Abstract
- Dandadan blends aliens and ghosts in a supernatural comedy with distinctive characters and societal satire.
- Characters like Aira and Jiji break conventional anime tropes, creating pure and humorous interactions.
- The sequence incorporates social commentary on cults, exploitation, and societal points in Japan by way of fictional storytelling.
Fast Hyperlinks
Dandadan took the web by storm when it was first launched in October 2024. A novel mixture of aliens and ghosts, two of the most well-liked subjects of conspiracy. Not solely is the sequence a supernatural comedy, however its tongue-in-cheek humor and satire on society make it stand out from most different anime and manga.
From Aira having “important character syndrome”, to Jiji’s good-looking however goofy character, each episode and chapter is not afraid to delve into the nitty-gritty, or make full use of tropes and spin them on their head. Moreover, there’s additionally a commentary available on Japanese society as properly.
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Dandadan mangaka did an interview. He reveals a personality from his sequence he believes is like Superman.
Deconstruction and Reconstruction
From episode one, it is already demonstrated that the characters of Dandadan are much more completely different than the typical anime. Momo Ayase is a well-liked woman at college with a knack for trend, however her fiery character and real care present that she’s removed from caught up. Upon assembly Ken Takakura (Okarun), her interior nerd involves the forefront, as each she and him are followers of the occult – albeit in numerous methods.
Furthermore, Aira, their classmate, whereas launched as stuck-up, secretly has an affinity for taking part in the “important character”. All of the conditions she leads to, she equates them to her “future” because the “chosen one”. Plus, when she obtains Acro Silky’s powers, that solely convinces her extra that she’s particular. Jiji, the good-looking childhood pal of Momo, is way from aloof and is outgoing, pleasant, and generally a bit air-headed.
But with all of those characters, their interactions work properly collectively, as their quirks bounce off one another of their conversations, which makes all of it really feel pure. The humor in Dandadan stems from character interactions and tongue-in-cheek vulgar humor to inform its story, versus utilizing traditional tropes. For instance, Okarun loses his genitalia initially of the sequence. Finally, he is in a position to get a few of it again, however his kintama (金玉, “golden balls”) are nonetheless lacking. This can be a play on phrases, as kintama is a slang time period in Japanese. However the origin of the phrase itself implies a treasure. Furthermore, in Shinto beliefs, tanuki (raccoon canine) have giant kintama, which maintain treasure. Okarun, fairly actually, misplaced his “golden treasure”.
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Dandadan: Okarun’s Unwavering Faithfulness To Momo, Explained
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Society is a Joke
Social and political commentary is a superb addition to any comedy, if completed accurately. In a single arc, the aliens take over the varsity, transferring Aira, Momo, and Okarun into an alternate dimension. Their goal? Stealing Okarun’s genitalia. Working for them is a humanoid mantis shrimp (or The Dover Demon), who the aliens regularly mistreat and scold for not assembly their expectations. After the battle, it is revealed that his house planet is in turmoil, and so they want a particular liquid to outlive. Mentioned liquid is cow’s milk, which Momo’s grandmother provides to provide him considered one of her cows, doubling down on the trope that aliens abduct cows. So as to present for his household, he was extorted by the aliens in a similar way to how a black firm (a enterprise that exploits its workers) treats its employees in Japan.
Fictional Story, Actual Drawback
The general narrative of Dandadan additionally incorporates themes of cults. In Japan, there’s a real problem involving cults all through the nation. A lot in order that notorious incidents such because the Tokyo Subway Sarin Assault in 1995 had been dedicated by cults. It is also rumored that Tetsuya Yamagami himself is a cultist. In Jiji’s arc, the small city he lives in is superstitious and haunted by a yokai, Evil Eye, who was a baby saved by a cult throughout his lifetime. Whereas not portrayed in a humorous gentle, it sheds exposition on the unstated problems with Japan. There are a whole bunch of reported incidents of assaults by cultists in rural Japan. The “Evil Eye” acts as a stand-in in addition to commentary on how a baby could possibly be affected.
