Dandadan. There are so many words to describe Dandadan that my list would go on forever so it’s best to just say that this anime is NOT boring, sensible, calm or your everyday anime. It’s an exciting rollercoaster ride full of twists and turns and the occasional loop de loop that takes you by surprise.
Dandadan is about two school high school students Momo Ayase and Ken Takakura, who is also nicknamed Okarun by Momo. The pair make an unlikely friendship through their opposite beliefs. Ken believes in aliens and Momo believes in the paranormal, however they both disagree with each other’s beliefs which leads to the beginning of their wild adventure. They each send the other to areas that are ‘hot spots’ for either alien or paranormal activity which results in Momo being abducted by aliens and Ken being possessed by a ghost named Turbo Granny. After this, both Momo and Ken gain supernatural powers which they use against the invading aliens and the paranormal entities causing problems in the human world.
That is all I’m going to say about the plot of Dandadan, because I don’t want to give too much away! It is a fast-moving anime with stylised animation, bright colours, intense fighting and chase scenes. There is a lot going on at times, however it has its still moments where characters reflect on what has happened in their lives and the emotions that they are feeling, something that western animation often fails to do. These pauses help to remind us that whatever craziness is going on in the world these characters are just normal people without their supernatural powers.
Dandadan is a manga series written and illustrated by Yukinobu Tatsu. The manga has been serialized in Shueisha’s Shōnen Jump+ app and website since April 2021. It has also been released in printed format and currently consists of 18 volumes. The anime television series adaptation produced by Science Saru aired from October to December 2024. Unusually Dandadan was released in the UK on the 4th of October 2024 (the same as the rest of the world for once!!) and is available to watch on Netflix and Crunchyroll. It currently consists of 12 episodes with a second season due to premiere in July 2025.
Dandadan is an anime that grasps your attention from the beginning. I made my friend watch the first episode with me and, for someone that doesn’t watch anime, they loved it and can’t wait to watch the next episode. Another person has joined team anime – yay! I highly recommend this series as it has a bit of something for everyone and so full of energy it leaves you feeling pumped up and exited. The only downside is that there are only 12 episodes, but that means you can rewatch it several times until season two comes out!
Lexémon’s rating
Things You Should Know:
Dandadan is age rated 15 in the UK. This is because of the following content according to the IMDB:
Sex & Nudity: Moderate
Violence & Gore: Moderate
Profanity: Moderate
Alcohol, Drugs & Smoking: Mild
Frightening & Intense Scenes: Moderate
Published: 2025.03.04