For months, the hype surrounding the Dandadan series has been building, and that excitement has reached a peak. The grand premiere of Dandadan and the Science Saru series was a resounding success, attracting a large audience with just one episode, with Dandadan even expected to be the best anime of 2024.
After just one episode, Dandadan has stirred the anime fan community, and even more amazing things are on the horizon. So what is Dandadan?
For those unfamiliar with Dandadan, this series debuted a few years ago thanks to Shueisha. The story began in April 2021, written by Yukinobu Tatsu, an artist who deeply explored his love for Ultraman to create Dandadan.
Labeled as a romantic comedy, Dandadan is described as the love child of The X-Files and Scooby-Doo, with a touch of anime style. After this mysterious series debuted in Shonen Jump, it didn’t take long for it to gain a fanbase and quickly begin receiving petitions for an anime adaptation.
Dandadan thrives with both its plot and characters. The comic tells the story of two high school students, Momo Ayase and Ken “Okarun” Takakura. This unlikely duo becomes a couple after they discover their conflicting beliefs. Momo believes in spirits while Ken fully believes in aliens. While trying to prove each other wrong, they realize that both are right because aliens and ghosts do exist. Before long, they find themselves caught up in a wild supernatural adventure.
You can’t miss the anime Dandadan
From the start, Dandadan has an engaging story that fits any shonen. It blends action, and characters like Ken have some truly impressive powers to fight aliens. Momo is also a very compelling character as the heroine taps into her own supernatural abilities to fight.
Visually and in terms of animation, Dandadan is enough to captivate fans, but the story offers even more.
Tatsu has created a complex supernatural world that Momo and Ken present to fans. We encounter some recognizable aliens as the series progresses, but they are depicted in ways we have never seen before. In addition to their stunning art style, Tatsu brings incredible depth to his characters. Momo and Ken are equal companions in their mysterious adventure. As the series explores this duo, the larger themes of Dandadan emerge.
Essentially, while Dandadan can be fantastic, it focuses on outsiders. Momo and Ken are not understood by their friends regardless of how popular they become. As Dandadan evolves, the story leans into the strange and inexplicable. The side themes it explores are fascinating and reflect the kind of people Dandadan brings together. It supports those on the fringes of society and empowers them in remarkably interesting ways. In the first few episodes, Dandadan easily centers on this focus, and Science Saru has effectively translated Tatsu’s art style in a colorful way.
This anime has one of the best premieres in the industry in many years, and that quality remains consistent as the first season continues. With Tatsu’s support in overseeing the production process, Dandadan could easily become the best anime of the year.
