Dan Da Dan review: A fun time where genres merge

The search for the next big anime hit has begun. The juggernaut that was Attack on Titan ended its run last year; Demon slayer And My Hero Academia are quickly approaching their finals; and the Jujutsu Kaisen manga is officially over. And fortunately, the first three episodes were also screened for critics Dan Da Dan have the makings of a strong contender for the big Shonen anime hit we’ve been longing for. This is a show that has something to offer for every kind of anime fan, and even those just dipping their toes into the medium.

Based on the manga of the same name by Yukinobu Tatsu, Dan Da Dan follows Momo, a gyaru with a family history with the occult who doesn’t believe in aliens, and Okarun, an introvert who loves all things UFOs but doesn’t believe in ghosts. After a simple bet results in the two high school students acquiring supernatural abilities, the two form an unlikely friendship and are forced to face and battle aliens and ghosts alike.

If this sounds like perhaps one genre too many, then you’re right about the charm Dan Da Danwho knows how to mix several into one wonderfully exciting and funny smoothie. This is as much a show for fans of demons and the occult as it is for fans of science fiction, aliens who want to steal people’s genitals, and high-genre rom-coms. It’s a testament to the writing of this anime that it all comes together so well, as the show goes from creepy to gross to hilarious to even cute in the span of a few minutes without ever feeling jarring. A big reason for this is that it’s all based on the characters, who have unique and fleshed out personalities. Okarun is more than just a shy guy who is afraid to talk to girls, and in his adventures with Momo he finds his strength and courage. Meanwhile, Momo’s abrasive personality and gyaru style is refreshing to see in a female Shonen anime character. Watching the two react in completely different ways to the different creatures they encounter, each with specific knowledge and specialties, is a pleasure that never tires and leaves you wanting more from these two.

The other ingredient that makes the blending of genres work is the comedy. Between this show and Chainsaw manit’s a good time for anime with an inherently millennial sense of humor Dan Da Dan often feels like anime’s answer to a ’90s Nickelodeon cartoon. After all, this is a show that starts with a character becoming possessed by a yokai demon that has stolen his “banana” — and from there the story becomes just more bizarre and funnier. It’s a work from an author who clearly stares at the despair and darkness of the world and decides to face it with fart jokes and some heartfelt character drama.

And it looks beautiful thanks to the excellent work of animation studio Science Saru. The artists are no strangers to experimenting with images to tell larger-than-life stories (just look at the contrast between the somber and often grotesque Devil man cry baby and the irreverent Scott Pilgrim leaves), and they seamlessly capture the humor, fast-paced and kinetic action, terrifying imagery, and emotional beats of the story. There are fight scenes where the colors just pop up in a busy environment, but also completely grayscale in an empty room. Even the horror works wonderfully with this art style, with drawn-out moments that build anticipation and fear for what’s just out of sight, a rare feat for an action show that needs to keep constantly moving. These first three episodes give a good idea of ​​what Dan Da Dan has to offer and what the rest of the season will be like, capturing the characters, formula, and relationships beautifully – all while creating a unique world with its own lore that doesn’t overwhelm the audience with exposition.

Dan Da Dan premieres on Netflix on October 3