Dan Da Dan Review: Good time mixing genres

The search for the next big anime hit is on. It was a juggernaut Attack on Titan finished its run last year; Demon Slayer AND My Hero Academy they are quickly approaching the final; and Jujutsu Kaisen the manga is officially over. And fortunately, the first three episodes were shown to critics Dan Da Dan we have the makings of a strong contender for the big hit shonen anime we’ve been craving. This is a series in which every anime fan will find something for themselves – even those who are just starting their adventure with this medium.

Based on the manga of the same title by Yukinobu Tatsu. Dan Da Dan follows Momo, a gyaru with an occult family history who does not believe in aliens, and Okarun, an introvert who loves all things UFO-related but does not believe in ghosts. After a simple bet that gives two high school students supernatural abilities, they develop an unlikely friendship and are forced to regularly face and fight extraterrestrial beings and ghosts.

If this sounds like one genre too many, you’ve come to the right place Dan Da Danwhich manages to combine several of them into one wonderfully exciting and fun cocktail. This is a series for fans of demons and the occult, as well as lovers of science fiction, aliens wanting to steal human genitals and romantic comedies of various genres. It’s a testament to the writing of this anime that everything ties together so well, as the show goes from scary, to disgusting, to funny, to even adorable, all in a matter of minutes without ever feeling jarring. The main reason is that everything is based on characters who have unique and developed personalities. Okarun is more than just a shy guy who is afraid to talk to girls, and in his adventures with Momo, he finds strength and courage. Meanwhile, Momo’s rough personality and gyaru style are refreshing for a female shonen anime character. Watching these two react in completely different ways to the various creatures they encounter, each with specific knowledge and specialties, is a pleasure that never gets boring and actually leaves you wanting more of these two.

Another ingredient that makes genre-blending work is comedy. Between this show a Man with a chainsawit’s a good time for anime with a millennial sense of humor, z Dan Da Dan it often feels like an anime’s answer to a 90’s Nickelodeon cartoon. After all, it’s a series that begins with the character being possessed by a yokai demon who stole his “banana” – and from there the story gets even weirder and funnier. This is the work of an author who clearly looks at the despair and darkness of the world and chooses to meet them head-on with fart jokes and honest character drama.

And it looks stunning thanks to the excellent work of animation studio Science Saru. Artists are no strangers to experimenting with visuals to tell larger than life stories (just look at the contrast between the grim and often grotesque Devil’s Crybaby and frivolous Scott Pilgrim takes off) and seamlessly convey the humor, fast and dynamic action, terrifying images and emotional rhythms of the story. There are fight scenes where the colors just pop in the busy scenery, but there are also scenes that are completely gray in empty space. Even horror works well with this art style, with drawn-out moments that build anticipation and fear of what’s just out of sight, a rare feat for an action series that needs to be constantly moving. These first three episodes give a great idea of ​​what Dan Da Dan has to offer and what the rest of the season will be like, nicely establishing the characters, formula and relationships – all while creating a unique world with its own story that won’t overwhelm viewers with exposition.

Dan Da Dan Premieres October 3 on Netflix