Dandadan and how to make a great premiere

Key conclusions

• Dandadan is an action-packed occult romantic comedy featuring two leads with supernatural encounters.
• The dynamic characters, visuals, and pacing of the season premiere of Dandadan make it stand out among anime.
• The balance of chaos and calm, character chemistry and gorgeous visuals in Dundasand make for a promising series.

Warning: The following contains minor spoilers for Dandadan Episode 1, “That's How Love Begins, I Know!”, now streaming on Crunchyroll.

The wait is finally over and Science Saru has adapted Yukinobu Tatsu's play Dandadan has begun – and one of the craziest, funniest and most stylish season premieres ever. From the excellent performances of the two leads to the methodical pacing, this eclectic blend of supernatural and sci-fi will be the easiest series to get hooked on all year.

Dandadan is an action-packed occult romantic comedy about the misadventures of a boy who believes in aliens but not ghosts and a girl who believes in ghosts but not ghosts. When they realize they're both right, their lives change forever, and supernatural encounters become commonplace as they bond and discover the strength to fight back.

Dandadan wastes zero time

It's often said that the ending is paramount, but that can be just as true for the beginning. After all, traveling can be really important, but you have to be compelled to travel in the first place. Crafting a good season premiere is an art, and there is none one the right way to do it but Dandadan it's certainly bigger than most, and it's not just because of how much is crammed into it. It is clear that there is part of it, but it's more that the episode feels like a self-contained short film.

It does so in such a clever and charming way, telling the audience everything they need to know about these characters. Before that, however, the opening theme “Otonoke” by Creepy Nuts kicks things off with an aesthetic platter of the madness that awaits. There's no time for cold premieres – this show has little time to waste and will use every second to make you fall in love with this story.

Looking for love in all the wrong faces

As quickly as the opening theme assaults the senses, the story jumps just as briskly to introduce Momo Ayase (Shion Wakayama), just as she is being dumped. Momo just wants a strong guy who reminds her of famous Japanese actor Ken Takakura, but as her friends are quick to remind her, that kind of guy is extinct. Her ex might look the part, but otherwise he was a complete jerk, and now Momo is despairing of her futile search for love.

Her sullenness leads to the boy being bullied, and after she helps him, the boy (Natsuki Hanae) starts a conversation about aliens. This turns into a spat as their aforementioned alien vs. ghost differences escalate until they dare each other to visit opposing paranormal hotspots to prove the other wrong. The story moves quickly and the jokes are always on point, but this fast-paced introduction just paves the way for what makes the premiere so special.

It all started with courage

As discussed in our theatrical review of the first three episodes, there's a balance between chaos and calm that – if it wasn't there – would probably make for a much less compelling story. The crazy action – of which there is certainly plenty in the climax of the premiere – is impressive only because of the time spent getting to know Momo and the boy nicknamed “Okorun” later in the story.

Momo is immediately mesmerizing in the lead role with a great dimension to her character evident after only five minutes. She's fierce and doesn't shy away from speaking her mind, but she's also a romantic, and above all, there's a kindness hidden beneath her sometimes imposing exterior. Okorun is similarly dynamic, with his shyness quickly disappearing the longer he spends with Momo, revealing a rather manic personality and a tendency to be a bit wild at times.

To call their chemistry “good” is an injustice. Just as they talk on the phone to keep each other from getting on each other's nerves, the tension in their eerie surroundings is similarly relieved. They talk about why they believe in ghosts/aliens and the jokes are charming and even a little sad. Kensuke Ushio's score complements the sentimentality of this scene as beautifully as the action that follows.

When spirits and aliens collide

It's hard to know where to begin in evaluating the visuals without looking at the trailer. Science Saru is no stranger to crisp and varied animation, but their work with this adaptation so far has exceeded expectations. Director Fuga Yamashiro may technically be making his directorial debut here, but he's been assistant director to studio founder Masaaki Yuasa on many of the studio's biggest projects over the years.

Therefore, Dandadan expectedly a beautiful series, especially in the cinematography and character animation. The whole scene with Momo exploring the abandoned hospital is a great example of working together to enrich the vocal performances, create atmosphere, or just create as many beautiful shots as possible. It achieves all this while maintaining the manga style and dramatic pace, which was a big priority according to Yamashiro.

Episode 1 ends on a high note

Even amidst the chaos of the character writing, there remains an earnestness that makes Momo and Okaruna feel much closer by the end of just one episode.

The climax of the premiere is sheer perfection, as Momo and Okaruna's unrelated encounters with the unknown converge in an outrageously colorful battle. The pace picks up again, and between the spirit strangely focused on Okaruna's penis and the equally perverse aliens interested in Momo, the weirdness factor reaches its peak. The more troubling implications are softened by the humor, if not the maddening speed with which he introduces so many variables.

Even amidst the chaos of the character writing, there remains an earnestness that makes Momo and Okaruna feel much closer by the end of just one episode. Their deepest beliefs were challenged and confirmed at the same time, new abilities were forcibly awakened and quests were imposed. Coupled with the final hilarious curveball that ends the episode, it's a great start to one of the most anticipated anime of 2024. Dandadan it was worth waiting for.