Dandadanreleased in the fall of 2024, it has undoubtedly become one of the standout anime of the year, if not the last decade. Its success is arguably credited to Science Saru, who does a phenomenal job bringing Yukinobu Tatsu's manga to life. From the first episode, it was clear that the anime's stellar animation would be one of its strong points.
Although the animation alone does Dandadan A must-see, the anime's ability to consistently catch viewers off guard adds an element of surprise that enhances the experience. These moments are perfectly integrated into the story, evoking a range of emotions; laughter, fear and sadness, which align perfectly with the characters' feelings in each scene. This unpredictability adds depth, making Dandadan an immersive and unique viewing experience.
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Recreating the Classic Alien Invasion Meme
Episode 11, "Have You Ever Seen a Cattle Mutilation?"
Dover Demon, also known as Mr. Shrimp Mantis, initially feared as a menacing alien, turns out to be a devoted father who works tirelessly to help his sick daughter recover. In a hilarious and unexpected twist, the solution to his illness is surprisingly simple: cow's milk, which serves as his species' equivalent of blood.
At Seiko Ayase's suggestion, Dover decides to bring a cow back to his planet. However, the the execution of this plan takes an amusingly familiar turn, delivering exactly what fans ironically anticipated but still found surprising. The iconic image of a cow being abducted by aliens is humorously recreated in Dandadancombining clever storytelling with famous pop culture references to delight viewers.
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Grandma Turbo's Bizarre Entrance
Episode #1, "That's How Love Begins, You Know!"
Okarun and Momo's adventure to recover their family jewels is undeniably bizarre, but none of it would have happened without Turbo Granny. As the series' first villain, Turbo Granny sets everything in motion by stealing Okarun's private parts. Her first appearance, where she shockingly asks Okarun to let her grab his private parts, is a moment that is sure to catch anyone off guard.
Another reason this moment is so shocking is the construction of the narrative. Although viewers were ready to expect a gruesome encounter, Turbo Granny's bizarre dialogue changed expectationsturning the scene into a hilarious and unexpected moment. The humor is further amplified when fans realize that Turbo Granny is voiced by Mayumi Tanaka, the iconic voice actress for Luffy from One Piece.
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The reason behind Turbo Granny's bizarre behavior
Episode 4, "Kicking Grandma Turbo's Butt"
With Turbo Granny, it felt like Dandadan was embracing pure absurdity, with his strange behavior added only to add to the anime's bizarre tone. However, it is only when Momo and Okarun defeat Turbo Granny with their teamwork that the series sheds light on their actions. Seiko Ayase, Momo's grandmother, reveals that she and other spirit mediums had been trying to capture Turbo Granny for some time, discovering a very tragic pattern in their search.
It is revealed that Turbo Granny always appears near places where girls, after being abused, suffered irrational deaths. This suggests that her strange behavior, mainly cursing men's private parts, was her way of comforting these girls' spirits. Through Turbo Granny, the series takes an unexpected turn, showing viewers that the Yokai's actions have deeper motives. This moment becomes a turning point, forcing the viewer to realize that there will always be more behind each villain's actions.
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Running away from Grandma Turbo
Episode 4, "Kicking Grandma Turbo's Butt"
Taking down Turbo Granny was a huge challenge for the protagonist duo, and without Okarun harnessing Turbo Granny's full power, defeating her would have been impossible. In his transformation, Okarun discovered a fundamental ability: using all his gas to escape any situation, although this would have serious repercussions. So when Okarun and Momo find themselves deep in Turbo Granny's domain, they trust in Okarun's sheer ability to turn the tide.
However, no one expected how Science Saru would elevate this seemingly simple scene, which originally took up just a few pages of the manga. The scene is brought to life by the use of the final act of William Tell's opening as the soundtrack during the chase, a choice that heightens the excitement and perfectly captures the thrill of the race. This approach set a clear precedent, as a similar chase scene in episode 11 perfectly matches this tone once again.
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Okarun's real name coming to light
Episode #1, "That's How Love Begins, You Know!"
The beginning of Dandadan stands out, especially for a shonen anime, with Momo actively seeking a romantic relationship, specifically with boys who resemble in some way her favorite celebrity, Takakura Ken. This desire even led her to get involved with a boy who was not good for her, as she entered into the relationship only because he had a slight resemblance to her crush.
