‘Dandadan’ series premiere review: Eccentric occult outing is a genre-blending delight

If its first episodes are any indication, Science Saru’s latest is well on its way to becoming one of the industry’s most exciting new offerings that’s as wild and unpredictable as its genital-stealing entities

The anime scene, currently basking in the glow of its modern shounen juggernauts — Demon Slayer, My Hero Academia, Jujutsu Kaisen — seems poised to face a vacuum as these beloved franchises reach their conclusions. The industry is desperate for a new champion, a fresh face to rally the crowds.

If you thought the industry was getting a bit too comfortable with its shounen tropes of “going beyond” and “the power of friendship”, Dandadan is here to jolt you out of your complacency. The long-awaited anime adaptation of Yukinobu Tatsu’s mind-bending manga arrives in a blaze of extraterrestrial chaos, paranormal terror, and, yes, humour that’s as sharp as it is absurd. With its first three episodes, the show throws down the gauntlet, positioning itself as the next big thing in anime. And if this wild ride keeps up, we might be looking at the weirdest — and most enjoyable — anime of the year.

Dandadan (Japanese)

Director: Fūga Yamashiro
Cast: Shion Wakayama, Natsuki Hanae, Nana Mizuki
Runtime: 25 minutes
Episodes: 3 of 12
Storyline: When Momo and Okarun’s beliefs clash, they’re thrown into a world of ghosts, aliens, and awakened powers

Produced by Science Saru, the same studio behind Scott Pilgrim Takes Off and Devilman Crybaby, the series follows Momo Ayase, a highschool gyaru with a tough exterior, driven by a need for companionship, validation and a diehard belief in ghosts. Okarun, her timid schoolmate harbouring a deep loneliness, despite — or maybe because of — his comical obsession with proving the existence of extraterrestrials and UAPs. The two make a bet: each will visit a hotspot of activity to prove the other wrong — Momo’s for ghosts, Okarun’s for aliens — in an effort to debunk each other’s beliefs. 

Momo gets abducted by lecherous extraterrestrials, Okarun is possessed by a grotesque granny spirit that threatens his masculinity in rather literal ways, and the rest, as they say, is uncharted territory. Their unlikely bond, forged through ridiculous life-threatening encounters with otherworldly entities, is what gives Dandadan its charm.

Director Fuga Yamashiro, taking the helm at Science Saru, builds the series with an assured blend of spectacle and emotion. Momo and Okarun’s interactions — whether they’re running from a spirit hell-bent on stealing Okarun’s “banana organ” (yes, you read that correctly) or fending off lewd aliens obsessed with impregnation — are delivered with animation that’s fluid, bold, and relentlessly energetic. 

There’s an almost demented rhythm to how the show shifts gears. A moment, Momo and Okarun are having a heart-to-heart, sharing their respective traumas, and the next, they’re knee-deep in a fight with a giant, poison-breathing, sumo-wrestler spirit. The tonal shifts work because Dandadan never takes itself too seriously. It thrives on and brazenly embraces its absurdity, but it’s also deeply aware of the emotional beats that ground its characters in something real.

The heart of the series is the chemistry between Momo and Okarun. Their dynamic is an awkward clash of bickering and mutual dependence, but it works. Momo’s no-nonsense attitude often contrasts Okarun’s more reservedness, but underneath it all, there’s a growing respect and affection. Both characters are outsiders in their own right, but in each other, they find a strange, almost begrudging support system. It’s a testament to the voice performances of Wakayama and Hanae, who explore the tonal shifts of the series with incredible deftness. Wakayama brings a sharpness to Momo, but also lets her vulnerability slip through the cracks. Hanae, on the other hand, balances Okarun’s shy awkwardness with moments of manic energy that are genuinely endearing.

There is, of course, plenty of spectacle to keep us hooked and Science Saru’s animation plays a crucial role in fleshing out this world. The shifts between the normal and the paranormal are as seamless as they are jarring. The transitions between these extremes are handled so smoothly that the tonal whiplash becomes part of the show’s charm. Meanwhile, Yamashiro’s direction ensures that every dropkick, every chase, and every occult encounter feels both frantic and breathtakingly crafted.

If there’s a criticism to be made, it’s that the series occasionally veers into uncomfortable territory with its occasional reliance on outdated anime tropes. The obsession some of the paranormal entities have with human anatomy might feel out of place for certain viewers, though it’s played mostly for laughs. It’s the kind of offbeat humour that won’t sit well with everyone, but it’s undeniably part of the show’s identity.

Nevertheless, Dandadan bursts an eccentricity that sets it apart from its peers. It wears its weirdness as a badge of honour, blending genres in a way that feels fresh and exciting. With its strong characters, gorgeous art style, and a story that keeps you guessing, it might just be well on its way for an Anime of the Year nod. Whether it can maintain this momentum remains to be seen, but for now, Dandadan has firmly staked its claim as a potential new shounen heavyweight.

And yes, Creepy Nuts have done it again (Otonoke is a certified banger).

Dandadan begins streaming on Crunchyroll and Netflix on October 4

Published - October 02, 2024 05:31 pm IST