The anime adaptation of Yukinobu Tatsu's Dan Da Dan is off to a great start. With excellent animation by Science SARU and top-notch voice acting from Shion Wakayama (Momo Ayase) and Natsuki Hanae (Ken Takakura), it's easy to see why. But I'm not here to review the show; rather, I want to talk about the mystical lore in Dan Da Dan.
My love for UFOlogy began when I was a kid and watched Fire in the Sky. Initially, the movie left me traumatized, but that fear turned into curiosity. And that curiosity turned into a love for all things strange. But it's a love that I know most don't share. Most people think that UFOlogy, paranormal research, and cryptography are, at best, pseudosciences.
Therefore, most people are not fully aware of what is considered 'norm' when it comes to kidnappings. While the image of a naked girl tied to a chair may make people uncomfortable, labeling it as needlessly sexual is inaccurate. Alleged kidnappers often claim that individuals extracted genetic material from them. Some people even claim that aliens abducted them so they could create human-alien hybrids!
The mystical lore in Dan Da Dan is very good
For this article, let's put aside the question of whether alien abductions are real or not. And let's focus instead on the kidnapping charges. While it is tempting to dismiss the situation as a mental health issue or accuse individuals of lying, victims of alleged kidnappings often show signs of PTSD and similar trauma as symptoms experienced by survivors of sexual abuse and assault. The numbers don't necessarily mean everything is true, but up to 6% of the US population believes in alien abductions.
So rest assured, there's no extra 'glamour' or 'unnecessary fan service' in Dan Da Dan's first two episodes. The show's depiction of alien abductions is typical of what we hear from abductors. A 'normal' abduction follows a fairly common pattern: the person realizes they cannot move, only to later notice entities (usually three) present in their bedroom . Once there are no more capabilities on board, testing will begin. Many individuals have even reported that aliens communicate telepathically, transmitting their need for genetic material directly into their minds. Sound familiar?
Just one more day September
Suppose you are a child and are playing with your friends when suddenly a fireball rushes through the sky and falls not far from your location. What do you do? Investigation of course! Only nerds wouldn't pay attention to that adventure. However, curiosity often leads to unwanted trouble, and your decision to investigate could change your life in ways you never imagined.
Flatwoods Monster version by Dan Da Dan
When you get there, an acrid mist hangs in the air; it smells so bad it makes you nauseous. In front of you, flashing red lights emanate from an airplane. As you looked towards it, a terrifyingly tall humanoid figure with glowing eyes, a long cloak, a hood-like head, and clawed hands hissed and flew towards you. Curiosity has led you to one of the signature UFO entities, the Flatwoods Monster. And as a lover of Fortean events, I also enjoy people's different interpretations of them. Did I ever think the Flatswoods Monster would one day become an anime sumo wrestling alien? ARE NOT! Am I glad that happened? Have!
More strange and Fortean events
An artistic representation of West Virginia's Flatwoods Monster – ©Shawn Langley (Facebook)
While paranormal enthusiasts were quick to mention that the Flatwoods Monster originated from a 'real' entity, the two real oddities in the first episode of Dan Da Dan went largely unnoticed. That's unfortunate, because they offer an interesting story for those who explore the bizarre. First, the United States Congress held UFO meetings (UAP) and whistleblowers sounded the alarm that whatever was happening out there was far beyond what even secret technology could handle. The US Air Force can do it too. In it, former US intelligence official David Grusch stated on the record that the US Government is in possession of crashed UAPs as well as 'non-human biology'.
But honestly, that's not surprising, the US government and the US Air Force have done research on UFOs. Project Sign (1948), Project Grudge (1949), and the famous Project Blue Book (1952 – 1969) were all separate US Air Force studies investigating this phenomenon. Although no studies have come to a definitive conclusion about any threat from UFOs, interest in them is evident.
Second, do you remember the Picnic over there? If you do, yes! If you've never seen it or don't remember, the story focuses on two girls who use a portal to explore another dimension. I say that again because in the anime world, the story that best fits the supposed happenings at Skinwalker Ranch is this light novel. The story of Skinwalker Ranch is a myth. With apparitions, portals to other dimensions, extraterrestrial beings, and supposed animal deaths and mutilations, this is one of the craziest paranormal stories currently available. I'd end up with a 30-minute article if I watched it, so I won't. But it's definitely worth a careful read (or listen).
A big thank you to Shawn Langley for allowing us to use his Flatwood Killer Monster illustration in this article, be sure to check out all the other magical and paranormal illustrations This.
Screenshot: Crunchyroll
©Yukinobu Tatsu/SHUEISHA, DANDADAN Production Committee
Flatswood monster illustration ©Shawn Langley