Dandadan: The Quest to Save Okaruns Banana

Dandadan: The Quest to Save Okaruns Banana

Key Takeaways

  • Episode 2 of Dandadan continues strong with a focus on character interactions.
  • The writing, visuals, and music contribute to a charming chemistry between Momo and Okarun.
  • The action-packed latter half of Episode 2 continues to build the world of Dandadan, teasing even wilder things to come.
TitleDandadan
DirectorFuga Yamashiro
StudioScience Saru
Episode Air Date10/10/2024

As a seasoned anime enthusiast with a penchant for stories that delve into the complexities of human nature, I must say that Dandadan has managed to captivate me from the very beginning. The way it portrays the intricacies of its characters, particularly Okarun, is nothing short of extraordinary.


Attention: What follows may reveal some mild plot points from the second episode of Dandadan titled “That’s a Space Alien, Ain’t It?!” which is currently streaming on Crunchyroll.

In simple terms, the second episode of “Dandadan” continued the high standards set by its first episode, maintaining the enjoyable atmosphere. As part of the initial storyline, Episode 2 delved deeper into the character relationships that made the debut so intriguing, as Okarun and Momo gradually adjusted to their new situation.

Last week, Momo encountered extraterrestrials who had inappropriate intentions towards her, whereas Okarun experienced a ghost named Turbo Granny taking over his body, including his personal belongings. As these strange occurrences intersected, Okarun, now possessed himself, confronted the aliens, while Momo unlocked her latent psychic abilities to help them both. In the end, they formed an alliance to vanquish Turbo Granny, and Momo began to suspect that she might have feelings for Okarun.

Momo and Okarun’s Paranormal Situationship

Dandadan: The Quest to Save Okaruns Banana

The last episode was packed with events, and managing to briefly recap even the second half in three concise sentences feels like an achievement.

Reflecting on this, it made sense to kick off Episode 2 in a somewhat laidback manner – considering the tense situation these characters are in. Okarun’s still sans his manhood, and Momo’s battling to keep Turbo Granny’s curse at bay with her mental prowess. Yet, with the sun shining, we can be certain ghostly apparitions won’t haunt us today. So, it seemed only logical for them to seek a peaceful respite.

Why Their Banter Works So Well

Dandadan: The Quest to Save Okaruns Banana

This week, the dialogue exchanged between Momo and Okarun continues to be robust, serving as a crucial foundation for the storytelling. In fact, it’s so compelling that the narrative could progress effectively even if the visual elements didn’t provide continuous engagement. For instance, using a mosaic frame during their journey towards Momo’s house, subtly marked by dots on their path, adds liveliness to what might otherwise be a static conversation scene.

Kensuke Ushio’s music effectively adds a charming, upbeat atmosphere to the story, perfectly capturing the turbulent essence of young love. As previously noted, what makes their relationship intriguing are the complexities of their characters, particularly Okarun’s. Contrary to expectations, he displays boldness in ways that are unexpected, even outside of school.

… In a moment that’s both amusing and authentic, Okarun spoils the tranquility by openly criticizing Momo for his frankness towards others.

A crucial aspect of introverts that may be underrepresented in media is their ability to adapt their behavior based on the surroundings and the company they keep. It’s not necessary for a character to transform into an extrovert over time; instead, they might completely change once they feel at ease. Therefore, when Okarun mockingly criticizes Momo for being too straightforward with others, it rings both true-to-life and humorous.

Dandadan’s Action Continues to Amaze

Dandadan: The Quest to Save Okaruns Banana

In the second half of Episode 2, our brave pair finds themselves engaged in another fight, this time against an alien resembling a sumo wrestler. The scene’s construction is commendable, with clever use of environment and well-executed action sequences. However, what truly stands out is the subtle way the narrative unveils the world’s background details to the audience. Remarkably, their adversary appears as a spirit-like alien, yet it triggers a defense mechanism intended for spirits.

Okarun suggests that instances of ghost sightings and paranormal activities might also be related to alien theories. There appears to be an overlap between these two belief systems, and Dandadan is particularly interested in exploring this shared ground. It seems there’s something intriguing about humans for both aliens and spirits, as demonstrated by the Serpos attempting to court Momo and Turbo Granny stealing Okarun’s artifact.

The battle provides numerous suggestions about the larger context, yet doesn’t linger excessively on any specific detail. There will be ample opportunity to explore these details further; for now, let’s focus on the fight. Given the show’s previous mastery of color, it’s remarkable how effectively it muted its color scheme for this climactic moment. The setting where the two characters engage is almost devoid of color, transforming it into a black-and-white production.

Okarun Gets a Killer New Look

In essence, the entire series takes on an intense, gritty feel, and this is amplified when the monochrome battlefield is splashed with the bold color of red – the same shade as Okarun’s latest transformation. Momo maintains mental fortitude while allowing the curse to take over his physical form, transforming Okarun into a formidable character whose masculinity leaves an immediate, powerful impression.

In much the same swift manner, Momo’s fresh persona turns out to be comedic, due to an extravagant charisma that has been exaggerated globally, even extending to his peculiar way of speaking. Yet, amid this supercharged transformation, Momo continues to outshine him in a delightful and intellectually stimulating conclusion that ties together all the rules introduced solely in this episode. This, along with an engaging cliffhanger, solidifies Episode 2 of the series Dandadan as another success.

Read More

2024-10-12 20:04