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Summary
Dan Da Danis one of the most highly-anticipated new anime of 2024, introduced among an incredible string ofWeekly Shonen Jumpadaptations hitting Netflix and Crunchyroll. Featuring as the first among upcoming heavy-hitters like the romantic comedyBlue Boxand action comedySakamoto Days,Dan Da Danboasts appeals from both series, mashed into a glorious, frenetic romp by Science Saru. WhileDan Da Dandoesn’t unilaterally steal accolades from other animation powerhouses, it deserves praise for its exceptional characterization, backgrounds, and vivid, energetic color to signify a true summer blockbuster anime.
Dan Da Danis based on the eponymous manga published in Shueisha’sShonen Jump+imprint,where it follows two wildly different high school students, brought together by a surprising connection.The female lead, Momo, is a popular, attractive girl who has clashed with friends and classmates over how they mock her spiritual medium grandmother. The male lead, a dorky and withdrawn unnamed classmate, is obsessed with UFO’s, or rather, UAP’s, the paranormal, cryptids, and conspiracies.
Together, these characters discover the common ground in their beliefs while surviving a wild and unrelenting paranormal assault inDan Da Dan.
Shonen Jump’s New Big Anime Goes Mainstream With Ghostbusters Collaboration
Dandadan has a chance to be the biggest Shonen Jump anime yet, and that will be even easier thanks to its official Ghostbusters collaboration.
An Elevated Take on a Wild Manga
Dan Da Dan Soars Off the Page as an Excellent Anime from Studio Science Saru
Dan Da Danhas stiff competition even among otherShonen Jumpadaptations in 2024, such asThe Elusive Samurai’sjoyful and fluid movement, and the grandiose scale ofKaiju No. 8, yet it exercises multiple subtle visual strengths.Dan Da Dan’smanga boasts excellent character designs, giving them the ability to emote well, but its backgrounds are more limited, speaking to limitations in its presentation. Meanwhile,the anime boasts dynamic backdrops, such as Momo’s eerie hospital visit as she wanders through the halls with reflective surfaces, making each shot feel fully immersive and realistic.
Certain memorable panels from the anime are also faithfully recreated, such as Ken’s adventure in the foreboding tunnel, and his encounter with Turbo-Granny inDan Da Dan. Perhaps most surprisingly, the unflinching detail given to the animation and mood of Momo’s abduction is almost disquietingly well-done, given the subject. Still, the horror influences such as the juxtaposed haunted vs. alien presences, speak to Science Saru’s understanding of the manga’s appeal. Beautiful compositions, such as Momo with Ken as the emptiness of the school hallwayconveys Ken’s isolation after being reprimanded, is executed even better than theDan Da Danmanga.
Dan Da Dan’s Animation Is Uneven – But Grows on Its Audience
Characterization and Action Are the Strong Points of This Anime
While some anime from the year boast elegant animation, backdrops, and character designs, likeMakeine: Too Many Losing Heroines!,Dan Da Danchooses moments for one to overtake the other.This does not translate to a drop in quality, but rather, what elements on which the viewers should focus at any given point. Early sequences inDan Da Danepisode #1show key character animations, such as the socially awkward, stilted motions of Ken who can barely contain his derisive laughter at Momo’s superstitions.Each animation choice inDan Da Danis deliberate in how it renders the main characters.
As a result, this creates more of a subtle experience for viewers at the beginning ofDan Da Danepisode #1, butquickly flourishes during Momo’s abduction and Ken’s emergence under Turbo-Granny’s possession. The excitement can’t be overstated to see Ken, in true J-Horror fashion, force himself through Momo’s cellphone with a conveyed fury before lashing out at Momo’s alien captors, alongside Momo’s powers awakening. Not everything needs to be fluid, and inDan Da Dan’scase, the other overwhelming strengths of this anime outshine its perceivable flaws. Whether this stylistic choice lands is up to the beholder.
Vivid Color and Unique Music Feel Tailor-Made for Dan Da Dan
Yakinobu Tatsu’s Ghosts and Aliens Are a Sight to Behold
In creating a series where mundane life is suddenly upended by the reality of both aliens and the supernatural colliding with Earth, the weird factor needs to be played up. Thankfully, Kensuke Ushio’s music ensures the auditory experience steps up to the hype of the greatest action spectacles ofDan Da Dan’spremiere,his work onSpace Dandy, Chainsaw Man,andDevilman Crybabybeing evident. But this is not to speak poorly of other factors, with Ken’s transformation being a breathtaking injection of intense neon into the palette as Turbo-Granny Ken wreaks havoc on some chillingly drawn aliens.
But beyond the technical aspects of the series,Dan Da Danworks thanks to a wildly unrealistic premise inhabited by fascinating and surprisingly believable characters. Beyond visuals, viewers will be sold on the performances of the voice cast. Finally,the last moments ofDan Da Danepisode #1 are a combination of charming yet alarming on a hilariously relatable level.
Dan Da Dan Is Unapologetically, Wonderfully Weird
Ken and Momo Are Made for Each Other
Part of the initial conflict ofDan Da Daninvolves Momo dumping her deadbeat boyfriend who treats her poorly, only to soon wind up defending Ken, the silent boy in class being needlessly bullied. When she shows him this tiny amount of kindness, he bursts from his shell, passion ablaze because he’s desperate to have a friend who accepts him, yet shows no desire to change who he fundamentally is. Momo mocks him for his belief in aliens and pedantic referral to UAP’s, yet her spiritual medium grandmother was a source of her bullying earlier in life. Momo and Ken are made for each other inDan Da Dan.
The anime’s premiere conveys this juxtaposition well inDan Da Dan.Fans will love the exceedingly cartoonish nerd in Ken, while Momo’s fixation on her favorite, absurdly old-fashioned (real world) movie star is given a gut-busting twist when it’s revealed that this nerdy boy bears the same name, Ken Takakura.Dan Da Danis as unapologetically weird as its two endearing lead characters, and with Science Saru’s work on the series so soon after unleashingScott Pilgrim’slatest adventure, it’s clear the studio is on the best kind of streak.
Dandadan
Cast
Two high school students, embroiled in a wager to prove the existence of ghosts or aliens, encounter daunting paranormal threats, acquire superpowers, and possibly discover love. The series blends supernatural elements with personal dynamics as the protagonists navigate their newfound abilities and unexpected challenges.
