Dandadan

So Many Fire Moments of Anime, So Little Time!

Aside Roderick J "Jay" Friz Anime, Anime Reviews, Crunchyroll, DBZ , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

RJ Writing Ink’s Picks for Best Anime Moments of 2025

What a great year of anime that we’ve had! 2025 was filled with so many hits that there was no way I could possibly watch them all. From Jin-Woo continuing to slay as an aura farmer to Rentaro’s legendary yap about his girlfriends, there were a lot of anime moments that will live rent-free in my head for a long time. To celebrate the end of the year, I’m continuing my tradition of naming my favorite anime moments of 2025. Full disclosure: I will be limiting this to the anime that I managed to watch. This year got pretty busy for me, so I was unable to follow through on everything I wanted to see.

Super Saiyan 4 Returns, Dragon Ball Daima

Dragon Ball Daima was a bittersweet event for Dragon Ball fans, as it would be Akira Toriyama’s final contribution to his creation before his passing. However, he made sure to cook us up a feast before he died, culminating in the return of one of Goku’s most legendary forms, Super Saiyan 4. While Dragon Ball GT remains a controversial entry to the franchise, everyone agrees that SSJ4 was the best thing to come out of it. Needless to say, getting to see it re-enter the canon at the climax of Goku’s journey through the Demon Realm was like a blessing from the heavens themselves. Thank you, Toriyama.

Kuma Gets Revenge on Saturn, One Piece

If you remember my post praising the story of Bartholomew Kuma, then you also remember how offended I am by the mere existence of his mortal enemy, Jaygarcia Saturn. The monstrous member of the Five Elders of the World Government went out of his way to make Kuma’s life miserable, kidnapping and injecting the love of his life with a fatal illness, giving said illness to her daughter, and then forcing Kuma to give up his humanity to save her life. Needless to say, every fiber of my being wanted Saturn dead before the Straw Hats left Egghead. While that would end up happening, I found it way more satisfying when Kuma came to rescue his adoptive daughter from death at the hands of Saturn, and then repay him for a lifetime’s worth of pain in one cathartic punch. Guess good things come to those who wait.

Rentaro’s 2-Minute Monologue about his Girlfriends, The 100 Girlfriends

I know I like to talk about 100 Girlfriends a lot on this blog, but normally, I wouldn’t include something from it as one of the greatest moments in anime for the years. However, I think this should count as an exception. In the final minutes of season two, Rentaro proceeds to go on an entire monologue about everything he loves about his girlfriends. Besides demonstrating just how much of a CHAD he is, that monologue actually made the record books, earning the record for the longest speech in Japanese Animation at over 7,453 characters. The dub is just as impressive, coming in at more than 3k words! And all of it had to be sped up to fit it into that one scene. Earning a world record is more than enough to make it onto this list!

Jin-woo vs the Ant King, Solo Leveling: Arise from the Shadows

I’ve called Sung Jin-woo the Black Air Force Hunter for a reason, and the second season of his show continued to demonstrate why he’s worthy of that title. There were plenty of epic moments throughout the season, but its magnum opus is, without a doubt, when Jin-woo faces off against the Ant King on Jeju Island. When the best Hunters of two countries are left at the brink of death, Jin-woo shows up to save the day. The entire country then gets to see firsthand why Jin-woo is the strongest as we get this visually spectacular battle between Hunter and Monster. And the music they used was just the icing on the cake!

Natsuko Rewrites the Ending, Zenshu

After getting isekaied into a world based on her favorite movie, A Tale of Perishing, Natsuko did everything in her power to change the story’s ending, only for it to seem to be for naught. As the world begins to be destroyed by the embodiment of despair, the Ultimate Void, Natsuko uses all her drawing skills to make one last attempt to rewrite the story, creating a version of Luke strong enough to destroy it. In doing so, not only does she confess her love for the actual Luke, but manages to recreate the entire world and bring back everyone who died in the process. Not only is this whole thing absolutely gorgeous to look at, but it ties back into the show’s overall message of hope over despair. And it’s a much better ending than the film’s creator could ever have made. Score one for fan writing!

Speaking of which…

Midoriya and the Heroes Defeat All for One, My Hero Academia Final Season

Speaking as a fellow Star Wars fan, I can’t but think that Kohei Horikoshi looked at the climax of The Rise of Skywalker and thought, “hey, maybe I can do better.” I don’t know if that’s true or not, but seeing all of the Heroes help Deku defeat the evil All for One definitely gave off those vibes. As Midoriya puts everything he has left into one final attack, we get a montage of all the Heroes still capable of fighting doing everything they can to help him, culminating in a final, gorgeous moment as Deku lands the blow that will ultimately seal the villain’s fate. To make it even better, the entire thing was played to the series most iconic song, the ever-memeable “You Say Run.” That song really does go with everything!

