I started watching Dandadan out of curiosity few days ago, because honestly just the name alone already sounds like something that's unserious, so I thought it was just going to be another random supernatural anime, but omo, I wasn’t ready for the level of craziness this show came with, From the very first episode, it just grabs you by the neck with energy , oone minute, it’s ghosts and alot of curses, the next minute it’s UFOs and aliens trying to abduct somebody’s soul, like, pick a struggle, please! But somehow, it all works.
Yeah ... So the story follows Momo Ayase and Okarun, two high-school students who are total opposites, Momo believes in ghosts but not aliens, and Okarun believes in aliens but not ghosts, So, they decide to prove each other wrong and that’s where all the madness begins, before you know it, both of them encounter exactly what they don’t believe in, and the show just goes from “hmm interesting” to “what in the supernatural nonsense is happening here?”
The animation is Fire , I won't lie, The studio, Science SARU, really did put their whole energy into this one, every fight scene feels alive, and even the comedic reactions look so expressive that you can feel the characters’ emotions through the screen, i especially love how colorful and fast-paced the art is , it is like watching chaos in HD.
Now let's now talk about the characters, Momo is such a big vibe, she’s smart, bold, and has that “I don’t have time for nonsense” kind of attitude that makes her stand out, then Okarun, on the other hand, is just this shy, awkward boy who turns into a complete powerhouse when things go wrong, their chemistry is what really makes the anime shine, It’s not just about aliens or ghosts , it is infact about how these two totally different people learn to trust and depend on each other through the most ridiculous situations ever.
What really got me hooked here though, is how Dandadan manages to balance fear, action, and comedy all at once, One moment you are screaming because some weird alien looking thing is chasing them, and the next moment you are laughing like mad because of the way they react to it, The comedy part, ehn, I won’t lie , at some point, it became too funny, as in there were scenes that were supposed to be serious, but the humor just wouldn’t allow you to take it seriously, the over the top reactions, the random shouting, and the awkward situations had me laughing when I was supposed to be shocked, But maybe that’s what makes Dandadan special I'm it's own way, it doesn’t want you to take it too seriously.
So as someone who likes anime that really does mixes different emotions, I think Dandadan really hits that sweet spot for me , it has those wild action moments that keep your eyes glued to the screen at all times , emotional scenes that actually touch your heart, and comedy that just makes everything feel lighter.
So why do I like it? First, it is unpredictable , like you never know what kind of nonsense will happen next, and that keeps it exciting, Second, the relationship between Momo and Okarun feels real, even with all the supernatural madness going on, third, the animation quality is top tier, every episode looks like something straight out of a movie.
Though, the comedy sometimes made things too chaotic, there were moments I wished the tone would stay serious a little longer, especially during the intense emotional scenes, But even with that, I can’t complain too much sha.... it’s that same craziness that makes Dandadan unforgettable.
In the end, Dandadan is one of those anime that doesn’t care about following rules, in fact It’s weird, funny, spooky, and also heartwarming all at once.
Images gotten from IMDB
Aikay👾