedic angle in introducing its new elements, whether from introducing new foes or new abilities from the characters.

  This way of storytelling is not that different from other shounen in it's contemporaries, but the full commitment to keeping things weird—having that fever dream-esque trip instead of taking it's plotline seriously—is what brings this series its charm, but it's not the overall picture. These elements won't work without their characters. ***

  __Part 2 The Characters__

  The characters in the series stand out as unconventional compared to their contemporaries. Okarun (voiced by Natsuki Hanae) and Momo Ayase (voiced by Shion Wakayama), who would typically be relegated to comic-relief roles in a shounen title, take center stage as the main leads. They break away from the usual shounen archetypes, which makes their dynamic refreshing and engaging. Their interactions—with each other and the world around them—are some of the funniest and most entertaining moments seen in a shounen series in a long time. They fully embrace the wacky weirdness of their surroundings, adding their own unique spin to established tropes. This approach sets the series apart from its shounen contemporaries, offering a fresh and distinctive experience.

  This also extends to the side characters in the series such as Seiko Ayase (Nana Mizuki), Aira Shiratori (Ayane Sakura), Jin Enjouji (Kaito Ishikawa), and Turbo Granny (Mayumi Tanaka), but instead of reacting alongside with the main characters, most of the time they're there to enhance the wacky unhingenees of the world these characters are setted in, making interactions with these characters far more fun than it should be.

  The moments in the series are littered with funny moments that are sometimes unintentionally because of the absurdity of their sentences perceived by us, but despite their non-seriousness at times, we felt a gripping connection with these characters, and that's mostly because of how genuine these characters felt. They're not just comedic characters all throughout, but a fully fledged character that's covering the full spectrum of emotions—especially the adolescent characters such as Okarun, Momo, and Aira—and sometimes humanizes these alienating characters that's really easy to follow in some situations. This series also does not shy from being emotional at times, ranging from the usual misunderstandings to a full-blown tearjerker.

  From its wacky world-building alongside its compelling characters is a great recipe for a successful series, but one more thing that brings the spice onto the series is the involvement of Studio Science SARU. ***

  __Part 3 Science SARU__

  For a wacky series like DanDaDan, it's crucial to have a team capable of translating the manga's unique weirdness to the screen. One of the main challenges in adaptations is when a studio lacks the resources or skills to capture the manga's charm. Essentially, a studio's abilities can make or break a story, even one widely considered a surefire success.

  This is where Science SARU comes in. The studio is renowned for its ability to handle eccentric and unconventional stories, as seen in “The Tatami Time Machine Blues”, its vibrant and quirky characters and playful charm in “Scott Pilgrim Takes Off”, and the intensely creative animation of “Devilman Crybaby”. Partnering with Science SARU for a series as wacky as DanDaDan feels like a perfect match—and they delivered.

  From it's intensely vibrant colors used during fight scenes, alongside with it's fully captivating animation, over-the-top expressive characters, creative action set pieces and cinematography that's addictingly jaw dropping to watch, coupled with the tight-gripping sound design and score that enhances the intensity from each scenes, all of which combined to fully embrace the weirdness in the series- producing one of the most fun and faithful anime adaptations this year all thanks to Science SARU’s ability to fully embrace the source material and translating them well in the animation space. ***

  __Conclusion__

  DanDaDan may not be as groundbreaking or unique as some other shounen titles, but its over-the-top introduction of elements and full embrace of its inherent weirdness make it stand out. The characters seamlessly blend into its eccentric world, fully committing to the wacky, surreal setup. Combined with Science SARU’s distinct animation style, the series becomes an easy-to-follow experience that balances familiarity with an exaggerated, chaotic plotline, transforming it into a comedic spectacle. This debut feels like a fever dream disguised as a shounen—a uniquely fun ride you shouldn’t miss. ***

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