Mecha vs. Space Kaiju, DanDaDan S2

You know what’s better than giant robots fighting equally giant monsters. Absolutely nothing! There were a lot of standout moments in the second season of DanDaDan, but I think the gang turning the Ayase house into a mecha to fight a space kaiju takes the cake. But even more importantly was getting to see newcomer Kinta not only solidify his role as an ally of Okarun and Momo, but he got to live out his dream of piloting a giant robot. Every Gundam fan in the world has got to be jealous of that guy at that moment! He may have his flaws, but when push came to shove, Kinta proved he had that dawg in him!!

Chainsaw Man vs Storm Devil, Chainsaw Man: Reze Arc

After waiting years for the story ofChainsaw Man to continue in anime form, the Reze Arc movie didn’t fail to disappoint. Denjiโ€™s fight against the likes of Reze was already crazy enough as it was. However, we all know that Chainsaw Man is one of those series that thrives on being as chaotic as possible. Ergo, instead of fighting just Reze, we get to see Denji fight her and the Typhoon Devil. All while riding atop the Shark Fiend. What is is crazier than riding a shark into battle?

The Whole Thing, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba-The Movie: Infinity Castle

Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle was the kind of film that needed to be seen on the big screen. Anything less would be a great disservice, as would my attempting to pick one moment from it to single out. This entire movie was pretty much one big greatest anime moment of the year. The Demon Slayer Corps charging into their final battle against the Demons. Shinobuโ€™s ultimate fate fighting Douma. Zenitsu killing his former sibling disciple turned Demon. Tanjiro fighting and beating the Demon that killed Rengoku! There’s too much to choose from, so I’m choosing it all! I’m so glad I got to see it on the big screen!

So, what were your favorite anime moments from 2025? Let us know!

GIANT ROBOTS VS MONSTERS RULES! Or, the DanDaDan Season Finale

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DanDaDan S2 Ep 12 Review

Do you know whatโ€™s more metal than fighting giant monsters inside a giant robot? Absolutely nothing! The Mecha and Kaiju genres are some of Japanโ€™s oldest and most respected cultural exports, and theyโ€™ve gained popularity with people around the world. Since DanDaDan is essentially a giant love letter to all things sci-fi and supernatural in Japanese pop culture, including the two is a no-brainer. And with a Space Kaiju baring down on the teens of the series, it only makes sense that they fight it off with a giant mecha for the season finale. And it is everything that the nerdy Konya ever wantedโ€ฆwhen it works at least.

YOU! DIG! GIANT ROBOTS!!

In order to fight off the giant, thunder-breathing Space Kaiju trying to kill them, the quintet of Takakura, Momo, Aira, Jiji, and Kinta resort to turning the Ayase House (made out of nanobots) into a weapon that can fight back. Fortunately for everyone, Kintaโ€™s love of mecha anime comes in clutch, turning the house into a buddha-themed combiner robot in the style of Voltron, Power Rangers/Super Sentai, and later versions of Gurren Lagann. Thatโ€™s the good news about this situation, at least if youโ€™re Kinta.

The bad news is that the Family lacks the teamwork needed to pilot the thing.

Iโ€™m not sure how often this is an issue when it comes to combiner mechs, but teamwork is often the most essential thing for making them work right. The Power Rangers and Voltron may make it look easy, but in real-life, coordinating to pilot a giant robot would be very difficult. If one member isnโ€™t in sync, it could derail everything. Case in point, this surprisingly realistic outcome results in Okarun getting ejected, the Evil Eye busting free without caring about whatโ€™s going on, and the remaining three getting their butts kicked.

But this is where Kinta starts to show what he is truly capable of, and how thereโ€™s more to him than his appearance would suggest.

Don’t Mock Mecha

Much like Okarun before he met Momo, Kinta lived a very lonely life, mocked for his nerdy interests; in his case, for his love of mecha and giant robots. Before anime became mainstream, and even now, that is something that many an unfortunate nerd has had to experience. However, like a true nerd, Kinta refuses to feel bad about liking what he does. Because he knows that at the rate that technology is progressing, the possibility of being able to pilot a giant robot is becoming more and more likely. Thatโ€™s not even a joke: companies are working on real-life mechas capable of being piloted by humans, and if they got mainstream, they will need capable pilots. And itโ€™s people like Kinta, who understand mecha and sci-fi and trained for them, that will be first in line.

And it is with these burning feelings in his heart that we see Kinta become the mecha pilot he always wanted to be. And it is awesome!

Robot vs. Kaiju!

The fight between the Great Kinta and the Space Kinta is nothing short of epic! Itโ€™s the kind of fight that makes any fan of either genre just want to grin from ear to ear. And the way the girls use their own powers to help enhance the Great Kinta mecha! Absolutely insane! And the other two boys manage to be a comedic duo the entire time since all they can do is watch everything! The comedy and action donโ€™t stop!

In the end, the group manages to beat the Space Kaiju, but they come back to reality in the middle of the city. So, they have to hoof it back to the Ayase property with their fallen opponent. And Momo and Aira have to puke from motion sickness, LOL. Besides that, though, Kinta managed to solidify himself as a member of the group. His mecha skills are something else! But believe it or not, the giant robot vs Kaiju fight wasnโ€™t the biggest surprise of the episode. Itโ€™s what the boys find inside the Kaiju. Or rather, Kaiju suit.

