Dandadan: First Encounter Was Worth All the Hype

Key Takeaways

Dandadan: Highly anticipated anime adaptation with engaging characters and supernatural elements.
Director Fuga Yamashiro’s passion shines through, promising a visually stunning and faithful adaptation.
Dandadan’s animation impresses with unique fight scenes and seamless transitions between chaos and calm moments.

Title	Dandadan
Director	Fuga Yamashiro
Studio	Science Saru
Series Premiere	10/4/2024

As a seasoned anime enthusiast with a penchant for the quirky and the captivating, I must say that “Dandadan” left me utterly spellbound after watching its first three episodes. This series is a delightful rollercoaster ride of emotions, seamlessly transitioning from high-octane action to heartwarming character moments, much like a masterful symphony conductor skillfully orchestrating the ebb and flow of melodies.

Without much ado, Dandadan, one of the most eagerly awaited manga adaptations in recent years, hails from a studio known for their exceptional storytelling abilities across various genres. Consequently, spectators were eager to catch the initial three episodes on the big screen. Despite the high anticipation, the viewing experience turned out to be even more enjoyable than anticipated.

In the manga series “Dandadan: First Encounter“, which is inspired by Yukinobu Tatsu’s hit work, we follow a boy who firmly believes in extraterrestrials but dismisses ghosts, and a girl who has faith in spirits but doubts aliens. Ironically, they both turn out to be correct in their beliefs. This theatrical version includes the first three episodes along with exclusive behind-the-scenes interviews featuring cast members, the director, and even the original creator.

The Perfect Primer For A Peculiar Show

Dandadan: First Encounter Was Worth All the Hype

Dandadan’s Pre-show Was a Blast

I attended the showing of “First Encounter” with two friends who hadn’t read the manga before but were intrigued by it based on its premise. Since I wasn’t familiar with the manga either, but had heard about the series’ popularity, this experience turned out to be an exceptional way for me to get to know such a delightfully endearing tale. The cast and crew’s palpable excitement generated tremendous anticipation for the upcoming screening, making it all the more exciting.

Actors Natsuki Hanae and Shion Wakayama effectively won over audiences with their portrayals of the characters, even before the series started. They spoke about how relatable they found the characters, referencing personal experiences that influenced their performances. However, what really stood out was their frequent mention of the unique balance between disorder and tranquility in the storyline. It was during these instances that director Fuga Yamashiro’s insights were especially enlightening.

An Adaptation in the Right Hands

Viewers of the manga are the ultimate arbiters of how accurately the adaptation sticks to its source material. Yet, Director Yamashiro’s enthusiasm shines through his work, giving the impression that this series is going to be exceptional. His genuine effort to preserve the visual aesthetic of the manga while maintaining its dramatic pacing effectively dispels any lingering doubts about the project – even if there were any to start with.

Working alongside Masaaki Yuasa, founder of Science Saru, Yamashiro had a strong resume, but his directorial debut was effortless and intuitive. At some point, he revealed a book overflowing with storyboard drawings – these were merely creative ideas for intriguing shots, yet he harbored a vision to one day undertake a project that could encompass all of them. This passion mirrors an artist who is equally eager to bring his creations to life as the audience is to experience them.

You Will Fall in Love with Dandadan

Yamashiro’s excitement seemed to last a bit too long – endearingly – as the behind-the-scenes peek neared its conclusion, showcasing the strong anticipation from the viewers for the main spectacle. It certainly delivered – and more, actually, as it started impressively right from frame one with the opening theme, “Otonoke” by Creepy Nuts. You might have come across it when it was leaked online earlier, but nothing beats experiencing it in its complete, high-quality version, not to mention watching it on the big screen.

The First Episode Is Nearly Flawless

Momo Ayase is a girl who yearns for the perfect partner, but her high standards, as they are set on renowned actor Takakura Ken, limit her potential matches. Despite this, she feels dejected until she encounters a fellow being mistreated and extends him compassion, leading to a conversation about extraterrestrials and spirits. He claims to believe in aliens while she maintains her faith in ghosts, and they both refuse to accept the other’s interest, each too stubborn to embrace their differing convictions.

In a surprising turn of events, they challenge each other to explore eerie locations known for paranormal activities on the same night, to prove their claims. The boy, affectionately called “Okarun,” experiences a spirit’s possession with an unusual intent to take his manhood, while Momo encounters alien abduction and discovers dormant psychic abilities within herself. Events spiral quickly, leaving both of them in a predicament as they grapple with the bizarre supernatural forces that seem fixated on genitalia mysteries.

An Effortless Blend of Chaos and Calm

The vibrant, noisy, and imaginative chaos is primarily what captures people’s attention, yet it’s the quieter, intimate scenes that truly touch viewers’ hearts. As hinted at before, this series has a remarkable ability to smoothly shift from its fast-moving storytelling and action sequences to heartwarming, deeply human character moments. The soundtrack by Kensuke Ushio complements this show particularly well, perhaps even more effectively than his work on the 2022’s “Chainsaw Man”.

Hanae and Wakayama’s performances perfectly capture the tonal contrast depicted in the story. Fingers crossed that the English dub maintains this effect, as it’s the subtle details that truly endear these characters. Okarun is an introverted character yearning for companionship, but similar to the narrative he inhabits, he also has a lively, spontaneous side that emerges effortlessly, often leading to amusing arguments.

Momo, with her straight-forward demeanor, carries a heartfelt kindness that, much like her striking fashion sense, leaves a lasting impression. It would be a shame not to acknowledge Seiko, Momo’s grandmother who is a spirit medium, whose powerful presence dominates the setting. Despite her imposing appearance, she exudes vitality that belies her apparent age, making her an immediately captivating character and likely just one of many equally intriguing personalities.

The Animation Is Sublime

The animation in “Dandadan” has been a captivating highlight, particularly for those unfamiliar with the original manga. Even if the core story had shown some weakness – which it hasn’t so far – the visuals have undeniably excelled. Each of the three episodes showcases distinct central action scenes that are nothing short of spectacular, and no fight is alike in its presentation.

In the midst of everyone adapting to their situations, the guidelines are figured out as they go. Momo’s psychic skills take time to master, whereas Okarun discovers that Turbo Granny’s possession offers some fascinating benefits, provided he doesn’t lose full control. The successes feel exhilarating, while the mishaps offer plenty of laugh-out-loud moments on the way.

The Verdict Is Clear

After seeing the first three episodes of Dandadan, I was saddened by the realization that I wouldn’t be able to watch subsequent episodes in a movie theater too, as I had hoped. However, unlike some other TV productions whose flaws can become more pronounced on a theater screen, this series seems even more stunning. It’s clearly set a high standard, implying that it should ideally be watched on the largest screen available when it gets released next month.

After seeing the first three episodes of Dandadan, the one thing that left me feeling let down was realizing I couldn’t catch each subsequent episode in a movie theater too.

Dandadan has been generating excitement for a good cause, and if you needed any reassurance, First Encounter proves it’s a worthwhile investment. It is witty, endearing, and bursting with character. For those who missed it, have no fear, it will be well worth the wait. The autumn anime season is still some weeks off, but few shows are likely to rival this one in terms of quality.

Dandadan will premiere on October 4, 2024, and will be streaming on Crunchyroll and Netflix.

2024-09-18 19:34