DANDADAN: Evil Eye Will Leave You Breathless with Its Stunning Visuals and Shocking Ending

by

The following contains spoilers for DANDADAN: Evil Eye. Proceed with caution.

Summary

  • DANDADAN: Evil Eye is a brilliant anime theatrical release highlighting the Evil Eye arc with stunning visuals and direction.
  • The desaturated color scheme serves to characterize the eerie Daija Town and Byakuja Village, while dynamic animation lives up to, and even supercedes that of the first season.
  • The Tsuchinoko and Evil Eye antagonists set up for a thrilling battle at the end of the film, the conclusion to which we will have to wait until July to witness.

On May 30, the theatrical debut of “DANDADAN: Evil Eye” took place, which is a combined movie featuring the first three episodes from season 2 of “DANDADAN.” In North America, it was released on June 6. The film continues with the Cursed House arc, where Momo and Okarun delve into the peculiar events happening in Jiji’s house that hospitalized his parents. As they investigate, they uncover an age-old secret about the house itself and the mysterious Daija Town, a peaceful yet chilling place ruled by the enigmatic Kito family for generations.

In a fresh take on its initial season’s visual style, “DANDADAN: Evil Eye” excels in direction and boasts an impressive third act, embodying the essence of what an anime film should achieve. Back in May, TopMob was given a sneak peek at the DANDADAN: Evil Eye screening, and now that it’s officially released in cinemas, it’s time for our review.

First Things First: The Recap

DANDADAN: Evil Eye Begins With a Refresher on Season 1

the continuation of the Cursed House arc, which was left hanging with a dramatic cliffhanger at the end of the first season of “DANDADAN.

Turbo Granny to the Rescue

Addressing the Cliffhanger

Towards the close of the initial season, Momo chooses to capitalize on being situated in a hot spring resort town by relaxing with a soak. Unfortunately, this is when the shady Kito family men make their unwelcome appearance, harboring harmful intentions. However, an unexpected twist unfolds as Turbo Granny, having secretly slipped into Momo’s possessions during a previous eavesdropping session regarding Jiji’s house in Daija Town, springs into action to save Momo from impending doom. With her powers suddenly unleashed, Turbo Granny sends the Kitos flying haphazardly and causes widespread havoc at the hot springs. The chaos reveals a breathtaking panorama of the surrounding landscape, with a distant volcano adding to the dramatic backdrop.

Momo manages to avoid harm in the incident, but it’s just another event connected to the Kitos, whose peculiar complexion suggests something seriously amiss about them. One distinctive feature of the anime series DANDADAN: Evil Eye is its muted color palette, a choice influenced by Japanese horror and intended to create an unsettling atmosphere in the peaceful town. This is contrasted with the vibrant colors seen in the first season of the DANDADAN anime, and the Kito family’s grayish tint appears to align with this eerie tone.

Okarun and Jiji’s Discovery

Jiji’s Landlords Come and Go As They Please

When Momo is away, Jiji and Okarun take the opportunity to spend time together, which they do by playing soccer, a pastime that turns out to be significant later on. As they are outside, they notice a peculiar section of the house that seems like a hidden room, but there’s no entrance leading to it within the house. Intrigued, they manage to break through the wall and uncover a foreboding room filled with talismans. It appears this room was intended to remain hidden. However, their exploration is cut short when the Kito family, Jiji’s landlords, arrive in large numbers, and much like Momo’s earlier attack, these people exhibit a dominating demeanor. This becomes evident in their casual encroachment upon Jiji’s personal space, as they have been allowing him to live there rent-free since his parents’ hospitalization. We soon learn that this sense of entitlement extends beyond just Jiji’s house.

In the initial substantial battle of “DANDADAN: Evil Eye”, Momo, who has been away for a while and had an opportunity to delve deeper into Byakuja Village, reappears from her bath. Upon her journey, she discovers a shrine where locals claim they make sacrifices to a legendary creature called a “Tsuchinoko” to ward off disasters such as volcanic eruptions. Interestingly, the caretaker of this shrine, who possesses a relic made of snake skin representing their region’s ancient bond with this beast, vehemently denies its existence.

