Dan Da Dan: The Wildest Anime of 2024

Dan Da Dan

Do you strongly believe in something that is not yet rooted in science? Perhaps it is a religious belief or something you’ve been told for ages, but there’s just no conclusive scientific evidence to affirm its existence as of now. Perhaps in due time, these beliefs will just become reality, but until then, it’s just you and your conspiracy theories. A real thrill lies in trying to get others into the same mindset as well, because having someone to share these interests with and even obtain new perspectives is a godsend. So if you already have someone or a group like that, be sure to be thankful and dabble in your beliefs together!

“Dan Da Dan” is a 12-episode TV anime series that aired from the 4th of October until the 20th of December in Fall 2024. Aniplex, Dentsu, Shogakukan-Shueisha Productions, Mainichi Broadcasting System, and Shueisha produced it, licensed by GKIDS, and brought to life by Studio Science SARU. The main staff behind it include Iwakami Atsuhiro, Kamei Hiroshi, Aoi Hiroyuki, and Ishikawa Tatsuya as producers. This string of 23-minute episodes features the genres of action, comedy, and supernatural. It is targeted at the Shonen demographic and earned a rating of R-17+ for its violence and profanity. It aired on MBS and TBS' Super Animeism Turbo block.

The series is based on the manga of the same title, which began publication on the 6th of April 2021 and is still ongoing. It is the work of author and artist Tatsu Yukinobu, targeted at the shonen demographic and serialized in Shonen Jump+. The series ranked in fourth place in the 2022 Kono Manga ga Sugoi! under the Male Readers division and was even nominated for the 15th Manga Taisho Award in 2022, alongside ranking seventh in the finals. It has been simulpubbed digitally in English via MANGA Plus, and even the volumes have been published in English via VIZ Media under the Shonen Jump imprint since the 11th of October 2022. A sequel anime series titled “Dan Da Dan Season 2” is set to release in the summer of July 2025 by the same studios. The preview aired on MBS and TBS' Super Animeism Turbo block. A music video for the series’ ending theme, “Taidada” by ZUTOMAYO, was released on the 5th of December 2024 and ran for 3 minutes.

The story centers around two protagonists, Ayase Momo and Takakura “Okarun” Ken. The camera hones in on popular high schooler Momo reeling from her recent breakup. In her moment of anguish, she randomly chooses to show kindness to and support her socially awkward schoolmate, Ken, by standing up against his bullies. This leads to Ken drastically misunderstanding her intentions, causing him to genuinely believe that he had made a new friend at school, one who shares his interests no less. Turns out Ken is obsessed with aliens and UFOs, but the reality is that Momo has her eccentric occult beliefs within the realm of the supernatural.

The characters don't believe each other's beliefs, which leads to a rivalry as they try to prove each other wrong. In their hazardous attempts to prove their beliefs to be true, they start running into many supernatural situations, paranormal activities, extraterrestrial beings, and bizarre encounters with urban legends around the clock, with one incident leading to another. So despite their initial clash owing to opposing beliefs, the two MCs end up forging quite the unexpected and intimate friendship, one forged in the depths of the supernatural and extraterrestrial. In the meantime, they both begin to develop their own unique superhuman abilities, which allow them to cover each other’s back, turning them into quite the team. Now left wondering if their newfound partnership may be rooted in something more than just survival, the duo spend their days fighting off the unknown and growing closer to each other….

Dandadan is undoubtedly the best anime this season. Honestly. It is wacky, weird, sentimental, hilarious, crazy, emotional, deep, philosophical, vibrant, and expertly crafted in every sense of the word. This is the very essence of anime, a medium that allows you to bring almost anything to life, and this show takes full advantage of that. In the story department, we have the adorable Momo and Okarun driving things forward with each of their “conquests.” During the first episode, I thought this was another weird, fan-service-heavy anime, albeit funny, but it turns out to be much more than that. The main duo typically takes on a new or existing extraterrestrial or supernatural being(s) in each episode, though it doesn’t strictly follow this format.

