Dandadan

Reeling from her recent breakup, Momo Ayase, a popular high schooler, shows kindness to her socially awkward schoolmate, Ken Takakura, by standing up to his bullies. Ken misunderstands her intentions, believing he has made a new friend who shares his obsession with aliens and UFOs. However, Momo's own eccentric occult beliefs lie in the supernatural realm; she thinks aliens do not exist. A rivalry quickly brews as each becomes determined to prove the other wrong.

Despite their initial clash over their opposing beliefs, Momo and Ken form an unexpected but intimate friendship, a bond forged in a series of supernatural battles and bizarre encounters with urban legends and paranormal entities. As both develop unique superhuman abilities, they learn to supplement each other's weaknesses, leading them to wonder if their newfound partnership may be about more than just survival.

[Written by MAL Rewrite]

Ayase, Momo Main

Wakayama, Shion Japanese

Takakura, Ken Main

Hanae, Natsuki Japanese

Shiratori, Aira Supporting

Sakura, Ayane Japanese

Ayase, Seiko Supporting

Mizuki, Nana Japanese

Turbo Granny Supporting

Tanaka, Mayumi Japanese

Enjouji, Jin Supporting

Ishikawa, Kaito Japanese

Dover Demon Supporting

Seki, Tomokazu Japanese

Rokuro Supporting

Nakai, Kazuya Japanese

Acrobatic Silky Supporting

Inoue, Kikuko Japanese

Muko Supporting

Tomita, Miyu Japanese

Iwakami, Atsuhiro Producer

Kamei, Hiroshi Producer

Aoi, Hiroyuki Producer

Ishikawa, Tatsuya Producer

Reviews

Oct 17, 2024

Kitsunegasaki

Recommended

Preliminary (3/12 eps)

Dandadan, dandadan, dandadan, dandadan, dandadan…

That’s exactly how Dandadan feels—an insane, high-energy roller coaster that doesn’t let up. Right from the start, it throws you into a whirlwind of occult themes, crazy battles, and hilarious moments. You’ve got aliens, ghosts, and, yes, testicles all mixed up in this absurd world, but somehow, it works. Unlike other shonen, Dandadan refuses to spoon-feed its story. There’s no hand-holding or simple explanations, and that’s a breath of fresh air.

The characters are at the heart of this madness. We meet Okarun, the nerdy believer in aliens, and Momo, the tough girl who’s all about ghosts. What begins as a bet ... to prove each other wrong turns into a chaotic adventure where they both end up proving each other right. Their chemistry is brilliant—both hilarious and heartwarming, which gives the show an authentic feel despite its wild premise. Momo and Okarun’s bond carries the series, adding depth to a story filled with wacky, supernatural nonsense.

Now, let’s talk about the animation—Science SARU has outdone themselves. The quality is top-tier, with vibrant colors, smooth action sequences, and an attention to detail that makes even the most bizarre scenes look incredible. Whether it’s the freaky aliens or the ghost battles, everything is beautifully animated. Even the slower moments between characters are expressive and full of life, capturing the nuances of their relationship.

The voice acting is also spot-on. Shion Wakayama (Momo) and Natsuki Hanae (Okarun) deliver stellar performances, bringing the characters to life with energy and charm. Their chemistry shines through in every scene, elevating the comedic moments and giving weight to the emotional beats.

The opening sequence is a masterpiece in itself. It’s a high-energy, visually stunning introduction that perfectly encapsulates the chaotic vibe of the show. The transitions are smooth, the colors vibrant, and the music is electrifying. It sets the tone brilliantly and gets you hyped for what’s to come.

Some viewers might be looking for a grand, overarching plot with a big villain, but that’s not what Dandadan is about. Its lack of a traditional structure is actually one of the most refreshing aspects of the series. Instead, it focuses on the characters’ development and their relationships, making each episode feel like a natural progression of their journey. The unpredictability is part of the fun—you never know what wild situation is coming next.

In short, Dandadan is a wild, chaotic ride that somehow manages to balance heart, humor, and insanity. Its unique blend of supernatural craziness and character-driven storytelling makes it stand out from the crowd. The animation is spectacular, the characters are endlessly charming, and the series is unpredictable in the best way possible. If you’re looking for something different, something that’ll keep you entertained and surprised, Dandadan is absolutely worth the watch.

Reviewer’s Rating: 9

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Oct 20, 2024

Mekl

Mixed Feelings

Informative

Preliminary (3/12 eps)

Dan Da Dan is currently in the public zeitgeist, though the hype is thoroughly unfounded. There really is something special here. It's hilarious, and the animation is just as beautiful as it is expressive. Unfortunately, that's about it. If that's what you're looking for, great! Have a blast watching the show, don't let anyone stop you. If you're looking for a real story, stay away. The ridiculous degree of tonal whiplash this series has given me from the start cannot be overstated. It feels as though it keeps jumping between funny and sad periodically between episodes, randomly dropping Okarun's backstory at a moment when ... I simply could not take it seriously. Plenty of shows have done this well, though they tend to not jump between the two at a moment's notice, opting for a slow burn that transitions easily and doesn't leave the viewer confused. Dan Da Dan was advertised to me as a tear-jerker who easily gets a laugh out of you, and only one of those ended up being true. Take away the hype from this show, and you're left with a funny story that's dragged down by Dan Da Dan trying to be what it's not. In conclusion, watch the show for a laugh, not for anything serious. So far, it is nothing more than a turn-your-brain-off, and don't take anything too seriously series.

Keep in mind this is a preliminary review, the series could drastically improve, and I'm all for seeing that happen. I heavily want to see what gave Dan Da Dan the following it has today.

Reviewer’s Rating: 7

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Oct 19, 2024

oponent

Not Recommended

Funny

Preliminary (3/12 eps)

This anime has the entire recipe to become famous these days:
-perverted jokes
-good opening
-good animation
-mascot with meme faces
-someone old who looks young

What it doesn't have have is:
-good characters
-good setting
... -good plot
-good romance story

It is the exact same as ChainsawMan, it will be popular, and probably the most popular anime of the season due to the community being too horny and the reaction potencial, but NOT by being good.
The opening is a banger, since it's done by the same band who did That Mashle opening ( a show that also sucks), and if the show doesn't attract attention with that, it will by the sexual jokes.

Overall the show makes no sense, the characters are terrible and their interaction make no sense, the attempt at romance is pathetic and the enemies give no danger because there will be some random bullshit reason to take care of them.
The anime fans will still eat it up and it will have a big score on MAL, as long as the recipe to be popular is filled, the show does not need to be good.

Reviewer’s Rating: 2

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	Poll: Dandadan Episode 7 Discussion ( 1 2 3 4 5 ... Last Page ) Softhenic03 - Nov 14	1,098 replies	by YuyoAlberto »» 16 minutes ago
	Poll: Dandadan Episode 6 Discussion ( 1 2 3 4 5 ) Stark700 - Nov 7	216 replies	by Alkimia »» 2 hours ago
	Vinland Saga in 2023, now Dandadan in 2024 (SPOILERS) ( 1 2 ) Koustubh - Nov 18	51 replies	by Koustubh »» 2 hours ago
	MAL 3x3 -Treetrunks - Nov 18	23 replies	by sugrat112 »» 2 hours ago
	Poll: Dandadan Episode 3 Discussion ( 1 2 3 4 5 ... Last Page ) IzanaSolos - Sep 13	252 replies	by KlNGCRIMS0N »» 3 hours ago