Dan da dan dan da dan dan da dannnn…
I… have a major problem. I literally cannot get the theme song to Dan Da Dan out of my goddamn head. My husband can’t stop side-eyeing me because I am constantly humming the intro under my breath. Sigh.
If I was just reviewing the opening theme for Crunchyroll’s Dan Da Dan – also styled as Dandadan – I would give it a 12/10. I watch a solid amount of anime, and this opening is certainly in my personal Top 5, because of the delightful animation but mainly because of the opening song Otonoke by Creepy Nuts. It is so electric, energetic, and joyful. I can’t get enough! I feel incredibly confident that Dandadan is destined to be one of the most beloved and acclaimed animes of this decade, easily ranking up there with series like Jujutsu Kaisen, Demon Slayer, and Chainsaw Man.
WARNING: This review contains light spoilers for Dan Da Dan episodes 1 – 3
I got the exciting privilege to watch the first three episodes of Dan Da Dan (the first episode is now out on Crunchyroll and Netflix, with new episodes debuting every Thursday, and they were also adapted into the feature film Dan Da Dan: First Encounter) created by Yukinobu Tatsu and animated by critically acclaimed studio Science SARU (Scott Pilgrim Takes Off, Devilman Crybaby).
To be upfront, this is my first time reviewing an anime – or any TV series for that matter – as I typically review and write on American comics. But I truly could not resist writing this review, because Dandadan is one of my favorite mangas in recent memory, and the anime is already such a faithful, dynamic, terrifying adaptation.
There have been plenty of reviews of the Dandadan manga, highlighting the incredible writing, character development, alien and ghost designs, and fight scenes. All of those things that make Dandadan such a beloved manga translate perfectly into an anime format, and Science SARU brings the epic fight scenes and makes them so dynamic and exciting to watch.
Director Fūga Yamashiro and scriptwriter Hiroshi Seko keep the momentum perfect in the first three episodes, blending an ideal mix of stunning fight choreography with character exploration and development, and hopefully, this momentum will continue as the story progresses.
One thing I really feel the need to highlight is Science SARU’s use of color, and their choices to not use color. One example is the alien abduction scene which uses terrifying, otherworldly colors to make the Serpoians seem even more alien than they already do. Another highlight is the use of greyscale in one episode, which is finally interrupted by a brutal flash of red, an evocative sequence that would make perfect sense in one of Marvel’s Black, White, & Red anthologies. The animation studio’s skills extend far beyond just the use of color though, into truly profound scene structure and effective transitions.
The series certainly does not shy away from any of the explicit content depicted in the original manga, with the terrifying Turbo Granny still obsessed with “weenies” (don’t judge her…). Major trigger warning for Momo’s abduction by the Serpoian aliens, who begin to sexually assault the young teenager until they are interrupted by Okarun’s demonic transformation, and then the incredible activation of Momo’s psychokinetic abilities.
It is a tough scene to watch, but the anime manages to balance the monstrous horror of the alien’s assault with their ridiculous desire for human “bananas” well, although I do still question if the scene (in both the anime and manga) needed to go as far as it did (hint: it didn’t).
The creature design for Dandadan adapted for the anime by Yoshimichi Kameda, is simply exquisite. The Serpo aliens’ designs, both in their human costumes and their real bodies, are terrifying and creepy to a degree that is hard to express. They are really disgusting, and rightfully so.
Turbo Granny’s design is so scary, and the halfway transformations she causes Okarun are messed up… I love them. I am also someone who really loves “cryptids” so the fact that Tatsu adapted the West Virginian folk creature The Flatwoods Monster into a monstrous sumo-like alien is just incredible.
Of course, Naoyuki Onda’s adaptations of the main characters Momo and Okarun (or Ken Takakura if you’re nasty…) and Science SARU’s translation into their animation are nothing to laugh at. Momo and Okarun’s mannerisms, movements, and facial expressions are exactly how I pictured them from the manga, and their sweet relationship is the perfect grounding for the absolutely ridiculous plot of Dan Da Dan. Plus, the shockingly sexy Seiko, grandmother to Momo and skilled spiritual medium, is perfectly adapted and injects the exact right amount of humor into each episode she appears in.
I have so few complaints about Dan Da Dan – hence the near-perfect rating – but one little problem I have is the ending credits, featuring the anthropomorphized maneki-neko, or “beckoning cat.” This adorable creature plays a major role in future episodes but is not featured once in the first three, so there is certainly a feeling of disconnect between the two, especially if you have never read the manga and have no idea who the cat is. Within a couple more episodes all will be revealed, and the ending will feel way more connected, but I do wish they had a different closing for the first few episodes!
I just… really loved the first three episodes of Dan Da Dan. It was vibrant, ridiculous, and so enthralling. The animation is out of this world, the character adaptations are pitch-perfect, and the voice acting is incredible. I immediately felt connected to Momo and Okarun, and I can’t wait to see where their adventures take them and their friendship (having only read the first three volumes of the manga so far).
It is certainly not for the faint of heart, containing terrifying monsters, depictions of sexual assault, and plenty of “weenie” talk, but I sincerely think any fan of manga or anime should still give it a try, although parents please don’t let your young children watch this. I have no doubt that Dan Da Dan is my personal favorite anime debut of 2024, and I think many other anime fans will agree.
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