Why ‘Dan Da Dan’ Lives Up to the Major Hype

It’s unavoidable that, every now and then, an anime will take the spotlight, as Oshi no Ko did the previous year. This time, however, Dan Da Dan really proved to be a breathtaking adaptation from Science SARU, garnering not only massive viewership but also high praise from audiences. In fact, since its debut, the show has consistently been among Netflix’s top ten most popular shows, outperforming the likes of The Diplomat and Love Is Blind.

Naturally, those who have been following the anime since its premiere have been hoping for it to win the Anime of the Year award, demonstrating how well it has lived up to the hype created by the source material. This begs the question of what makes Dan Da Dan so special and why it is being called the best anime to come out in recent months.

‘Dan Da Dan’ Is One of the Weirdest Anime Shows Ever!

Weird is not always associated with the word ‘bad,’ since there are some strangely phenomenal TV shows, such as Rick & Morty, Kill La Kill, and JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure. In this regard, Dan Da Dan is as bizarre as it gets, but it never fails to captivate the viewer with its seamless comedy and action, which is followed by a beautiful and unconventional love story.

The story follows Momo Ayase, a high school girl who grew up hearing ghost stories from her Shaman grandmother, and Okarun, an Otaku who believes aliens exist. Following her breakup with her jerkish boyfriend, Ayase meets Okarun, who unexpectedly piques her interest, leading to a situation in which they try to debunk each other’s beliefs by visiting the town’s most haunted spots. Much to their surprise, both of them are proven right and must use their wits to survive their respective enemies, which include a spirit granny and a group of peculiar aliens.

What makes this adaptation so remarkable is the fact that there is a spot-on balance between horror and action comedy, which appeals to a broad audience. Nevertheless, there is never a moment when you feel the anime is conventional, as it is full of fan service and some strange antics that somehow feel pleasant as you progress through the episodes. While Dan Da Dan is not everyone’s cup of tea, as people have different preferences, it is certainly worth the hype, especially after the most recent episode, “To a Kinder World,” which is currently one of the highest-rated anime episodes of all time.

Visual Storytelling Highlighted by Phenomenal Animation

It doesn’t take a lot of episodes to realize that Dan Da Dan offers some of the best the anime has to offer, both in terms of story and visuals. From the get-go, the story has been established effectively, with Ayase’s eccentricity perfectly complementing Okarun’s shy Otaku personality. In fact, at the end of the first episode, the anime sets up the main plotline by defining both main characters’ goals, which fans will find intriguing.

Aside from the seemingly weird premise, which gets everyone intrigued from the beginning, Dan Da Dan has a lot more to offer. Science SARU nailed the manga’s art style with top-tier animation that flawlessly captures the chaotic nature of each scene, making it the anime’s standout feature. If the first two episodes aren’t enough to convince you, the following episodes will remind you why Dan Da Dan is a visual explosion that uses animation to highlight both humor and horror.

Having said that, it is more than just eye candy, as the anime offers some of the best backstories we’ve seen in modern anime, whether it’s about Turbo Granny, who has been shown as a terrifying entity since the beginning, or Acro Silky, who even topped the former in terms of terrifying the viewer. The show has been consistent in providing backstories for both heroes and villains alike, frequently making the latter appear more humane, despite their distinctive appearances.

In particular, Science SARU did an exceptionally great job with the seventh episode, “To a Kinder World,” which put forth the origin of Acro Silky through a mix of darker imagery and dreamy music, reminiscent of Studio Ghibli classics. Overall, Dan Da Dan demonstrates how minute details can take storytelling to the next level, and when combined with unique animation, it transforms into a one-of-a-kind anime series that will not be seen again for many years.

Breaks the Common Romance Tropes

One of the most striking features of Dan Da Dan is the two main characters, who appear to be completely at odds with one another. In fact, modern romances have normalized people’s expectations of their significant others, rather than emphasizing the imperfections that everyone possesses by nature. In this regard, Dan Da Dan does an excellent job portraying Ayase and Okarun, as they often take breaks from their supernatural adventures to experience a more grounded version of their relationship.

Certainly, there are misunderstandings between the couple, but through life and death situations, their bond transcends beyond what a teenage love story looks like, forcing them both to rely on each other in every vital instance. Naturally, they both admit their mistakes and understand each other with a level of maturity, which is unusual for teenagers, but given the circumstances, it is completely understandable. While they both aren’t officially together just yet, Dan Da Dan hints every now and then that they both have feelings for each other, and they aren’t your typical anime couple who are bound by the romance stereotypes that have plagued the medium for years.

‘Dan Da Dan’ is now streaming on Crunchyroll, Netflix, and Hulu.