However, after becoming involved with the occult-fanatic boy through a series of events driven by their opposing interests, it becomes clear that Momo begins to develop feelings for him. This makes it a euphoric and unexpected moment, not just for Momo, but also for the viewers when it is revealed that the boy's name is the same as his celebrity crush, Takakura Ken. This moment serves as the perfect foundation for the romantic relationship between Momo and Okarun, hinting that a great love story is about to unfold.
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Momo catching Okarun and Aira in an awkward position
Episode 8, "I've Got a Funny Feeling"
Once Aira is introduced and her role in the main cast is solidified, she quickly becomes a hilarious and brilliant addition to Momo and Okarun's growing romantic dynamic. Momo, upon realizing that Okarun is trying to avoid her, becomes uneasy, and her concern increases to the next level when she sees Aira on top of Okarun in an intimate position.
Much like Momo, this moment provokes unexpected reactions from viewers, leading fans to question whether Okarun in fact, it may be considering other options instead of Momo. However, the situation involving Okarun and Aira turns out to be nothing more than a hilarious misunderstanding, highlighting the unpredictability of the series and its talent for creating such surprising and comical scenes.
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The dummy running towards Okarun
Episode #11, "First Love"
After Jin is introduced as Momo's first love, Okarun begins to consider that it would be better for him to distance himself from her. Just as he is about to finalize his decision, a strange voice echoes, declaring, “I won’t give up!” The source of the voice is revealed to be a talking mannequin, doomed to run towards an unknown destination with an obscure purpose.
The absurdity and shock of the situation are perfectly captured in Okarun's reaction. However, when Momo realizes that the mannequin may have Okarun's last family jewel, it provokes a frantic chase to capture him, which is perfectly enhanced by the addition of the final act of William Tell's opening like punctuation. However, the exciting reason behind the mannequin's quest offers a twist that fans never imagined but loved.
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Okarun realizes he is missing his family jewels
Episode 5, "Like, Where Are Your Balls?"
The quest to defeat Turbo Granny began when Okarun lost his private parts, with the main goal being to get them back. However, after defeating Turbo Granny, Okarun recovers everything except his family's jewels. The shocking twist is that Okarun doesn't realize this until the next daycausing viewers to burst into laughter, just like Momo does.
The unexpectedness of the scene reaches a whole new level when it is revealed that Turbo Granny is still alive. Seiko performs a special ritual to extract it from Okarun's body, transforming Turbo Granny's essence into a Cat Doll, who reveals that she dropped Okarun's family jewels. Thus, this moment lays the groundwork for one of the most unbelievable quests in a shōnen series: a protagonist on an adventure to recover his lost private parts.
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History of Acrobatic Silky
Episode #7, "For a Kinder World"
Until this episode, it seemed clear that DandadanTurbo Granny's greatest strength was in its bizarre plot and comedic elements, with emotional depth only hinted at in Turbo Granny's reason for existence. However, Episode #7 marks a turning point for the series. unraveling the motivations behind Acrobatic Silky's actions and tragic existence. This episode explores the heartbreaking story of an unknown woman who worked tirelessly for her daughter's sake, only to see her son taken away by mysterious men in an inexplicable situation.
With Acrobatic Silky constantly acting possessive towards Aira, even to the point of hurting her, no one could have predicted that the ghost's situation would be so heartbreaking. It's a moment that's sure to bring fans to tears. This scene stands out as one of the most shocking and unexpected in Dandadanespecially since the series never suggested it could carry so much emotional weight. This moment marks a turning point, forcing viewers to recognize the reach of the series and its ability to deliver such surprising and impactful twists.
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Serpoian aliens almost physically abusing Momo
Episode #1, "That's How Love Begins, You Know!"
The variety of elements introduced DandadanThe first episode of is undoubtedly one of the main reasons for the success of the anime. With Momo pursuing a romantic relationship, it initially seemed like the series would lean heavily on romantic comedy elements. However, nothing could have prepared viewers for what unfolded in the second half of the episode, as Momo and Okarun's bet led to her being kidnapped by aliens.
These extraterrestrial beings, known as Serpoians, kidnapped Momo with one goal: reproduction. This leads to an unexpected and disturbing scene, with the Serpoians prepared to harm Momo for their purpose. Given as Dandadan started with light-hearted comedy and romantic elements, this moment is sure to catch anyone off guard, becoming one of the most shocking moments in the series.