Dandadan
“Explosive Sequel Delivers in Summer 2025”
Just when you think a series can't get any crazier in a good way, it surprisingly seems likely to keep getting better with its antics. It's a tall order, and it's rare for a series to nail it, but failing to do so will be a giant bummer. When a series successfully achieves this, you should fully appreciate and embrace it so that you can indulge in its absurdity for the entire runtime before returning to your everyday life.
“Dandadan Season 2” is a 12-episode TV Anime series that aired from the 4th of July until the 19th of September in Summer 2025. It was produced by Aniplex, Dentsu, Shogakukan-Shueisha Productions, Mainichi Broadcasting System, Tohokushinsha Film Corporation, and Shueisha and brought to life by studio Science SARU. The main crew behind it includes Hiroshi Kamei, Hiroyuki Aoi, Tatsuya Ishikawa, and Kouhei Sakita as Producers. It features action, comedy, and supernatural genres and is targeted at the Shounen demographic. Each episode has a runtime of 24 minutes and earned a rating of R-17+ for its violence and profanity. Additionally, it aired on MBS and TBS' Super Animeism Turbo block.
The series is based on the Manga of the same title, which began publishing on the 6th of April 2021 and is still ongoing. It is the work of author and artist Yukinobu Tatsu, serialized in Shounen Jump+. It landed the fourth rank in the 2022 Kono Manga ga Sugoi! under the Male Readers division and got nominated for the 15th Manga Taisho Award in 2022, managing to rank seventh at the final ranking. The series even got simulpub digitally in English via MANGA Plus, and the volumes have been published in English via VIZ Media under the Shonen Jump imprint since the 11th of October 2022. The Anime is the sequel to the “Dandadan” series that aired for 12 episodes in Fall 2024, licensed by GKIDS and done by the same studio. The sequel TV series, "Dandadan 3rd Season," has been announced, but the date has yet to be announced.
The story picks up where Season 1 left off, with Momo Ayase and Ken Takakura, commonly known as “Okarun,” on their supernatural mission to exorcise Jin Enjouji’s family home. However, Jiji’s home is hardly normal, and things are not going according to plan, with Momo just barely evading an attempted abduction by old perverted men at the hot springs. Meanwhile, the Kitou family, the unsettling landlords of the cursed estate, ambush Okarun and Jiji inside the very house. Apparently, the trio's efforts are threatening the very foundation of the enigmatic town, which is already shrouded in numerous legends and mysteries, and certain forces want it to remain that way. As our protagonists are pulled deeper into the bizarre maze of folklore and supernatural entities ingrained into this land, they must all learn to adapt and utilize their unique abilities if they wish to survive and uncover the truth about this uncanny town.
In the story department, this is Dandadan we are talking about, and you can expect the same level of crazy fun from Season 1 here. The characters' absurd actions and attempts to solve one crisis after another, whether they sought it out or it came to them, drive the story. The series continues Jiji's story arc, which I think saw more development for Momo and Okarun. We get a better feel for who this person is, and he is quite endearing, despite his naive decisions steering the plot beyond his arc. The pacing starts fast and slows down considerably in the middle but picks up speed again by the end when the mayhem ensues. As always, the execution is flawless, and it's truly delightful how the audience gains a wealth of knowledge about Japanese folklore and culture throughout the journey.
For the majority of the series, I felt the cast was dealing with Jiji’s “Evil Eye” dilemma, and I enjoyed it every step of the way, with Aira joining the fray for some of her development. Towards the end, we are introduced to the newest member of this hazardous gang, Kinta Sakata, who also starts as annoying but fits right into the crazy dynamic as a useful member regardless. There really isn’t much story here, with us getting random stretches of high school occurrences in between the supernatural, all blended with unhinged humor that kept me constantly chuckling. There’s a lot of action and badassery to go around as well, with some enjoyable emotional moments relating to Evil Eye and the characters’ relationships, somehow all held in place thanks to Turbo Granny still inside the Cat Statue.
The character department, which I have already addressed, is the best thing about this show. Ever since Season 1, Okarun has been growing more and more likable with every episode. He is a genuinely compassionate and considerate individual who consistently demonstrates support for others, even at personal expense. His dynamic with Jiji is heartwarming in the fact that they both like Momo and are essentially competing for her affections, completely unaware that Momo harbors mutual feelings for Okarun, but this doesn’t stop them from building a genuine bromance in which they support each other fully in every other regard. At the same time, Okarun is determined to get stronger for everyone’s sake and struggles to harness his full capabilities under Turbo Granny’s crass guidance.
Momo is a girl boss done right—capable and badass—but still full of weaknesses and feminine tendencies that get her into hot water. She is quick on her feet and comes up with the craziest plans on the spur of the moment, which she then forces to be successful, whether the conditions agree or not. Jiji is too kindhearted for his own good, with his warmth extending even to cursed spirits out to bury him, constantly struggling between the right and realist solutions. Although Aira joins the group late, her rationality and abilities consistently impress me, establishing her as a valuable member who is eager to grow alongside the others. Seiko Ayase and Turbo Granny have developed a close and comfortable bond, exuding an old yet tough lady energy, vigilantly watching over the kids and intervening when necessary, despite their tendency to overcommit. The character development is subtle but superb, and I cannot wait to see more of this cast.
The Art and Animation department may not be the strongest, but it’s still very solid. Dandadan is not a show that needs high-quality artwork or fluid animation; what it needs is a messy visual style that can convey the absurdity of each moment without missing a single beat, and that is precisely what it does. The unorthodox camera angles and movements are just perfect, and the art on-screen is intentionally haywire during the chaos to convey just how unhinged everything is. During the calm moments, the artwork maintains a neat and expressive quality, exaggerating character expressions to effectively convey each situation. The Animation is fluid, and I really enjoyed the hazardous action scenes that jump from one absurd situation to another, which is a charm you simply must experience for yourself.
The Sounds and Music department is absolutely superb. I know that "Otonoke" by Creepy Nuts from Season 1 is a revolutionary piece that almost has no equal, but this season’s opening theme, "Kakumei Douchuu" by AiNA THE END, does not drop the torch. It maintains the craziness of its predecessor while also having a warm and enjoyable feeling to it as we’re treated to the characters doing god knows what on-screen. The rhythm of the whole show is well encapsulated in this piece, and I really warmed up to it over time, so I ask you to give it a chance too. The Ending theme "Doukashiteru" by WurtS, has a more vibrant high school ring to it, with the main cast pulling weird poses and expressions on-screen to the beat of an electric guitar, but I found this easily skippable.
Each OST flawlessly captures the essence of the folklore or pop-culture aspect it showcases, exaggerating each situation to a new level, complemented by crisp and hilarious sound effects. Voice Acting is also flawless, with Shion Wakayama delivering the best performance as Momo, capturing all her raw reactions perfectly for all the absurdity happening around her. Everyone else delivers superb performances as well, and I believe Natsuki Hanae is really landing high-profile roles with his skills in the industry now.
Overall, Dandadan Season 2 is a superb sequel to an almost flawless series that proudly carries the torch to Season 3. It assures us that the absurd charm of this franchise will never wane, and audiences can always laugh at the shenanigans these characters find themselves in. No character feels wasted or unnecessary, with each serving multiple purposes, including entertainment value, and that in itself is a feat. If you loved Season 1, I definitely recommend this season to you and assure you even more fun mayhem is heading our way in future installments.
