You Can Watch the Next Big Anime Early in Theaters

You might have heard of Dan Da Dan, an upcoming anime from Scott Pilgrim Takes Off studio Science Saru set to premiere on Netflix and Crunchyroll later this year. If you haven’t, you should start paying attention, because it could very well be the next big thing — and soon, you’ll be able to watch the first three episodes early on the big screen.

Related: Dan Da Dan To Stream On Both Netflix and Crunchyroll This October

Anime distributor Gkids, which has done fantastic work lately with films like The Boy and the Heron, has announced that the first three episodes of Dan Da Dan will be available to watch in the cinema around the world, more than a month before the series’ full release. The theatrical package will officially be called Dan Da Dan: First Encounter, and screenings will start in Asia from August.

Screenings will start taking place in the following regions on the indicated dates:

• Asia : August 31
• Europe : September 7
• North America : September 13

Gkids has said that subsequent regions, such as Australia, New Zealand, Latin America, and Africa, will also get access to the theatrical release starting in mid-September, with specific dates to be revealed closer to its release. In any case, it will be available in most regions ahead of its October release on Netflix and Crunchyroll.

Dan Da Dan is a scifi-meets-horror coming of age story based on a manga from Yukinobu Tatsu. The anime tells the story of two school-aged teens, a girl who believes in ghosts but not aliens, and a boy who believes in aliens but not ghosts, as a chance encounter puts them face-to-face with both and brings them together.

Here’s Gkids’ official description:

DAN DA DAN follows Momo, a high school girl from a family of spirit mediums, and her classmate Okarun, an occult freak. The two of them start talking after Momo rescues Okarun from getting bullied. However, an argument ensues between them – Momo believes in ghosts but denies aliens, and Okarun believes in aliens but denies ghosts. To make the mutual deniers believe in each other, Momo goes to an abandoned hospital known for its UFO sightings, and Okarun goes to a tunnel that is said to be haunted. In each place, they encounter overwhelming paranormal activity that transcends comprehension. Amid these predicaments, Momo awakens her hidden power and Okarun gains the power of a curse to challenge the paranormal forces! Their fateful love begins as well!?

No specific date has been set for Dan Da Dan's release on Netflix and Crunchyroll beyond October 2024.

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