After gaining this new knowledge, Momo connects the dots and returns to Jiji’s house, where she encounters some of her attackers lounging with Okarun and Jiji. This scene, marked by its smooth motion and the riotous humor of Grandma Kito labeling her Kung-Fu moves after celebrities such as Jennifer Lopez, stands out. The blend of laughter and confrontation in this moment is masterfully executed, reflecting the unique action-comedy style that DANDADAN excels in.

Going Underground

Not One, But Two Major Antagonists

The conflict between Momo and the Kito family concludes with them being bound and delivered to the initial significant adversary of the Cursed House storyline: the Tsuchinoko, which Okarun describes as a “Mongolian Death Worm”. For generations, the Kito family has offered people who resided in Jiji’s house as sacrifices to this creature. In their attempt to sacrifice Jiji, Okarun, and Momo, the current generation encounters the giant worm for the first time. The Death Worm sustains itself by emitting a psychic force that triggers intense suicidal tendencies in those who come into contact with it. Initially, only Jiji remains unaffected, but their troubles don’t cease as a mysterious presence, the same one that had been haunting Jiji’s house and keeping him awake on numerous nights, intervenes, combating the psychic waves with its own. The most intriguing aspect of DANDADAN: Evil Eye lies in how Jiji is associated with the malevolence that has transpired within and beneath his home, and how the appearance of the entity – the Evil Eye, brings about a striking transition from the dull tones of the early scenes to a blue-violet color palette.

In a manner similar to Turbo Granny and other characters in DANDADAN, the Evil Eye isn’t just an evil force, but rather, it embodies the Kito family’s persistent disregard for human life and a young child’s effort to prevent further misfortune. One unique aspect of DANDADAN is how it delves into the horrific origins of the Evil Eye before its current form, enhancing the series’ overall exceptional quality. When we consider DANDADAN: Evil Eye, the actions that unfold after Jiji allows himself to be possessed by the Evil Eye due to his selfless nature transform him into a lead character, much like in any other supernatural shōnen series. His movements during possession are athletic, agile, and crucially, reminiscent of his passion for football and the Evil Eye’s previously thwarted desire to play with other children before its senseless sacrificial murder. The parallel between Jiji, possessed by the Evil Eye, fighting Okarun and their earlier football match is particularly insightful in developing Jiji’s character. Despite the exaggerated movements, they serve as a testament to the production team’s dedication to detail. Interestingly, while the color scheme resembles it, it somehow remains unrelated to Jiji’s fervor for the French football team, Paris Saint-Germain.

Great For Hype, Yet Not-So-Conclusive

DANDADAN: Evil Eye’s Cliffhanger

In the compilation film “DANDADAN: Evil Eye,” we get a tantalizing taste of what’s to come in season two, with exceptional direction, stunning visuals, and superb character growth for Jiji. The animation is also fantastic, dynamic, and fluid. However, just like the final episode of season one, it leaves us wanting more as it doesn’t fully resolve the Evil Eye arc. While we do get a significant chunk of the story, realizing that you have to wait another month for the rest can feel a bit disappointing. Yet, with season two airing on July 3rd, and the evidence of its quality in “DANDADAN: Evil Eye,” the lack of a conclusive ending within the film’s runtime is a minor issue given the excitement for the upcoming season.

In “DANDADAN” season 2, the creators skillfully employ contrasting colors, such as earthy yellows for Tsuchinoko and a captivating purple for the Evil Eye, adding depth to the story. The intense battle between Okarun and Jiji, filled with dynamic animation, heightens anticipation for what’s next. Kensuke Ushio’s enchanting soundtrack elevates the scenes even further, demonstrating his exceptional talent as a composer. It’s clear that “DANDADAN: Evil Eye” theatrical release is going to be an exhilarating spectacle, and it’s worth watching just for the buzz alone.

Final score: 4.5/5 stars

Read More

2025-06-07 16:07