Dandadan: The Similarities Between Yokai and Aliens

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Summary

  • Weapons and charms designed to combat yokai also work on aliens, hinting at a connection between the two.
  • Some yokai might just be misidentified aliens due to similarities in appearance and abilities.
  • Yokai are unintentionally keeping aliens from invading Earth due to their supernatural powers.

As a seasoned paranormal investigator with decades of ghost-hunting under my belt, I must say that the intertwining mysteries of yokai and aliens presented in Dandadan has truly piqued my interest. The idea that these two seemingly disparate entities might share some hidden connection is nothing short of fascinating.

heads up: what follows may reveal key plot points from episode 10 of Dandadan titled “Have You Ever Seen A Cattle Mutilation?”. it’s currently available for streaming on Crunchyroll.

In the unique and intriguing world of “Dandadan”, yokai (supernatural entities) and aliens share more than just an unusual fascination with human anatomy. However, it’s not only this connection that sets them apart. Yokai and aliens are distinct entities, each with their own unique characteristics. Understanding these differences is crucial before we delve into the commonalities they seemingly possess in “Dandadan”.

Initially, Yokais are malevolent spirits originating from Japanese folklore that have found their way into the universe of Dandadan. Their purpose is to siphon life energy from the living, enabling them to re-enter our world. Each Yokai has a unique backstory; they were all formerly humans who harbored profound regrets at death or were wronged and struggled to transition to the afterlife. In Dandadan, the first Yokai is Turbo Granny, derived from a Japanese urban myth about an old woman who haunts motorists near highways. Within the series, she combined with another Yokai, the Earthbound Spirit Crab, and dwells in a tunnel, providing solace to the spirits of brutally murdered young girls.

In a nutshell, aliens represent extraterrestrial beings or creatures hailing from planets distant from Earth. Many, if not all, depicted in the series boast advanced technology, enabling them to traverse between star systems, and they possess unique abilities tied to their species. The first alien race in Dandadan, for instance, are the Serpoians, who lack natural reproduction capabilities and seek human reproductive organs.

The Similarities Between Them

Weapons and Charms Designed to Combat Yokai Also Work on Aliens

In the animated series “Dandadan”, the initial encounter of an extraterrestrial-spirit link occurs in episode 2, titled “That’s a Space Alien, Ain’t It?!” The Flatwoods Monster, a creature shrouded in mystery in our world and classified as a cryptid or Unidentified Mysterious Animal (UMA), is instead portrayed as an alien serving the Serpoians in the show. Interestingly, a talisman guarding the Ayase household and shrine is designed to repel yokais, but it strangely also managed to vanquish the Flatwoods Monster, enabling Momo and Okarun to ultimately defeat it.

“You know, I’ve come across research that suggests those who experience strange spiritual occurrences often report UFO sightings too! It’s almost as if there could be some connection between the mysterious realm of ghosts and the enigmatic world of aliens!

It appears that when extraterrestrials create void-like spaces, beings inhabited by yokai can coexist with them in the same dimension. This suggests a shared fundamental characteristic between aliens and yokai that makes weapons and tools designed for one effective against the other as well.

Some Yokai Might Just Be Misidentified Aliens

In terms of appearance and skills alone, it can be challenging to distinguish a yokai from an alien. Without knowing their background, it’s not straightforward to identify which is which. This is why Momo’s grandmother, Seiko Ayase, remains skeptical about aliens, as she thinks the beings they encounter are merely yokai. For instance, following her encounter with the alien Mr. Mantis Shrimp in episode 10 of Dandadan, “Have You Ever Seen A Cattle Mutilation?”, Seiko concluded that he must have been a Kappa, a Japanese yokai with a mix of frog, turtle, and human characteristics.

In this show, it’s not just Yokai and aliens being mistaken for other creatures; there’s a good chance that many cryptids could actually be extraterrestrial life forms. For instance, the Flatwoods Monster, initially believed to be a cryptid, was later revealed as an alien. Similarly, Okarun points out that Mr. Mantis Shrimp bears a striking resemblance to the Dover Demon, another cryptid. The only cryptid in the anime yet to be definitively identified as an alien is Nessie, which shares its species with the Loch Ness Monster from Scotland, but remains unconfirmed.

The Yokai Keep the Aliens in Check

They’re Earth’s Coincidental Guardians

In episode 10 of Dandadan, Okarun posits an intriguing hypothesis as to why aliens haven’t invaded Earth despite their obvious technological superiority and disregard for human life. He suggests that the presence of yokais and other spiritual entities worldwide may be inadvertently deterring them due to the supernatural powers these entities possess, which surpass the comprehension of alien science. Consequently, an invasion of Earth seems too perilous for them. This theory piques the interest of the Serpoians upon witnessing Okarun’s Turbo Granny abilities, as they aim to capture and analyze him in order to better grasp the nature of yokais and potentially develop defenses against them or even exploit their powers for their own purposes.

Right now, you can find the anime series “Dandadan” streaming across various platforms such as Crunchyroll, Netflix, Muse Asia, and many more online services.

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2024-12-14 23:05