Dandadan, released in the fall of 2024, has undoubtedly become one of the standout anime of the year, if not the last decade. Its success is arguably credited to Science Saru, which does a phenomenal job of bringing Yukinobu Tatsu’s manga to life. From the very first episode, it was clear that the anime’s stellar animation would be one of its defining strengths.
While the animation alone makesDandadana must-watch, the anime’s ability to consistently catch viewers off guard adds an element of surprise that enhances the experience. These moments are seamlessly woven into the story, evoking a range of emotions; laughter, fear, and sadness, that align perfectly with the characters' feelings in each scene. This unpredictability adds depth, makingDandadana uniquely engaging viewing experience.
10Recreating the Classic Alien Invasion Meme
Episode #11, “Have You Ever Seen a Cattle Mutilation?”
Dover Demon, aka Mr. Mantis Shrimp, initially feared as a menacing alien, turns out to be a devoted father working tirelessly to help his sick daughter recover. In a hilariously unexpected twist, the solution to her ailment is shockingly simple: cow milk, which serves as the equivalent of blood for their species.
On Seiko Ayase’s suggestion, Dover decides to bring a cow back to his planet. However, theexecution of this plan takes an amusingly familiar turn, delivering exactly what fans ironically anticipated yet still found surprising.The iconic image of a cow beingabducted by aliens is humorously recreated inDandadan, blending clever storytelling with famous pop culture references to delight viewers.
9Turbo Granny’s Bizzare Entrance
Episode #1, “That’s How Love Starts, Ya Know!”
The adventure of Okarun and Momo to recover his family jewels is undeniably bizarre, but none of it would have happened without Turbo Granny. As the series' first villain, Turbo Granny sets everything in motion by stealing Okarun’s privates. Her first appearance, where she shockingly requests Okarun to let her grab his privates, is a moment sure to catch anyone off guard.
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Another reason this moment is so shocking is the narrative buildup. While the viewers were ready to expect a horrific encounter,Turbo Granny’s bizarre dialogue flipped expectations, turning the scene into a hilariously unexpected moment. The humor is further amplified when fans realize that Turbo Granny is voiced by Mayumi Tanaka, the iconic voice actor behind Luffy from One Piece.
8The Reason Behind Turbo Granny’s Bizzare Behavior
Episode #4, “Kicking Turbo Granny’s Ass”
With Turbo Granny, it seemed thatDandadanwas embracing pure absurdity, with her strange behavior added solely to heighten the anime’s bizarre tone. However, it isn’t until Momo and Okarun defeat Turbo Granny with their teamwork that theseries sheds light on her actions. Seiko Ayase, Momo’s grandmother, reveals that she and other spirit mediums had been trying to capture Turbo Granny for some time, uncovering a very tragic pattern in their quest.
It is revealed that Turbo Granny always appears near places where young girls, after suffering abuse, have met irrational deaths. This suggests thather strange behavior, particularly cursing men’s private parts, was her way of consoling the spirits of these girls.Through Turbo Granny, the series takes an unexpected turn, showing viewers that the actions of the Yokai have deeper reasons. This moment becomes a turning point, forcing viewers to realize that there will always be more behind each villain’s actions.
7Running Away From Turbo Granny
Taking down Turbo Granny was a major challenge for the duo protagonists, and without Okarun tapping into Turbo Granny’s full power, defeating her would have been impossible. In his transformation, Okarun discovered a key ability: using full throttle to escape any situation, though it came with serious repercussions. Thus, when Okarun and Momo find themselves deep in Turbo Granny’s domain, they rely on Okarun’s full-throttle ability to turn the tide.
However, no one expected howScience Saru would elevate this seemingly simple scene, which originally spanned only a couple of pages in the manga.The scene is brought to life with the use of the William Tell Overture’s final act as the score during the chase, a choice that heightens the excitement and perfectly captures the thrill of the run. This approach set a clear precedent, as a similar chase scene in Episode #11 flawlessly matches this tone once again.
6Okarun’s Real Name Coming To Light
The beginning ofDandadanstands out, especially for a shonen anime, with Momo actively seeking a romantic relationship, specifically with boys who resemble her favorite celebrity crush,Takakura Ken, in any way. This desire even led her to get involved with a boy who wasn’t good for her, as she engaged in the relationship solely because he bore a slight resemblance to her crush.
