Dandadan: The Dover Demon, Explained

Summary

Dover Demon, Mr. Mantis Shrimp, works for Serpoians due to financial desperation and his son’s illness.
Initial enemy of Momo and Okarun, Dover Demon becomes an ally, moves to Earth, and works alongside them.
After forming an alliance with Momo’s team, Dover Demon becomes a part of the family, helps them, and rebuilds Seiko’s home.

In the series Dandadan, a diverse array of adversaries are encountered, ranging from the fearsome Yokai spirits to members of the Serpoian race. Interestingly, many of these enemies engage in conflicts with Momo and Okarun, only to depart following their defeat. Throughout the anime and manga, however, there have been several foes who, upon learning about their pasts and discovering human-like traits, have ultimately become allies to our group.

In the anime ‘Dandadan’, one of the antagonists is the Dover Demon, who is referred to as Mr. Mantis Shrimp by Momo and Okarun. At first, he tries to annihilate the group through battle, but his unsuccessful attempt provides an opportunity for them to approach him without fear, thus allowing them to learn about his background and origin.

Who and What Is the Dover Demon in Dandadan?

Mr. Mantis Shrimp’s Introduction

Works for Serpoian Aliens
Has a wife and son
Is considered weak on his home planet

The Dover Demon, also referred to as Mr. Mantis Shrimp, is an extraterrestrial being who serves the Serpo aliens. He has a yellow, humanoid body and a crab-like head with a disk shape. While working for the Serpo, he typically wears a Speedo, boxing gloves, and a tie. On his home planet, he was known as Peeny-Weeny and was married with a son named Chiquitita. Despite being an alien himself, he works alongside the Serpos to earn money, as he is viewed as weak within his own species.

In my observation during his initial confrontation with Momo, Okarun, and Aira, I noticed he struggled immensely against their skillful prowess. He frequently expressed remorse to his Serpoian superiors over his subpar performance, which they sarcastically labeled him as the “Gig Worker.” This nickname suggested a significant rift between us, indicating they viewed him as inferior.

Despite my initial loyalty towards my Serpoian employers due to their financial backing, I soon came to understand that they held little concern for me or my circumstances. If I faltered in my duties, they threatened to cut my wages drastically. The final blow was when he lost disastrously against Momo, Okarun, and Aira. In the aftermath, the group took pity on him and brought him to Seiko’s residence for care. It was there that we began to uncover his past and learn why he chose to align himself with the Serpoian aliens.

The Dover Demon’s True Intentions

Why Is He Working For the Serpoians?

Needs to make money for his family
Chiquitita has a rare congenital illness
Works with Serpoians out of desperation

Initially, the Dover Demon seemed to fight against the group, leading them to assume he was a Serpoian enemy. However, following their skirmish, they came to understand that this wasn’t true. The primary reason Mr. Mantis Shrimp associated with the Serpoians was because of his low status in his own society, which made it hard for him to secure employment back home. As a result, he turned to the Serpoians as a means to earn money for his work, despite frequently underperforming and causing them frustration.

In my own words, I find myself compelled to earn a substantial amount of money for a heartbreaking reason – my dear son Chiquitita has been afflicted with an illness he inherited from his grandmother, my late wife. This condition necessitates frequent blood transfusions that are becoming increasingly expensive. Despite initially joining the Serpoians and aiming to vanquish Momo, Okarun, and Aira, my sole motivation has always been to secure a future for Chiquitita. In time, I acknowledge myself as a peace-loving individual who abhors violence, but when my endurance is stretched or when the protection of a noble cause demands it, I am driven to act.

Despite being perceived as weak among his fellow Mantis Shrimps, Mr. Mantis Shrimp demonstrates extraordinary strength against the teen adversaries, albeit ultimately losing the fight. His arsenal includes psychic abilities and powerful blows. The Serpoians augment him, and in a climactic battle, he merges with Nessie to try and vanquish their enemies. However, Okarun proves victorious over him eventually. Yet, following his defeat, the group bring him home and develop a connection with him.

The Dover Demon’s Relationship with Momo and Okarun

A Part of the Family

Forms an alliance with Momo’s team
Moves to Earth with his son
Becomes a farmer

Following the Dover Demon’s last attempt against the group, they transported him to Momo’s home, where her grandmother resides. Upon regaining consciousness, he finds himself bandaged and well-taken-care-of, with a bowl of curry prepared for his awakening – an act of kindness and care he had never known before in his life. Moved by their compassion, he vowed to never harm the group again and eventually developed a bond with them. The group then extended assistance in dealing with his son, ultimately discovering that the blood his son required was similar to human milk. Seiko then contacted a dairy farmer she knew to arrange for a cow to be provided, ensuring regular transfusions for the Demon’s son.

After returning to his home planet and discovering the cow was unable to provide milk, he decides to relocate to Earth together with his son, needing regular transfusions. Subsequently, he becomes a consistent collaborator within the group, even offering his spaceship to rescue Okarun when trapped in the Tsuchinoko pit. Additionally, he rebuilds Seiko’s dwelling, assists in deciphering an alien language, and often joins the group for dinner. Alongside Turbo Granny, the Yokai, he is one of only a few former adversaries to form a close bond with the group, essentially becoming a cherished family member. This relationship demonstrates that not every enemy harbors malicious intent or seeks harm; instead, they are like humans who face their own challenges and strive to safeguard their families.

Dandadan is available to stream on Crunchyroll, Netflix, and Hulu.

2025-01-19 00:34