Dandadan: Okarun's Turbo Granny Form, Explained

Key Takeaways

The Yokai and aliens grant unique powers to the main characters, contradicting their initial beliefs.
Okarun’s Turbo Granny curse gives him immense speed and strength, but comes with a major limitation.
Turbo Granny has unexpected depth, showing both compassion and deception, setting up conflicts in the anime.

As a seasoned anime enthusiast, I’ve seen my fair share of protagonists, but none quite like Okarun from the upcoming series, Dandadan. His unique transformation into Turbo Granny, with its remarkable bite force and blazing speed, is nothing short of captivating. However, it’s not just his powers that make him stand out; it’s his wisdom and strategic thinking in the face of adversity.

Dandandan is a shounen anime centered around two teenagers, Takakura Ken, alias Okarun, and Momo Ayase, who spent years believing in aliens and spirits. Despite their contrasting beliefs, they share an interest in the strange and supernatural, often debating each other’s passion for extraterrestrial life and ghost hunting. Following a series of events, they both acquire extraordinary abilities when they stumble upon well-known UAT and ghost sightings in their region. Shortly after their initial meeting, Takakura Ken experiences the Yokai Turbo Granny, who places a curse on him.

In the anime, Turbo Granny’s curse plays a crucial role in advancing the storyline. This curse, which grants Ken extraordinary speed, contrasts sharply with his original unshakable convictions. Meanwhile, Momo acquires psychic abilities from alien abductors. At first, Ken’s lack of control over his speed curse causes problems and danger for both protagonists. However, as the story unfolds, this curse proves to be a valuable asset when he encounters both Yokai and aliens.

The following contains spoilers from the first arc of the series.

The Collision Of The Supernatural And The Ordinary

Turbo Granny’s First Encounter

Dandadan: Okarun's Turbo Granny Form, Explained

Following my initial conversation with Takakura Ken and Momo Ayase about the supernatural and outer space, we decided to challenge ourselves by visiting the most renowned Yokai and UAT hotspots in our neighborhoods. With a mix of excitement and apprehension, we ventured into these unknown territories.

In a turn of unexpected events, Okarun was lured into a legendary tunnel, rumored to house the Turbo Granny. Upon entering, he confirmed the tales as truth and fell under her curse. Simultaneously, Momo Ayase faced an alien race called Serpo, who aimed to utilize her body for their quest of acquiring human genitalia. In an astonishing twist, Okarun was transported onto the spaceship where Momo was being held captive and aided in her rescue. With determination and fortune on his side, Okarun tapped into Turbo Granny’s powers to facilitate Momo’s escape from the spacecraft, setting the stage for how Okarun’s abilities would be employed throughout the anime series.

The Turbo Granny Transformation

How It Works

The full extent of the Turbo Granny curse’s power is not yet fully understood, but it is immensely powerful and capable of beating the Evil Eye Yokai, a mountain class Yokai, which is the strongest classification of Yokai. Okarun now possesses Turbo Granny’s abilities as a borrowed power after only her consciousness was sealed out of Okarun, with her powers still residing within him. This arrangement grants Okarun immense speed, much greater durability, and a remarkable bite force with his teeth while using this form. This arrangement is limited, as Okarun forcefully changes back after going all out with his 100km/h speed two times.

In the world of Dandadan, Okarun’s array of robust abilities makes him more like an explosive defense tank, able to ward off both aliens and Yokai. He can also dish out a substantial amount of destructive damage at high speed. Throughout their adventures battling aliens, Okarun frequently pushes the boundaries of his transformations, becoming stronger through rigorous training. The Turbo Granny form, which he acquires, is essentially a last-resort transformation for critical situations rather than a regular one. Okarun must exercise caution in using his powers to ensure he’s not left vulnerable against the Yokai and aliens he encounters.

The Glaring Setback of The Turbo Granny Curse

A Power That Needs To Used Smartly

In the realm of Turbo Granny’s enchantment, Okarun gains extraordinary abilities to face formidable forces from both the Yokai and alien realms. As he undergoes this metamorphosis, he surpasses ordinary human capabilities, exhibiting speeds far beyond normal and an endurance that is reinforced. However, this empowerment has its drawbacks – he exhausts rapidly and can only maintain his peak speed for just two instances before collapsing into a state of immobility, making him vulnerable like a stationary target. This limitation necessitates the crucial support from Momo Ayase that he heavily depends on.

Okarun’s weakness drives him to become an exceptionally strategic fighter because he understands that his power is essentially a game of chance. To overcome the numerous perils they encounter together, Okarun learns to depend on Momo and in doing so, discovers the limits of his abilities and learns to use them carefully to avoid putting either himself or Momo in harm’s way. Okarun’s skill at navigating dangerous situations and his careful decision-making make him a beloved Shounen protagonist, and his adventures an engaging spectacle to watch.

Consequences Beyond The Arc: Setting The Stage For Future Conflict

Turbo Granny, An Unlikely Source Of Power And Just Another Person

The initially malicious-seeming Turbo Granny was the first Yokai to present a troubled past, displaying unanticipated themes that depicted her as more complex than the usual Yokai, who are often thought of as inherently evil. Despite appearing deceitful and negative at times, like when she manipulates rules in her game with Okarun, Turbo Granny possesses a caring side. As her turbulent storyline draws to a close, it’s revealed that she has empathy for young girls and frequently tries to soothe the spirits of the deceased among them. This heartfelt trait is what ultimately led her to partner with the Yokai Earthbound Spirit Crab.

In simple terms, the finale of Turbo Granny Arc established the tone for the anime series, offering viewers a glimpse into the challenges and hardships that Okarun would encounter due to his restricted yet potent cursed transformation. Additionally, the anime explores more complex themes about Yokai, as they possess distinct objectives and reasons behind their actions during their conflicts with Okarun, which are often instigated by their aggressive tendencies. The Turbo Granny Transformation serves as a powerful tool that highlights Okarun’s noble and idealistic character through an eye-catching appearance and extraordinary powers.

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

2024-10-03 01:33

Dandadan: Okarun’s Turbo Granny Form, Explained