At DanDaDan things go a lot haywire. Our author Jesko thinks this is great. Image: Science Saru / Netflix.
Most of you probably don’t believe in ghosts or aliens, and if at all, only one of them. But what if both were real?
That’s the premise of DanDaDan, the new hot action anime series from Japan. The series with the unusual title, which started at the beginning of October, is based on the manga of the same name by artist Yukinobu Tatsu. The unlikely high school students Momo and Ken must team up to take on a whole series of supernatural phenomena.
And before you hastily dismiss it and say: Jesko, you know that anime doesn’t work on GameStar
just listen to me for a minute. Because DanDaDan is so captivatingly told that after the first two episodes were broadcast, I couldn’t help it. than continue reading the next 30 chapters in the manga.
What’s it about?
Momo Ayase doesn’t believe in aliens, but she does believe in ghosts. With her classmate, the withdrawn outsider Ken Takakura, it’s exactly the opposite – he sees the existence of UFOs and aliens as scientifically proven; But he thinks ghosts are nonsense.
On a whim, the two make a bet: Whoever can convince the other of the opposite, i.e. the existence of aliens or ghosts, should be allowed to boss the loser around for a day. What Momo and Ken didn’t expect: Both are correct.
As soon as Momo has arrived at the site of the test of courage, she is kidnapped by a horde of aliens who want to mate and who would like to carry out experiments with her reproductive organs. Ken isn’t faring any better either. In a dark railway tunnel, the UFO expert encounters the ghost of Turbo-Granny, a lightning-fast granny who unceremoniously robs him of his masculinity.
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Dandadan: Teaser trailer for the anime coming in 2024
In return, the inconspicuous nerd receives supernatural powers and can temporarily change into a demon form. However, this is not a permanent situation, because Ken Takakura understandably wants his best piece back. And the only ghost hunter around is Momo’s grandmother, who for some reason still looks like she’s 30 years old.
You see, DanDaDan doesn’t really take itself seriously from the start. And that’s exactly what makes this series so brilliant.
What makes DanDaDan worth seeing?
DanDaDan has everything going for it the crazy humor and the exaggerated characters. With its premise, the series doesn’t even try to create the appearance of plausibility. Given the absurd plot and low-level jokes about genitals, I find myself laughing out loud several times per episode. Unfortunately, they really do move at any age.
Every few episodes a new ghost or alien appears that has to be defeated in a spectacular fight by Momo and Okarun, Ken Takakura’s nickname. The series essentially follows an established anime concept and therefore remains pleasantly accessible. The drawing style of the underlying manga was also well captured by the responsible animation studio Science Saru.
Some connoisseurs will certainly notice that the series is different in its humor, structure and pacing strikingly reminiscent of the acclaimed manga Chainsaw Man. Not without reason, because author Yukinobu Tatsu was an assistant to Chainsaw Man artist Tatsuki Fujimoto for a long time before his series debut. If you like Chainsaw Man, DanDaDan is just right for you.
All other readers should be told that it’s still worth watching, because you’ve definitely rarely seen anything crazier than DanDaDan. Five episodes of the series have been released so far, and the first season of DanDaDan will consist of twelve episodes in total. Refills are available on Netflix every Friday until the end of December.
You can find more film and series tips from the GameStar editorial team in the link box above. We hope you enjoy watching it!
