Warning: Spoilers for Dandadan Episode 12 and Chapter #34
Dandadan released the final episode of its first part, which, like the rest of the season, was not exempt from causing intense debate among viewers due to its representation of disturbing and graphic content. While DandadanThe season finale fully enters the Cursed House Arc after Jiji's introduction in episode 11 with Momo and Okarun accompanying him to Daija Town, the episode featured its most controversial scene to date, ending on a cliffhanger with Momo in a disturbing situation, being attacked. by a gang of unknown men.
Although the inclusion of sensitive subjects is characteristic of some shōnen anime, Dandadan received criticism for excessive use of sexual content during its short run. However, instead of alleviating the controversies, a subtle change made by the anime adaptation proves that the production team seeks to highlight Momo's assault on Dandadanend of the season to generate controversy.
Dandadan Makes a subtle change to highlight the series' most controversial moment
DandadanCliffhanger's Is The Anime Adaptation's Most Anticlimactic Change
In Dandadan At the end of season 1, the adaptation introduces some changes to the order of events in the final minutes of episode 12 to include the controversial scene in the hot springs. While in the manga, Okarun and Jiji find the secret room in Dandadanchapter 33, the next chapter follows with a group of women arriving at the cursed housemembers of the Kito family who were shown watching the protagonists enter Jiji's house at the beginning of the episode, before the anime-adapted scene of the men entering the hot spring bath and trying to subdue Momo.
The anime also includes an original scene of Momo drowning while being held underwater.whereas in the manga one of the men just holds her arms over her head, and the altercation is quite short as she is quickly freed thanks to Turbo Granny's intervention. While these changes should create interest in the source material and anticipation for the next season, by choosing to end DandadanPart 1 in the middle of the attack and without including the mysterious woman who goes after Okarun and Jiji, makes a disturbing moment that could be interpreted as a sexual assault unnecessarily more relevant.
In the same way, Dandadan included many changes that elevate the source material, but this directing angle creates a disturbing and anticlimactic ending as it shifts the focus from a large conspiracy with more people involved from the village who seem to know the secret of the cursed house and divided into groups to go after. from Momo, Jiji and Okarun, to Momo's attack as a way of creating commotion among viewers, a tactic often used by production teams in adaptations without a confirmed sequence to guarantee the series' renewal.
Dandadan The season finale could have gone in a different direction and still had the same impact
DandadanThe Story of Doesn't Need Controversy to Stay Relevant
Dandadan has been highly praised and recognized as one of the best anime of 2024, and its growing fan base proves that the adaptation could have taken a different angle to create a more balanced ending and still have a similar effect on the public, without highlighting sensitive topics. The season could have ended with Jiji opening the door to the women of the Kito family, after the men were shown looking at Momo from behind the door, or even when entering the bath, and still conveying a threatening feeling to viewers and generating anticipation.
Additionally, cutting some extended sequences from the anime, such as Taro's run, Okarun's thoughts on the train, or the trio arriving in Daija City, may have given enough time to finish the episode after Momo is saved and Turbo Granny reveals the nature of the Cursed House. . This way, Dandadan would not perpetuate the belief that the series relies too heavily on sexual content. Because although they are used as a comedy element, such as the protagonists running around in their underwear or the bananas and golden jewelry making jokes, others present triggering themes such as the Serpoians attacking Momo or the cause of death of the girls in the tunnel.
The excessive use of sequences like this as a shock factor affects the public's perception of Dandadanstory, as it is not used for fanservice purposes, but as a way to create discomfort, as it presents real-life issues and demonstrates the character's evil. However, even if another angle could have worked with DandadanIn Science Saru's most controversial scene, the adaptation's previous changes helped captivate new viewers and manga readers thanks to Science Saru's wonderful animation, so fans of the series can't wait for the DandadanSeason 2 which will be released next year to see what comes next in the story.