DAN DA DAN
a review by ZeekyBoogie
a review by ZeekyBoogie
It has been, to say the least, quite some time since my last anime journey. But I'm new to AniList and ready to explore the art form in the most in-depth manner yet - and Dandadan has been a great re-entry!
Before I even address content, I just want to say this show is an absolutely gorgeous experience.
I can't stress enough how much a unique, ambitious aesthetic amplifies the enjoyment of a watch - without even having a fundamental understanding of the storyline or context, I was immediately enamored with its colorful essence and the ridiculously addictive theme song.
The show's inner linings, themed around the paranormal and potential of non-human entities, is the perfect plot point to justify the beauty of this anime. From the backdrops to character designs, I am far from lukewarm on its presentation - it will catch the attention of anybody.
With no pre-existing knowledge of the Dandadan universe, I had no semblance of expectation for character dynamics - so a cute, cheesy romance was a fun surprise! The relationship between Ayase and Okarun is absolutely adorable and developed incredibly well, with subtle makings of something thorough with every episode.
Ayase's rebellious nature is funnily incited by Okarun's submerged desire to impress his new friend and crush, and it unsurprisingly binds them to a multitude of frenzied experiences battling monsters. The focus on yokai and aliens left an impression that I figured would be prominent - but I found myself increasingly invested in the characters with time, and that's a sign of good plot development.
The integration of Aira and Jiji is quite nice - it gives the web of adolescent interaction in the show more depth, and both have unique, appreciable relationships with our main characters. I can also respect the decision to portray both as a tad dislikeable and brash to start, but slowly lovable with the development of their backstories and traits - Aira's "turning point" as a character in particular was brilliant, which will further be outlined below.
I will say one thing - I hope Season 2 makes a determined effort to flesh out both characters. I do feel as if there's just so much more they can offer - especially Aira - so I'm looking forward to observing that dynamic come July!
Acrobatic Silky already disturbed me off-rip, but man - I did not expect such a heart-wrenching backstory to accompany her. I think this is when I learned to appreciate Dandadan's depth beyond its comedy and eccentric traits - it was truly tying emotion to these yokai, and did so in an incredibly well-written manner.
"To a Kinder World" is certainly the best episode yet, as far as I'm concerned - it not only made Aira considerably more layered and likable, but set the premise for the show's "serious" side. And it's only gone uphill since.
I must say, Dandadan did good in not playing with my emotions and dropping cliffhangers on the boy...until now. "Let's Go to the Cursed House" was probably the most subtly tense and curiosity-inducing watch yet, and now I have half a year to sit through to see the outcome...damn this great show! I'll play around with the idea of hopping to the manga to satisfy my eagerness, but that's a decision for later.
For now, I'm here to sing the praises of what was a great anime in its totality - fun, action-packed, and nicely intricate with its character writing! A full-on must-watch in my eyes, especially for non-anime fans - it's an easy entry point into the art form.
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