Anime and manga are some of the world’s most diverse forms of media. Though they originate from Japan, they have brought together fans from all over the world to engage in stories from every genre imaginable. DAN DA DAN is just one of these stories, perfectly blending four powerhouse genres: romance, comedy, science fiction, and horror. The release of the anime adaptation is fast approaching, but there’s still plenty of time to get to know the unique concept of DAN DA DAN.
From Manga to Anime
DAN DA DAN began as a manga series by Yukinobu Tatsu, a mangaka (manga author) who has had his work published in the monthly Shonen magazine since 2011. Yukinobu Tatsu previously worked as an assistant on popular works like Chainsaw Man and Hell’s Paradise: Jigokuraku. His newest creative endeavor, DAN DA DAN, was first published on the Shonen Jump+ app and website in April of 2021. There are currently fifteen independent volumes of the manga available for purchase. The sixteenth volume is set to release on October 4th.
On November 27th, 2023, it was announced Science Saru would begin production on an anime adaptation of DAN DA DAN, with Fuga Yamashiro directing. Hiroshi Seko, known for his work on animes like Seraph of the End, Attack on Titan, Chainsaw Man, and Jujutsu Kaisen, took up the role of lead screenwriter.
The vague title belies little insight into the plot. “Dan da dan” as a title has never been confirmed to have any meaning at all. While some fans theorize “dan da dan” is an onomatopoeia, like the Japanese version of the English “Ta-da!”, which is “Da daan!”, the mangaka has never concretely defined “dan da dan.” In an interview with Alu, the mangaka explained that the title was born out of his pursuit of creative freedom. The mangaka was advised to not worry about the plot and instead just “draw freely.” It was from this freedom that DAN DA DAN and all of its beloved eccentricities were born.
A Melting Pot of Genres
From extraterrestrials known as Serpoians to an absurdly raunchy yokai named “Turbo Granny”, DAN DA DAN offers the kind of outlandish aesthetic that is hard to pin down. So far, the plot and visuals seem best represented by a chaotic and colorful mix of romance, comedy, horror, and science fiction. The story follows two high schoolers, Momo and Okarun, who take on opposite views of the world. Momo believes in ghosts and the paranormal, while Okarun believes in aliens and UFOs. The catch? Momo doesn’t believe in aliens and Okarun doesn’t believe in ghosts.
The two kick off their adventures by visiting locations known to be haunted or UFO hotspots. What follows is a wild ride of psychic powers, possession, alien abductions, curses, eccentric characters, and romance. Despite their newfound abilities proving the existence of a world neither previously believed in, Momo and Okarun are still teenagers experiencing high school crushes. It may seem like their excursions into the fantastical world of horror and sci-fi will put a damper on their blossoming feelings for each other. But, amidst the comically dangerous, Momo and Okarun only grow closer.
Some sources have put DAN DA DAN in the occult or action genres. Perhaps trying to fit DAN DA DAN into a rigid box is an exercise in futility. The truth is, it has a little bit of everything. Ghosts and other yokai from Japanese mythology, aliens carrying out abductions in their massive UFOs, over-the-top characters with even more over-the-top beliefs, incredible fight sequences powered by psychic abilities, and, when distilled down to its very core, an engaging and relatable high school romance.
Leaks and Premieres
In August, a massive content leak of animes affected Netflix, Crunchyroll, VizMedia, and GKIDS through Iyuno, the company responsible for the localization of these projects. The leaked content was posted to platforms like 4chan and pirating sites and included the first six episodes of DAN DA DAN. Iyuno stated that they were “actively investigating this security breach.” There will be plenty of legitimate ways to view DAN DA DAN coming up soon.
In just over a week, a theatrical release of the first three episodes titled DAN DA DAN: The First Encounter will hit North American theaters. DAN DA DAN: The First Encounter already premiered in Asia on August 31st. The full series is set to start streaming worldwide on Netflix and Crunchyroll in October.
Final Thoughts
The DAN DA DAN trailers promise to bring fans a stylish and electric amalgamation of romance, comedy, horror, and science fiction. The ability to balance that many powerhouse genres in one story is a testament to Yukinobu Tatsu’s creativity and skill. Science Saru gathered an experienced crew with impressive credits on some of the most popular animes in the world. Knowing this, fans should rest assured that the DAN DA DAN anime adaptation will be no less bizarre and hypnotizing than its manga.
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