Dan Da Dan: First Encounter Review
Date: 2024 September 12 19:29
Posted by Joe
Dan Da Dan hits streaming services this October 2024. Ever since the anime adaptation was announced, fans have been eagerly anticipating it, not only because of the manga’s popularity but also because of the studio behind it – Science SARU, who have released fantastic titles such as Scott Pilgrim Takes Off, Stay Away from Eizouken!, Tatami Galaxy and Tatami Time Machine Blues. Science SARU is one of the studios that has a huge appeal to anime fans, so the hype for this title is running high. Put together as a special preview, the first 3 episodes will hit cinemas across the UK and Ireland on Friday 13th September 2024 under the title Dan Da Dan: First Encounter. We were lucky enough to avoid being kidnapped by strange creatures and get access to a special review screener. So let’s find out… is it any good?
The whole story
The story follows the misadventures of an unlikely teenage duo, the rude gyaru girl Momo Ayase who believes in ghosts and spirits and the goofy loser boy Okarun who believes in UFOs and extraterrestrials. While Momo believes in ghosts, she doesn't think aliens exist, while Okarun doesn't think ghosts exist. So to settle the argument, Momo goes to an abandoned hospital where a UFO is discovered and Okarun goes to a tunnel that is rumored to be haunted. Of course, both paranormal anime exist and both have out-of-this-world encounters. Then comes the humor and slight vulgarity.
©Yukinobu Tatsu/SHUEISHA, DANDADAN Production Committee
What we really enjoyed about the show was the pacing. In interviews with the staff before publication, they mentioned that they really wanted to keep the pacing of the manga. The show just starts right away instead of building up and then getting into action, setting the scene, and then moving on.
The first thing that caught our eye was how well directed it was. It felt like a movie at times. They took advantage of the animation to easily switch angles. There were also some very clever and subtle cost savings. Most people wouldn't notice because it's not in your face, the cost savings are well hidden, unlike other shows that have static images of characters doing things in a montage.
Dan Da Dan is fast paced and, as is the case with any action comedy, completely unpredictable. It's silly and very entertaining. In the three episodes we've seen, it's perfectly balanced, with just the right amount of character development, lots of action, and lots of laughs. The third episode gives us a bit more breathing room and is used to explain more about the world of Dan Da Dan and its rules.
At times it feels like a shounen parody, playing with popular troupes and scenarios but putting its own silly spin on it. We're really looking forward to how this show will play out and believe it will live up to the hype. SARU Science has brought us the anime answer to the X-Files!
The series opens up the possibility of romance between Momo and Okarun, but knowing that it's comedic in origin, we won't take it for granted. This is clearly a series where anything can and will happen and that's what makes it so great. Three episodes in, Dan Da Dan is a strong contender for anime of the season, if not of the year!
In preparation for the series' release, they will host a special screening across the UK and Ireland on Friday 13 September 2024. Dan Da Dan hits streaming services Crunchyroll and Netflix in October 2024.
Source: Otaku News
