Dandadan: What Are Location-Bound Spirits?

Key Takeaways

Location-Bound Spirits are tied to specific places, possess incredible power, and can fuse with other spirits.
The Earthbound Spirit Crab in Dandadan terrorizes Shono City, bound to a tunnel where murdered girls’ souls lingered.
Lure Location-Bound Spirits out of their territory to weaken and exorcise them, though each also have unique weaknesses.

As a seasoned anime enthusiast who’s been around the block more times than I care to remember, let me tell you about my latest obsession: Dandadan! This show is an absolute delight, and the episode featuring the Earthbound Spirit Crab was a real treat.

heads up: the ensuing discussion might reveal key plot points from episode 4 of Dandadan titled “Overpowering Grandma on Roller Skates”, currently available on Crunchyroll.

In the anime titled Dandadan, spirits that are rooted in specific locations, often referred to as Earthbound Spirits, pose challenges for Momo and Okarun. These spirits, previously human beings, linger in the world of the living instead of transitioning to the afterlife due to various reasons. They’re typically invisible to ordinary humans but can be perceived by those who possess spiritual sensitivity.

In the world of Dandadan, there are numerous enigmatic oddities, each governed by peculiar regulations. Alongside Spirits, Momo and Okarun will encounter diverse extraterrestrial beings and Cryptids, all needing unique categorization. However, what distinguishes Location-Specific Spirits from the others?

How Are Location-Bound Spirits Different from Other Spirits?

These Spirits Hold On to Memories of an Important Location from Their Time with the Living

Dandadan: What Are Location-Bound Spirits?

In the realm of Dandadan, there are three primary classifications for spirits: Location-Tied/Earthbound Spirits, Yokai, and Protective Spirits. As their names suggest, Location-Tied Spirits have a strong association with a particular place that held great importance to the spirit during its lifetime.

Within their dominion, the Location-Bound Spirits hold immense power and are typically invincible. Even an accomplished Spirit Medium like Seiko Ayase, Momo’s grandmother, cannot expel a Location-Bound Spirit from its domain. Unlike Yokai, however, these spirits aren’t necessarily evil by nature. Each spirit may behave differently, but provided a person respects their boundaries and doesn’t intrude on their territory, a Location-Bound Spirit usually won’t intentionally cause harm.

Step foot recklessly into their domain with disregard, and you’ll have no one but yourself to point fingers at when meeting an untimely end. That, in essence, is the unspoken code for us, the living and the fallen, to peacefully share this virtual world.

Spirit Fusions

Different kinds of Spirits can merge by making an agreement, resulting in a fresh entity that’s more powerful than either individual component, possessing both their abilities. For instance, in episode 4 titled “Kicking Turbo Granny’s Ass”, Turbo Granny combined with the Earthbound Spirit Crab, giving birth to a creature boasting the strength of Crab and the speed of Turbo Granny.

Although these unions may have their advantages, there could also be drawbacks, such as how Turbo Granny, a Yokai, became tied to Shono City, much like the Spirit Crab. Prior to this encounter, Turbo Grandy was believed to instill fear in people throughout Japan, suggesting she had appeared in locations beyond Shono City.

The Earthbound Spirit Crab

Shono City’s Infamous Location-Bound Spirit

The first and only Location-Bound Spirit that Momo and Okarun have encountered is the Earthbound Spirit, Crab. This ominous spirit is tethered to a tunnel in Shono City, transforming into a colossal crab with multiple faces on its back and four rows of mouths underneath. The tunnel where this spirit dwells has a grim history – it’s the site of numerous girls who were harmed and killed, leaving their troubled spirits behind. These tormented souls are believed to have materialized into the Earthbound Spirit Crab, with the faces of the victims adorning its shell.

In essence, Earthbound Spirit Crab primarily dwelled within tunnels yet appeared to claim all of Shono City as its domain, rendering it invincible in this area. To compound matters, the Earthbound Spirit had merged with Turbo Granny, granting it such immense power that even a potent Spirit Medium like Seiko Ayase was unable to penetrate the tunnel. However, at that time, Seiko might have been less formidable due to Shono City lying beyond the gods’ jurisdiction where she draws her powers from.

As a gamer, I had to strategically lead the Spirit towards the boundary of Shono City and Kamigoe City. Once we reached that point, Momo and I leaped onto a speeding train bound for Kamigoe City, with the Earthbound Spirit Crab chasing us closely. Amazingly, even it managed to board the train. To buy some time, Momo employed her psychokinetic powers to immobilize the Spirit until we successfully traversed the city boundary. In Kamigoe City, our ally Seiko had prepared a trap for the exorcism of the Spirit.

The Earthbound Spirit Crab shares a likeness with the crustacean called Heikegani, which sports a shell adorned with a facial pattern reminiscent of an irate samurai’s visage.

Weaknesses of Location-Bound Spirits

Lure or Drag Them Out of Their Home and They’re like a Fish out of Water

While Dandadan’s Location-Bound Spirits are nearly invincible within their territories, once they step beyond those boundaries, they become susceptible to exorcism, much like any other spirit. Although you might not be able to perform the exorcism immediately, a Location-Bound Spirit will weaken outside its territory, making it simpler to engage in combat, control, or even escape from them.

As a gamer, I’ve noticed that these Location-Bound Spirits aren’t just susceptible to harm when they leave their territory, but they each have unique vulnerabilities as well. For instance, the Earthbound Spirit Crab appears to dislike hot water, a weakness I figured out thanks to my knowledge about crab meat becoming tough when boiled. I decided to douse it with hot water from a bathhouse, and surprisingly, this slowed it down significantly, even while it was still roaming within Shono City.

At the moment, you can stream Dandadan on Crunchyroll, Netflix, Muse Asia, and numerous other streaming services. The fifth episode of Dandadan, scheduled for release, is slated for November 7, 2024, at 9:00 AM Pacific Time.

2024-11-04 23:39