‘Dan Da Dan’ is the strangest and most spectacular anime you can watch in 2024

The anime industry had a bombshell in store for us for the final stretch of 2024. Even in the previews, ‘Dan Da Dan’ was full of personality. Do you believe in ghosts? Do you want to prove that there is life beyond Earth? The paranormal and the supernatural collide in one of the hottest licenses right now. With the first two chapters already released on Crunchyroll and Netflix, one thing is clear: it’s been a while since we’ve seen an anime with this much style.

You can’t miss ‘Dan Da Dan’, the great anime of the moment

The series gets right to the point by focusing on the two characters that drive the narrative rhythm: Momo Ayase and ‘Okarun’. Momo-san believes in ghosts, while ‘Okarun’ rejects the paranormal to embrace anything to do with UFOs. A spark ignites between the two shortly after they meet, challenging each other to try to understand that what each of them refuses to see in real life really does exist.

The chemistry between the two is fundamental for the duo to work well into the second episode, but it does so in a special way because of the personality they exude separately. In the beginning, Ayase-san carries more weight because she easily introduces her background around the figure of her grandmother, who trains her in all kinds of arts against ghosts. When ‘Okarun’ appears as a co-protagonist, there is a balance on screen that suits her very well. Compared to the manga, there are some situations where it slows down a bit, although the overall tone is maintained without any problems.

Many will see some similarities in style and form to ‘Chainsaw Man’. This is logical. Its author, Yukinobu Tatsu, was Tatsuki Fujimoto’s assistant for many years. The blows, the encounters in the face of the unknown... there are many parallels in both works. The difference that Tatsu-san adds is the constant comic relief in the face of the implausibility of the scenes they present. The anime adaptation is being made by Science Saru Studio, who have already worked on other adaptations such as ‘Scott Pilgrim’ (2023), ‘Eizouken ni wa te o Dasu Na!’ (2020) and ‘Ping Pong: The Animation’ (2014). The animation is spectacular. The level of detail in the movements is a spectacle. Ayase san’s first kick at the beginning of the pilot episode already gives a glimpse of where things are going.

The first season consists of 12 episodes, released on a weekly basis. In case you’re curious, the manga is published in the United States under the VIZ Media imprint. The first episode covers almost half of the first issue; in less than half an hour, it will hook you into an electrifying combination of action and style.