How to Create a Great Premiere with Dandan

Key Takeaways

• Danda Dan is an action-packed occult romantic comedy featuring two leads who have supernatural encounters.
• The dynamic characters, visuals, and pacing of the season premiere of Dandadan make it a standout among anime.
• Dandadan's balance of chaos and calm, character chemistry, and stunning visuals made for a promising series.

WARNING: The following contains minor spoilers for Dandadan, Episode 1, “That's How Love Begins, You Know!,” now streaming on Crunchyroll.

The wait is finally over and Science Saru has taken on the adaptation of Tatsu Yukinobu. Dan Dan Dan It has begun. And so begins the craziest, funniest, and most stylish season premiere ever. From the standout performances of both films to the methodical pacing, this exquisite blend of supernatural and sci-fi elements will make this the easiest series to get addicted to all year.

Dan Dan Dan It is an action occult romantic comedy depicting the eventful adventures of a boy who believes in aliens but not ghosts, and a girl who believes in ghosts but does not believe in aliens. When they realize they are both right, their lives change forever, and supernatural encounters become common as they grow closer and discover the strength within them to fight back.

Dandadan doesn't waste time

It is often said that the ending is the most important, but this is also true of the beginning. After all, traveling can be something that really matters, but you have to be forced to go for it first. Making a good season premiere is an art, one It's the right way, but Dan Dan Dan It certainly works better than most, and not just because of how much is in it. Of course. is That's part of it, but it's more important that the episodes feel like self-contained short films.

It comes full circle in a very clever and engaging way and tells the viewer everything they need to know about this character. But before that, Creepy Nuts' opening theme, “Otonoke,” kicks things into high gear with an aesthetic sampling platter of the madness to come. There is no time for a public release here. This show has very little time to waste and will utilize every moment to make you fall in love with this story.

Looking for love in all the wrong faces

Just as the opening theme assaults the senses, the story quickly leaps ahead to introduce Momo Ayase (Shion Wakayama) at the moment of her abandonment. Momo wants a tough guy who reminds her of famous Japanese actor Ken Takakura, but when her friends hastily remind her, such a guy disappears. Her ex-lover may have played the part, but otherwise he was a total idiot, and now Momo despairs of her futile efforts at love.

Her grumbling leads her to a boy being bullied, and after she helps him, the boy (Natsuki Hanae) begins a conversation about aliens. As the aforementioned aliens vs. ghosts disagreement grows, this turns into an argument until each side visits opposing supernatural hotspots to prove the other wrong. The story moves quickly and the jokes never catch up, but this rapid-fire introduction only paves the way for what makes the premiere truly special.

It started with courage

As we discussed in our review of the theatrical screening of the first three episodes, there is a balance between chaos and tranquility, and lacking it can make the story much less engaging. The crazy action of the premiere's climax is so impactful because of the time spent getting to know Momo and the boy nicknamed “Okarun” later in the story.

Momo is an instantly fascinating protagonist, with many dimensions to her character revealed after just five minutes. She's fierce and doesn't shy away from speaking her mind, but she's also romantic, and above all, sometimes there's kindness hidden behind her confident exterior. Okarun is similarly dynamic in that the longer he spends time with Momo, the faster his shyness evaporates, revealing a fairly crude personality and sometimes slightly savage tendencies.

Calling their chemistry “good” doesn’t do it justice. Just as talking on the phone helps each other relax, so does the tension in their creepy surroundings. They talk about why they believe in ghosts/aliens, and the anecdotes are fascinating but also a little sad. Kensuke Ushio's music beautifully complements the emotion of this scene as much as the action that follows.

When spirits and aliens collide

It's hard to know where to start with a visual evaluation other than pointing to the trailer. Science Saru is no stranger to expressive and diverse animation, but this adaptation has so far exceeded expectations. Director Fuga Yamashiro may technically be making his main director debut here, but he has worked on several of the studio's larger projects over the years as an assistant director to studio founder Masaaki Yuasa.

thus, Dan Dan Dan It's a beautiful series, especially looking forward to it in terms of camera work and character animation. The entire scene where Momo explores the abandoned hospital is a great example of the two working together to enrich a vocal performance, create atmosphere, or create as many cool-looking scenes as possible. It achieves all of this while maintaining the style and dramatic pace of the manga, which according to Yamashiro was the biggest priority.

Episode 1 ended on a high note

Even amidst the chaos, there remains a sincerity to the character writing that makes Momo and Okarun feel much closer by the end of just one episode.

The premiere's climax is pure perfection, as Momo and Okarun's brushes with the unrelated and the unknown converge in an absurdly colorful battle. The pace picks up once again, and the weirdness factor comes to a head between the spirits strangely obsessed with Okarun's genitals and the similarly perverted aliens who take an interest in Momo. The more unsettling implications are tempered by humor, if not the breakneck pace that introduces too many variables.

Even amidst the chaos, there remains a sincerity to the character writing that makes Momo and Okarun feel much closer by the end of just one episode. They have their most deeply held beliefs challenged and tested at the same time, new powers are forcefully awakened and a quest is upon them. Combined with a fun curveball at the end that brings the episode full circle, this is a great start to one of the most anticipated anime of 2024. until now, Dan Dan Dan It was worth the wait.