Summary
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Okarun and Momo’s hilarious story has madeDandadana great success.Dandadanfollows a ridiculous and chaotic journey while also being emotional and heart-touching. Due to its unusual yet entertaining plot, the show has caught many eyes. Will the anime continue to live up to its fame with a sequel in the works?
Shonen anime is known for its action-packed stories and iconic characters.Dandadan’s first season proved that it is a solid anime. The supernatural setting paired withOkarun’s newly gained abilitiesto fight them caters to the large shonen audience. He is supported by a cast of unique characters like Momo, Aira, and Turbo Granny. Their synergy makes the show hilarious, while their sad backstories also help build a strong connection with the viewers. But is all of this enough to raiseDandadanas the next big shonen?
What Makes a Shonen Great?
The beauty of Shonen lives in its versatility. It’s a vast genre that covers almost every other sub-genre, plot, and theme. This allows it to easily appeal to many people. Over the years,Naruto,OnePiece, andBleachhave been considered to be thethree biggest shows in the genre. While their plots are largely different, they share various similarities. They are all set in their own unique vast worlds with a large cast of characters. Their stories are led by passionate protagonists who move largely based on their personal beliefs and emotions. Though these protagonists are not perfect, they continuously grow throughout the story because of loyal friendships and strong encounters.
Shonen anime is usually guided by a primary goal. For Naruto, it was becoming Hokage; for Luffy, it was finding One Piece. While for Ichigo, it was as simple as always protecting his family and friends. This not only structures the story but keeps the viewers invested as they watch the protagonist constantly reach closer to the known goal.
In recent years, shows likeAttack on Titan,Demon Slayer, andJujutsu Kaisenare at the forefront of the genre. Similar to the Big Three,they share passionate protagonistswho are actively walking towards their goals. But these shows have observed a great reduction in the total number of episodes. The plot moves much faster, is more complex, and has a more consistent timeline. Modern shonen also greatly values good animation. Often, shows with great plots have failed because of underwhelming animation.
What did Dandadan do Right?
Dandadanloosely follows the structure of popular shonen anime. We meet Okarun, who stands out from society and finds it impossible to make friends. But as the story progresses, andhe starts making friends, we see how deeply he cares about them and fights to protect them. He also gains supernatural powers, which allow him to fight various yokai and aliens. To distinguish itself,Dandadanheavily relies on humor and unusualness.
Compared to other shonen, Okarun’s goal seems ridiculous. While someone like Tanjiro hopes to fight demons to heal his sister, Okarun simply wants to get his kintama back. This is not necessarily bad, since it allows the show to begin in a light-hearted tone. But as the anime has proceeded, we have seen it pick up pace. Action scenes have become more exciting, andthe inclusion of backstories and strong emotionshas made episodes more impactful. Stronger enemies have also started appearing, which has slowly increased the intensity of the show.
Will Dandadan Continue to Shine?
Dandadanis still in its early phases. We are still getting introduced to the various characters and how they impact the overall plot. At the moment, the main focus of the plot seems short-term, but it has the potential to build itself. Yokai and aliens are a constant threat andthrough the coming episodes, we might see Okarun understand the significance of constantly fighting them and protecting others.
It is also worth noting that existing popular anime likeDemon SlayerandMy Hero Academiaare close to an end. They are close to their final arcs/seasons. This leaves room forDandadanto soon take their place as the genre’s next big show.
The first season has already seen a lot of success. Compared to other ongoing anime,Dandadan’s amusing and strange setting makes it one of a kind. If the plot continues to grow along with its characters, it wouldn’t be surprising to find it at the top of the genre.
Dandadan
Cast
Based on Yukinobu Tatsu’s popular manga that debuted in 2021 on Shonen Jump+, Dandadan blends action, comedy, romance, and supernatural thrills to create a unique and satisfying adventure. Momo Ayase and Ken Takakura believe in the extraordinary, although the former believes in ghosts and the latter believes in aliens. Determined to confirm their side’s existence, they set out to find their proof.
