Momo, a cool girl, believes in spirits but not aliens. Okarun, a shy nerd, believes in aliens but not spirits. When the two go looking for secrets, they discover that aliens and spirits are real and want their “banana organs”. Momo is kidnapped, Okarun is cursed, and the two find themselves neck-deep in a whirlpool of paranormal happenings before they can say “the truth is out there”. This is the storyline of Dandadan, a new anime series based on the manga by Yukinobu Tatsu, currently serialized in Shonen Jump+.
What’s interesting is how Dandadan boldly combines opposing elements. Toothy banshees battle stripey aliens that look like they’ve been pulled straight out of Ultraman. Momo has a sweet, innocent romance with Okarun that ends in a near sexual assault on her first appearance. Manga artist Tatsuki, who once worked as an assistant to Chainsaw Man’s Fujimoto Tatsuki, is equally adept at lowbrow material, scatology and adolescent awkwardness. But where Chainsaw Man is the ultimate millennial doom epic, Dandadan (mostly) just wants its audience to have a good time.
There’s a scene in episode 3 that epitomizes this difference: Okarun is possessed by the spirit of “Turbo Grandma,” an urban legend who is said to have eaten his testicles. Only Momo’s nascent psychic powers keep the grandma at bay. But when Okarun has to go to the bathroom, the only way to stop the grandma from taking over his body is for Momo to watch him poop. Will Momo be able to find the means to make the ultimate sacrifice?
You could imagine this scene playing out in Chainsaw Man, but Tatsu wants you to empathize with the central relationship. It’s gross to see Momo and Okarun in this position, but they clearly like each other and want to get to know each other better. This sense of tenderness underpins all the other elements, no matter how ridiculous they may be: the tunnel exploration, the kidnapping, the alien yelling “Banana thief!”
The Dandadan anime is adapted by Science SARU Studio, known for Devilman Crybaby, Keep Your Hands Off Eizouken!, and last year’s Scott Pilgrim’s Adventure. Series first-time director Yamashita Fugo strives to capture the vibrant energy of the comics, and that mix of genres is mapped onto a vivid color scheme: Turbo Granny’s arrival paints the world red, while the interior of the alien spaceship is vibrant blue. I’d like to see the team find room between these extremes, like a suitably marginal “twilight” sequence, but the show almost always looks impressive.
The character drawings are also generally fun and expressive. There’s plenty of physical comedy as Momo and Okarun clash, both literally and figuratively. Okarun gets the most transformation due to Granny Turbo’s terrifying influence. I also liked Momo’s funny faces, though. The staff gives her and Okarun plenty of opportunities to be cool, but for the most part, they’re not afraid to look goofy.
As expected, Kensuke Ushio’s score is a highlight. I’ve heard criticism elsewhere that his work is sometimes too subdued for the material it’s given. Dandadan should remedy that. It’s just as raucous and eclectic as its source material. There’s a reason Ushio danced to his own music at Anime NYC, and it’s because it’s great.
My fear with Dandadan is that it doesn’t want to lose the Science SARU of old. The studio was once director Masaaki Yuasa’s playground, home to such titles as The Night Is Short, Walk On Girl, and Inu-Oh. In theory, Dandadan (and Science SARU’s upcoming Ghost in the Shell series) are an opportunity for growth. But it could also become another element of adapting other people’s intellectual property, moving away from the studio’s artistic ambitions.
That’s not to say Science Monkey is hopeless. I’m excited for Naoko Yamada’s latest work, “The Colors Within,” which could be her best work since “Liz and the Blue Bird.” Science Monkey is also connected to talented storyboard artists like Moko-chan and Mari Motohashi, who did a great episode of “Scott Pilgrim Takeoff.” Not to mention past greats like director Akitoshi Yokoyama and animator Shinya Ohira.
Dandadan anime is a bit like your favorite band signing with a label and changing their style. I’m excited for my friends to watch and enjoy the series. But I can’t help but wonder: Was Toho’s acquisition of Science SARU inevitable from the start? Or did the studio’s ambition to make anime production more friendly and efficient lead to overproduction compared to the number of staff members it had? How much has changed since Yuasa left in 2020?
The first three episodes of Dandadan will be screened together in theaters by GKIDS as Dandadan: First Encounter. The first third is the most impressive yet and shows the series at full throttle. The next two show the transition from a punchy premiere to a serviceable serialized story. You can hear the gears crunching behind the scenes as the ship changes course. I’ve read the books, so I know Dandadan will find a way. Still, I can’t help but wish there was a fourth episode included to really close out the prologue, especially since (as we know from recent Netflix leaks) the first half of the series is already over.
That said, it’s hard not to root for Dandadan. Not that you need my help. AnimeNYC was plastered with ads for the series. The Viz manga sold out after the English dub debuted. It’s a Shonen Jump anime adaptation, which is about as bulletproof as it gets. But Dandadan was banned from the Shonen Jump app until recently (you could only read it on your computer, away from the prying eyes of the App Store). The series is wholesome, but a little cursed. And it’s not just the “Momo watches her boyfriend poop” scene.
Dandadan is Science SARU’s chance to prove themselves on a bigger stage. We remain to see what the studio’s next generation takes on Shonen Jump+’s wildest and wackiest series. This experience can only contribute to giving them the opportunity to become even more of themselves.
Like this:
Like Loading…
