Dandadan’s anime adaptation of Yukinobu Tatsu’s hit manga has quickly become one of the most anticipated anime series. With its unlikely and unique mix of romance and occult themes, the manga’s unpredictable twists and engaging narrative have garnered a dedicated fanbase.
The anime, which recently began airing, promises to bring this refreshing experience to a wider audience. How did Dandadan manage to be so different?
1. The Unique Romance of Dandadan
When it first launched in 2021, Dandadan quickly garnered attention for its originality and unpredictable storytelling. One of the most notable aspects of Dandadan is its well-written romance between the central characters, Momo Ayase and Okarun. Unlike many Shonen series, where romance is often sidelined or underdeveloped (looking at you- generic Shonens From Naruto to Bleach), Dandadan places romance at its very crux.
Momo and Okarun’s relationship evolves naturally, albeit a little weird and slow; the romance has a solid base from the first chapter. The dynamic of their relationship only gets stronger as they bond over all the weirdness, including creepy alien clones and running granny ghosts.
The genuineness of the anime has resonated deeply with fans, setting it apart from more traditional shonen romances.
2. How the Editor Saved Dandadan from Becoming Generic
While Dandadan has captured the hearts of many, the manga might have taken a very different direction if not for the involvement of its editor, Shihei Lin. Initially, Yukinobu Tatsu’s concept for the manga was closer to a typical battle shonen series. However, Lin, who is experienced and known for his work on popular titles like Chainsaw Man, Spy x Family, and Hell’s Paradise, pushed Tatsu to explore romance.
The author Yukinobu Tatsu shared in an interview that Lin made him read hundreds of romance manga after telling him that he could not write romance for the sake of romance.
This led to him guiding the author to incorporate the love story, which has since become a defining feature of Dandadan. Without Lin’s influence, the series may have ended up as another generic battle shonen.
Thanks to Lin’s insight and Tatsu’s execution, Dandadan now offers something far more unique than existing anime series. Fans can look forward to more twists, heartwarming moments, and supernatural thrills as the anime unfolds.
This is not the first time editor Shihei Lin has done such an eccentric thing. He also did this with Spy x Family’s author. He’s good at his job and must be thanked by all the fans.
3. Momo and Okarun: A Unique Duo
At the heart of Dandadan is the dynamic relationship between Momo and Okarun (whose name shall not be spoken). Their interactions go beyond the typical romance you see outside purely romantic anime, making their bond entertaining and heartfelt.
Their affection for each other is clear and gradual, often covered in wit, humor, and weirdness that seems to circle them. The key aspect is that the two characters share an equal footing.
Unlike the typical shonen, where the guy is all-powerful and saves the girl almost every time, the Momo-Okarun duet is a breath of fresh air in a genre often dominated by underdeveloped (and frankly ignored) romantic subplots.
4. About Dandadan
‘Dandadan’ is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Yukinobu Tatsu. It has been serialized in Shueisha’s Shōnen Jump+ service since April 2021. An anime television series adaptation produced by Science Saru is set to premiere in 2024.
Momo Ayase is a high school student who believes in ghosts, but her classmate Okarun believes in aliens instead. To determine who is correct, they make a bet and decide to visit locations associated with both the occult and the supernatural separately.
Ayase visits places related to ghosts, while Okarun visits sites about aliens. When they reach their respective areas, they discover they are only half-right. It turns out that both aliens and ghosts exist.
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