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 ing

Sakura, Ayane Japanese

Ayase, Seiko ing

Mizuki, Nana Japanese

Enjouji, Jin ing

Ishikawa, Kaito Japanese

Turbo Granny ing

Tanaka, Mayumi Japanese

Mr. Mantis Shrimp ing

Seki, Tomokazu Japanese

Rokuro ing

Nakai, Kazuya Japanese

Chiquitita ing

Oozora, Naomi Japanese

Acrobatic Silky ing

Inoue, Kikuko Japanese

Iwakami, Atsuhiro Producer

Kamei, Hiroshi Producer

Aoi, Hiroyuki Producer

Ishikawa, Tatsuya Producer

Reviews

Jun 6, 2025

Ali_Sun

Recommended

**Dandadan – A Refreshingly Original Blend of Supernatural Action and Heartfelt Comedy**

**Overview:**
*Dandadan* stands out as one of the most unique anime releases of the year, masterfully blending supernatural horror, sci-fi action, and coming-of-age romance into a wildly entertaining package. With its vibrant animation, memorable characters, and unpredictable storytelling, this series offers something truly special for anime fans looking for fresh narratives.

**Story & Themes:**
The series follows high schoolers Momo Ayase, a firm believer in spirits, and Ken "Okarun" Takakura, an alien conspiracy enthusiast. Their worlds collide when they discover that both the supernatural and extraterrestrial are very real ... – and very dangerous. What begins as a humorous clash of beliefs evolves into an exhilarating adventure filled with:
- Ghostly encounters with surprisingly emotional depth
- High-stakes alien confrontations
- A sweet, slow-burn romantic subplot
- Plenty of laugh-out-loud comedic moments

**Animation & Soundtrack:**
Produced by Science SARU (*Devilman Crybaby*, *The Night is Short, Walk on Girl*), the series boasts:
- Dynamic, fluid action sequences
- A striking color palette that distinguishes spiritual (warm reds) and alien (cool blues) elements
- Expressive character animations that enhance both comedy and drama
- An energetic soundtrack that perfectly complements the series' shifting tones

**Characters & Development:**
The heart of *Dandadan* lies in its compelling character dynamics:
- **Momo Ayase:** A strong-willed exorcist with a vulnerable side
- **Okarun:** An awkward but courageous protagonist who grows tremendously
- Their evolving relationship provides both hilarious banter and genuine emotional moments
- Even ing characters and antagonists receive surprising depth

**Strengths:**
✔ Innovative genre fusion executed with confidence
✔ Exceptional visual storytelling and animation quality
✔ Perfect balance of humor, action, and emotional weight
✔ One of the most engaging romantic subplots in recent shonen anime

**Considerations:**
- The humor leans into absurdity and occasional raunchiness
- Pacing moves quickly, requiring viewer attention
- Some plot threads are clearly meant for future seasons

**Final Thoughts:**
*Dandadan* delivers a refreshing take on supernatural action anime, distinguished by its creative vision, emotional sincerity, and willingness to embrace the bizarre. While not without minor flaws, it represents exactly the kind of bold, original storytelling that keeps the anime medium exciting.

**Rating: 9/10** – A must-watch for fans seeking something genuinely different. The wait for Season 2 will be painful.

**Recommended For Fans Of:**
*Mob Psycho 100*, *FLCL*, *Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann*, *The Night is Short, Walk on Girl*

Reviewer’s Rating: 9

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Jun 3, 2025

Cajamanga

Mixed Feelings

Dandadan is an interesting anime. Personally, I really enjoyed the mix of themes that, while somewhat "generic," ended up having a unique flavor. I believe there was a clear intention to portray a teenage romance without relying on the typical clichés found in Japanese school anime, and that's definitely commendable. However, to be honest, the show ends up falling into a lot of those same clichés along the way and fails to fully stand as an alternative to a traditional romance anime.

One of the weakest aspects of this series is the lack of personal development, at least up to this point. None of the characters ... go through any significant change from the beginning to the end. Even after "tragic" events, they remain with the same personalities and mindsets, showing little to no internal conflict to work through (and when there is, it's mostly left unresolved). The only real character development is how the characters slowly realize they're in love and how they deal with those feelings, which is nice, at least there’s some kind of growth.

Another point that makes the anime feel a bit tiresome, especially from the second half onward, is the weird structure of the episodes. It’s hard to even explain, but most episodes are basically several action scenes against some alien or spirit that supposedly lead to some progress in the relationship between Okarun and Momo. While it technically does, the progress often feels so small that it’s hard not to feel like the conflict had a pointless resolution.

Along the same lines, it’s impossible not to mention how most action scenes end up with one of the female characters naked, half-naked, or in some sort of awkward situation. Honestly, it feels strange and uncomfortable at times, and there’s no clear purpose behind it besides pure fan service, the same goes for the constant questionable camera angles whenever Momo’s grandma appears on screen.

The arc that takes place in episodes 6–7 is definitely the highlight of the entire anime. I won’t give spoilers, but this specific part is the only real reason I would recommend Dandadan to someone. From the beginning of the conflict with the spirit to its resolution, everything is incredible and shows the true potential of both the author and the series.

So, to sum it up, this is a very “okay” show. It’s definitely not bad, it has an interesting concept and still holds a lot of potential but at this moment it’s not as good as it could be. If you’re a teenager, I think this show might resonate with you better than it would with an adult. Watch it, but don’t set your expectations too high.

Reviewer’s Rating: 7

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Jan 22, 2025

Panda_Roll

Not Recommended

DDD was the most hyped anime of the year. On first glance the reason why is obvious.

An amazing OP, Bright colors, great animation and loads of action.

It's a spectacle for sure... but that's all.

The format for the show is action scene, action scene, action scene, fan service, action scene.

The characters never get a proper introduction so even after a full season I don't feel like I know them.

... There is no plot either, just a series of action scenes with some prize at the end if they manage to clear the level, yes like in a game.

DDD is great on the surface but scratch that surface and there's nothing below it.

For example the show has two major side characters. One only gets introduced half way through the season while the other shows up in episode 11, literally just before the finale!

Also for an action anime that "finale" was so lame.

Personally, I did not like this show. I do value good characters and plot over everything else so this wasn't for me. I do think it was carefully calculated to appeal to a young demographic though. Just wish it actually had something to say... other than "BUY ME" that is.

Reviewer’s Rating: 5

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