Space Dandy
a review by waty
a review by waty
___
Shinichiro Watanabe is considered a mastermind by many. He is behind two of the most legendary anime out there, Cowboy Bebop and Samurai Champloo. Of course, he's done more than that. Kids on the Slope and Terror in Resonance were both directed by him, but these were not as big, so I'll refrain to mention them for now. Both Champloo and Bebop were revolutionary, thanks to their amazing characters, music, animation, and overall vibe and aesthetic. Champloo and Bebop have a very chill and laid-back feel to them, being episodical shows with little continuity, that sometimes devolved into more somber themes. Mugen and Spike are iconic. You can see their similarities in their demeanor, and once you get to know them more, you realize more of why they are alike, but their differences as well. Both absolutely bad-ass, but with this obscure and mysterious aura. Analyzing these shows you start to notice what makes a Watanabe work. Then, there is one question that many people started to wonder about...What the hell was Watanabe thinking when he directed Space Dandy?!
I mean, a show about an extremely flamboyant alien hunter, who is fixated on women? The vibe of the show is vibrant, it heavily fixates on comedy rather than the introspective nature of his earlier works, the music choice from the chill and calm tunes of jazz in Bebop and hip-hop/lo-fi in Champloo to the disco tracks in Dandy. This must have been some sort of mistake, right? I mean, how can you go from two top-notch, well thought and structured series to a simple-minded show based on boob and ass jokes? Well, let me tell you that Dandy offers a lot more than what meets the eye. Dandy is also a very Watanabe-style anime in its own way. Let me tell you why this is one of my favorite anime, and why it stood out among the rest.
At its core, Space Dandy is a show about a crew of three alien hunters and their misadventures through space. But in reality, one could say that this show is about directors having fun doing whatever they want with the characters and simple plotline they were given. Every episode (or almost every episode) is directed by a different director, for which, every episode is a different experience on all different levels. And that is one of the coolest parts of this series, its originality. The aliens often break the norm of what you'd expect, the rich world is beautifully built and expanded on, and with so much to offer, it is bound to have an episode that is your cup of tea, whether it be for where it takes our main crew, what themes they decide to expand on, what side characters we encounter, or even what type of animation style they use. It uses to its advantage the simple idea of three dudes going through space with the fact that the writers vary so much, to put Dandy and friends through all types of scenarios, from absolutely unique, to scenarios full of tropes but with that Dandy touch that is inherent to the aura of this series.
One reason people don't seem to be interested in checking out Space Dandy would have to do with the fanservice. For some, of course, it's bonus points, but for others, it just feels like it's way too over the top and will taint the watching experience. Before watching Dandy I also felt this way, because let's be real, the promotional art and teasers do not help. But, in reality, it is not as bad as one would imagine. I'd say that the first half of the first season has some noticeable fanservice, but after that, it's never really prevalent, though it doesn't disappear altogether, which is not a bad thing because there is actually some meaning to it. I never really thought about this while watching, but after I read a post about it, it makes sense. The absurdity of the fanservice is ridiculing how we, in real-life, may use it as a selling point for marketing or something to get traction with little to no effort for whatever it may be. Heck, one of Dandy's main motivations is a bar chain called "Boobies" which is just giant breasts floating on space served by voluptuous women from all kinds of species. It's truly ridiculous. But even then, when you may see Dandy as a series with purely comedic episodes which mostly center on boob jokes, that is not really the case.
It may surprise you, but one of the things that Dandy does the best is how it manages to maintain and change its tone, and never feeling forced at all. It knows exactly when to get serious. Going from really goofy episodes to heartwarming tearjerker episodes, or stories that talk about very somber or existentialist topics. Season two tends to do a better job at doing this, but season one has its few shares of episodes that go way off from what you'd expect Dandy to be. Some episodes are just comedic for the sake of it throughout, sure but you'll be surprised with the outliers of the comedy and immature formula some episodes seem to have. And the fact that the comedy for the sake of comedy is prevalent in many episodes just makes all that much better those clever and thought-provoking ones.
The comedy as well is something that for me hit every or almost every episode. It's never something you'll die laughing at, but it consistently made me chuckle or smile while watching it.
In a similar fashion to Bebop or Champloo, it also has its Watanabe style to it, with the vibe being setting this series to be absolutely memorable. And the little continuity between episodes makes it all that more special considering the bizarre nature of it, that later on becomes much more impactful in how the episodes are interconnected with one another.
Dandy, well, he's just a dandy guy in space. But he's also a very interesting character, nothing like what the stereotype of the protagonist could portray. The guy's a jerk, for sure. He is self-centered, selfish, bratty, and incompetent at most things. He's downright flawed. But for that, he's very human. He undergoes many struggles, and he's not always like he portrays himself to be. I really like characters that actually feel real and human, and Dandy is an easy-going and chill guy that could actually be out there. And despite all of his flaws, he is also a very considerate guy, who actually cares for those around him even when he may be too proud of himself to admit it. When he wants to, he is actually a very nice guy that I'd actually appreciate as a friend.
His two companions Meow the Beetlejucian (he's basically just a cat), and the vacuum cleaner QT. Meow has a very is very similar to Dandy, but they often differ in their ideals. They are a great pair together, and he likes Boobies, so bonus points for him. As for QT, he is the only competent member onboard. I never really loved QT but he is a great and necessary addition to the crew, and he has his moment which I very much liked to see.
Apart from Dandy, for me, the character aspect of the series shines in the side characters we meet along the way. It is easy to fall in love with them and hope that they eventually come back down the road. All the aliens have something meaningful to add, and sometimes they just downright steal the spotlight in a single episode. It is easily one of the things that makes this show so memorable. You grow to miss 'em as the series carries on, and there never is one that feels out of place, especially because the world in Space Dandy is that rich and vast.
Art and animation-wise, it's fantastic. The backgrounds are stellar, and the art differs from all kinds of styles going from abstract levels of animation to vivid cheerful and colorful, or even dark and pale when the episode calls for it. The movements are incredibly fluid, and actually feel real. The action is super well done with the most simple of moves being animated incredibly, it really shows how much passion went into making this show. I love how it's animated, and even though I know nothing of animation or drawing, I can still see the beauty and the conquered ambition to create a vibrant atmosphere through its fluid motion and stunning views.
What I can't seem to understand, however, is how godlike the soundtrack is. I can't begin to explain how amazing it is, you should listen to it for yourself, but the music hits every single time. Having pure disco and funky tracks, rock, melancholic tunes, chill, and everything in between, the OST for Space Dandy is absolutely on point, and it's always used at the right time. There are songs like Hoshikuzu no Pipeline or I want to know that just really accentuates the emotion on the scene, and leave you with a distinct feeling of pleasure, whether sad or upbeat. The opening is an absolute banger and a song I'll never get over, and the ending not content with only being an amazing song, it is also very meaningful to the story. You'll see what I'm talking about when you finish watching it.
All in all, Space Dandy is a misunderstood piece of media that I very deeply fell in love with. Although not everyone will actually share that emotion, I know it, and I can live with that. But I hope that I made my point across on why I found this show to be one of my favorites. With all of these seasonal anime that look like I've seen them before hundreds of times, Dandy is a series that definitely tries a lot harder than most, and I'll always appreciate that.
114.5 out of 119 users liked this review
