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Dan Da Dan Episode 1 Impressions – Go Bananas!

It’s almost time for a new anime season, and Dan Da Dan Episode 1 is coming very soon! For those that don’t want to wait for the October premiere, you can check the first three episodes out on September 13 in theaters through Dan Da Dan: First Encounter. GKIDS was generous enough to give Miso an exclusive screening of the first episode, and it’s crazy good!

What’s Dan Da Dan Episode 1 About?

Momo Ayase is just about fed up with her boyfriend. After dumping him, she randomly meets Okarun (real name Ken Takakura) as she momentarily defends him from jeering bullies. Feigning interest in a UFO… erm, UAP magazine, Okarun believes that Momo’s an alien enthusiast as well. However, Momo denies this accusation, and instead responds that she believes in the supernatural, as her grandmother is a medium. However, her relationship with her grandmother is rocky at the moment, but that won’t stop her from her unwavering faith in spirits.

Both students want to prove the other’s belief wrong, so Okarun visits a haunted tunnel while Momo goes to a hospital known for UFO sightings. What they encounter goes far beyond what they expected, and they might not survive the night if they don’t work together! What happens when ghosts and aliens exist and want to destroy a couple of high school kids? Absolute hijinks, that’s what!

An Eclectic Mix of Silly and Serious

It’s hard to classify what Dan Da Dan is, honestly. To make a recent comparison, it feels like Chainsaw Man, which is an action series with a whole lot of dark supernatural elements. However, to me it feels like a more mature version of Bobobo-bo Bo-bobo, as Dan Da Dan Episode 1 goes balls-to-the-walls crazy from the second half of the episode.

No, literally. The Turbo Granny ghost that curses Okarun wants his dong and stops at nothing to get it.

It’s here that I must mention Dan Da Dan was originally rated Mature for its western Shonen Jump release, and for good reason. From a crazy ghost that wants to chomp on Okarun’s balls to Momo nearly getting sexually exploited by a group of horny aliens (who equate bananas to sexual organs), this anime doesn’t shy away from some uncomfortable subject matter.  However, the anime does an excellent job at mixing this serious mood with a surreally silly one, and I would go from letting my jaw drop to chuckling at a stupid joke the characters made a second later.

Science SARU’s Masterpiece

I only recently started reading Dan Da Dan and immediately thought, “How would an anime translate these gorgeous scenes?” Turns out, Science SARU had an answer. Creating anime such as The Night is Short, Walk on Girl and Scott Pilgrim Takes Off, this studio is new but already has its own distinct identity. The visual quality of the slower scenes works well, but what makes Dan Da Dan Episode 1 shine is how bright and vibrant everything is.

From the UFO scenes to the chase action sequences, there’s a bounciness that the anime exhibits just so well. It’s fluid at times but can be stilted and jagged for dramatic effect, and the colors have a bright cheery tone to them, even in stressful situations. Science SARU is an anime studio that’s earned its keep, and I will keep an eye out for its next projects!

An Excellent English Dub

I enjoy both subbed and dubbed anime, so I don’t mind watching either Japanese or English-language versions. I was able to watch the dubbed version of Dan Da Dan Episode 1, and it was a treat! Abby Trott and A.J. Beckles (who voice the main characters), play on each other well. Momo acts like a high school delinquent while Okarun is a very shy type, and the voice actors perform perfectly.

Huge shoutout to Beckles for an excellent Okarun performance, specifically one during the episode’s climax where he needs to emote on a level not seen in his character until then. It helps that the actors can perfectly respond to the comedic breaks well, and the English version has some great pacing with the jokes and humor. Considering A.J. Beckles is relatively up-and-coming voice actor, this role will do him wonders in the future.

What’s the Verdict?

Put this on your watchlist this season. Really… that’s it.

But if you’re looking for a zany show that mixes sci-fi with the supernatural, this is right up your alley. With excellent animation, a fun mix of serious and surreal, and great voice performances, Dan Da Dan will brighten up your day. Just hold onto your butts and bananas.

We’ll keep this show on our radar and post our impressions of the next two episodes soon! A huge thank you to GKIDS for providing us a screening for this anime. In the meantime, you can read Dan Da Dan on the Shonen Jump app or Manga Plus app. Stay tuned for more anime and manga reviews here on Miso!

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Katamaris

During the day, Elisha is an aspiring businessman, but at night, he's a wacky freelance writer. Born into the world with a fleeting knowledge of rhythm games, he loves shonen manga and still wants Pushing Daisies to have some closure. For any manga/anime/video game inquiries, please contact him at edeograc (at) gmail.com
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