However, after getting involved with the occult-fanatic boy through a series of events driven by their opposing interests, it becomes clear that Momo starts to develop feelings for him. This makes it a euphoric and unexpected moment,not just for Momo but also for viewers when it’s revealed that the boy’s name is the same as her celebrity crush, Takakura Ken.This moment serves as the perfect foundation for the romantic relationship between Momo and Okarun, implying that a great love story is about to unfold.
5Momo Catching Okarun and Aira In a Strange Position
Episode #8, “I’ve Got This Funny Feeling”
After Aira is introduced and her role in the main cast is solidified, she quickly becomes a hilarious and brilliant addition to Momo and Okarun’s growing romantic dynamic. Momo, upon realizing that Okarun is trying to avoid her, becomes unsettled, and her worry escalates to the next level when she sees Aira on top of Okarun in an intimate position.
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Much like Momo, thismoment sparks unexpected reactions from viewers, leading fans to question whether Okarunmight actually be considering other options instead of Momo. However, the predicament involving Okarun and Aira turns out to be nothing more than a hilarious misunderstanding, highlighting the series' unpredictability and its knack for crafting such surprising and comedic scenes.
4The Mannequin Running Towards Okarun
Episode #11, “First Love”
After Jin is introduced as Momo’s first love, Okarun begins to consider that it might be better for him to distance himself from her. Just as he is about to finalize his decision, a strange voice echoes, declaring, “I’m not gonna give up!” The source of the voice is revealed to be a talking mannequin, fated to run toward an unknown destination for an unclear purpose.
The absurdity and shock of the situation are perfectly captured in Okarun’s reaction. However, when Momo notices that the mannequin might have Okarun’s last family jewel, it prompts afrantic chase to catch it, which is perfectly enhanced by adding the William Tell Overture’s final actas the score. Yet, theheartwarming reason behind the mannequin’s running quest delivers a twistfans never saw coming but thoroughly loved.
3Okarun Realizing He is Missing His Family Jewels
Episode #5, “Like, Where Are Your Balls?”
The quest to defeat Turbo Granny began when Okarun lost his privates, with the main goal being to recover them. However, after defeating Turbo Granny, Okarun regains everything except his family jewels. The shocking twist is thatOkarun doesn’t realize this until the next day, prompting viewers to burst into laughter, much like Momo does.
The unexpectedness of the scene reaches a whole new level when it’s revealed that Turbo Granny is still alive. Seiko performs a special ritual to extract her from Okarun’s body, transforming Turbo Granny’s essence into Cat Doll, who reveals she has dropped Okarun’s family jewels. Thus, this moment lays the groundwork for one of the most unbelievable quests in a shōnen series: aprotagonist on an adventure to recover his lost privates.
2Acrobatic Silky’s Backstory
Episode #7, “To a Kinder World”
Up until this episode, it seemed evident thatDandadan’s greatest strength was in its bizarre plot and comedic elements, with emotional depth only hinted at in Turbo Granny’s reason for existence. However, Episode #7 marks a turning point for the series,unraveling the motivations behind Acrobatic Silky’s actions and her tragic existence.This episode explores the heartbreaking story of an unknown woman who tirelessly worked for her daughter’s sake, only to have her child taken away by mysterious men in an unexplained situation.
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With Acrobatic Silky constantly acting possessively toward Aira, even to the point of harming her, no one could have anticipated the ghost’s situation to be so heartrending. It is a moment that is sure to bring fans to tears. This scene stands out as one of the most shocking and unexpected inDandadan, especially since the series had never suggested it could carry such emotional weight. This moment marks a turning point, forcing viewers to acknowledge the series' range and its ability to deliver such surprising and impactful twists.
1Serpoian Aliens Almost Physically Abusing Momo
The variety of elements introduced inDandadan’s first episode is undoubtedly a key reason for the anime’s success. With Momo seeking a romantic relationship, it initially seemed that the series would lean heavily into rom-com elements. However, nothing could have prepared viewers for what unfolded in the second half of the episode, as Momo and Okarun’s bet led to her being kidnapped by aliens.
These extraterrestrial beings, known as Serpoians, kidnapped Momo with one goal: reproduction. This leads to an unexpected and unsettling scene, with theSerpoians prepared to harm Momo for their purpose.Given howDandadanbegan with lighthearted comedy and romantic elements, this moment is sure to catch anyone off guard, making it one of the most shocking moments in the series.
Dandadan
Cast
Two high school students, embroiled in a wager to prove the existence of ghosts or aliens, encounter daunting paranormal threats, acquire superpowers, and possibly discover love. The series blends supernatural elements with personal dynamics as the protagonists navigate their newfound abilities and unexpected challenges.