Along the way, they make new allies and enemies, learning more about themselves, other beings, the world they live in and so on. There is no major overarching narrative right now. They simply have an objective every week and work toward it, even if that objective is as simple as survival. Seriously, their main goal for a majority of the season is to get Okarun’s balls back! Meanwhile, the worldbuilding is done via each new encounter—whether we learn more and more about the supernatural and extraterrestrial forces at play while also delving into humanity along the way. Dandadan eschews meaningless exposition in favor of showing rather than telling, and the fast-paced narrative consistently keeps you engaged. So don’t look for a major plot here; it doesn’t exist because it doesn’t need to. Just strap in and prepare for the wild and wacky ride alongside the main duo racing from one ridiculous situation to another, laughing every step of the way.

This is a character-driven show, and it is not restricted to the main cast. Most fictional characters we encounter have compelling stories to share, often leaving us in tears. Momo herself appears to be your average school student at first. Her family background is anything but ordinary, and she awakens her psychic powers along the way. She is in charge of this show, and I wouldn't want it any other way! Okarun is a complete nerd, but he is adamant about his beliefs and grows to risk anything for Momo. Plus, he has one of the coolest transformations this season. It becomes obvious these two have feelings for each other, but neither of them admit it and the show uses it to implement hilarious teases. I also loved Shiratori Aira, despite her cheesy lines and self-centeredness, because she does the right thing when it matters most and even develops an open crush on Okarun. As a result, their character interactions are truly captivating! Even the supporting characters are remarkable in their own right. Ayase Seiko has got to be the most badass grandmother I’ve seen in awhile, and she demands respect. While Turbo Granny and Acrobatic Silky start off as villains, we learn their backstories and motivations to the point that we cry for them. Honestly, this is a peak example of a show taking maximum use of its limited main cast to evoke a plethora of emotions.

The Art and Animation department has abandoned all restraints and is fully immersed in their work. It uses very, and I mean VERY, bright colors from all the shades imaginable and they flash all over the screen. They expertly utilize this to showcase the complete wackiness of the show. They also skillfully convey the highly engaging scenarios. Each of the foes has their own specific color, and the environment simply takes on that hue during all encounters with them, which you can even see in the opening visuals in a cryptic manner. The character designs are simple yet memorable, conveying something about each character and their lifestyle. Furthermore, you can count on the figures and expressions to distort and warp to suit multiple occasions, so you’ll have some crazy screenshots to work with too. The backgrounds are simple, always leaving the focus on the characters above all else. The animation is just as fluid as it is wacky, and I cannot praise the myriad of innovative camera angles and transitions enough in this show. In addition, the show features some amazing action sequences where characters engage in combat in the most unusual situations. On a final note, expect fanservice from both genders because Dan Da Dan does not hesitate to strip the main cast!

In the Sounds and Music department, you must have already heard the revolutionary opening theme "Otonoke" by Creepy Nuts. It is, hands down, the best opening of 2024, and if you haven’t heard it yet, go watch it now. This is an opening you shouldn't skip; it's on my playlist, and I've been listening to it nonstop for a while. The visuals and music simply drag you into their world, full of flashing colors and wacky movements by the characters. It’s hyped but also soothing, perfectly suiting the show. The ending theme is "TAIDADA" by ZUTOMAYO, which has the awful habit of breaking us out of a tense moment and reminding us the epic episode is over. It features a fun and obnoxious tune alongside Turbo Granny trying out the most random things within the human household, and it’s almost like she’s taunting us, saying, “You have to wait another whole week for the next episode!” The OSTs are great as well, enhancing each moment without robbing anything from the characters, so they aren’t as memorable in a good way. Every voice actor flawlessly embodies their eccentric characters, and their tones are impeccable. Kudos to Wakayama Shion as Momo, Hanae Natsuki as Okarun, and Sakura Ayane as Aira for groundbreaking performances!

Overall, Dan Da Dan is not just a show; it is an experience you cannot miss! This show is anime at its peak, fully employing everything this medium has to offer in the best execution possible. I honestly cannot wait for Season 2, because every single episode, including the season finale, leaves us hungry for more. I have felt hollow since it ended. The Series best is Episode 07, which delivered such an emotional story rooted in grim reality, the likes of which we don’t see often on-screen; it cannot be praised enough. Highly recommended; this is a must-watch in every sense of the word!