This whole time, the Space Kaiju was really a suit, and the person piloting it will surprise you.

A New Waifu has Appeared

DanDaDan now has a new waifu. Manga readers have been waiting for her for a while now, but sadly, anime watchers will have to wait until season three. Thankfully, itโ€™s already been confirmed that there will be a third season of the anime. When it will come out, though, is anyoneโ€™s guess.

But, since DanDaDan is such a tease, it decides to end the seasonโ€ฆwith this!

Momo, a fierce rival has just appeared!

GIANT ROBOTS RULE!

I Give โ€œClash! Space Kaiju vs Giant Robotโ€ a 4.5/5

Whoa, it’s a Kaiju!!!

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DanDaDan S2 Ep 11 Review

Japan may not have invented the concept of giant monsters, but it turned it into an art form, complete with its own name: Kaiju. Since 1954, Japan has cemented itself as the giant monster capital of the world, with names like Godzilla gaining international fame long before anime established a foothold in the West. With DanDaDan essentially being a love letter to all things supernatural and sci-fi, it was only a matter of time before we got ourselves a Kaiju. And just like how most humans are in the movies, Momo, Okarun, and that new guy Kinta are completely outclassed as they face down this terror from the stars! Theyโ€™re going to need all hands on deck just to survive this fight!

Or maybe a giant robot.

Kaiju Approaching!

Just when Momo and Okarun thought they had a lead on the latterโ€™s missing nut, not only did it turn out to be a dud, but itโ€™s led them to be facing down some kind of alien Kaiju. The upside is that it doesnโ€™t shoot atomic breath at them. The downside? It shoots bolts of lightning like itโ€™s a thunder god. And with tagalong Kinta unable to defend himself, the pair are forced onto the backfoot until Aira and Jiji show up. While Jiji takes Kinta away, since neither of them can fight, Aira, Momo, and Okarun try to fight the Kaijuโ€ฆwith disastrous results.

There is a lot of unresolved tension between this growing group throughout the season, and a lot of it has to do with Aira. Sheโ€™s kept insisting that sheโ€™s the leader of this โ€œFamily,โ€ something that the others have either ignored, like Okarun, or flat-out rejected, like Momo. Thanks to that, their lack of team coordination means theyโ€™re not able to fight as effectively as they can. Not that that matters, since theyโ€™re fighting a Kaiju. You have to be as freakishly strong as a Saiyan, ninja, or a pirate with Conquerorโ€™s Haki to take that down.

It also doesnโ€™t help that thereโ€™s the tug of war that Aira and Momo are caught in over Okarun. Look at what Aira did this episode to one-up Momo!

Diabolical!

Meanwhile, Jiji fares no better with Kinta. Thanks to the latterโ€™s stubbornness, Jiji winds up turning into the Evil Eye, and he doesnโ€™t change back. For the rest of the episode, heโ€™s serving as comic relief, complaining about wanting to fight someone, but he canโ€™t. Itโ€™s not Tuesday! Admittedly, it is funny to see the Evil Eye acting all pouty because he canโ€™t fight Okarun, but since he canโ€™t fight the Kaiju (Takakura points out this is a bad idea), comic relief is all heโ€™s good for. Which is fine in this case.

As entertaining as this, though, there’s still space-Godzilla headed straight for them. And with Turbo Granny nowhere to be found and Seiko a guest on some show, they’re on their own. Luckily for them, they have the means to fight back!

Even if I didn’t know the basics from the manga already, I would’ve guessed that rebuilding the Ayase house out of memory-shape nanomachines was an important plot device. Technology like that plus raw imagination means someone could think of anything, and the machines would make it a reality. And there’s only way to stop a Kaiju without getting another one to fight: giant robots. And this is when Kinta comes in clutch, using his otaku knowledge of all things mecha to create this!

This is Voltron meets Pacific Rim with the Buddha thrown in, for good measure! Some people may say that giant robots are a waste of time and money, but they’re probably just jealous they don’t get to use one. This could make for an amazing finale next week as the gang fights the giant Kaiju! I’m looking forward to seeing what happens! Assuming, that is, they can pilot it!

I Give “Hey, it’s a Kaiju” a 4/5

Kinta, a Chuunibuyo, Arrives!

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DanDaDan S2 Ep 10 Review

Bryce Papenbrook, AKA Kirito, Cat Noir, Eren Yeager, and many other roles. I have been a fan of him since his Sword Art Online days, but the last thing that I expected was for him to appear in DanDaDan. Nor did I expect him to be voicing the latest addition to the cast, a boy who’s somehow nerdier than Okarun and more of a Chuunibuyo than Aira was during her introduction.

He’s gonna fit right in!

A New Chuuni Has Appeared

Meet Kinta Sakata, even more of an all-around, stereotypical nerd than Okarun was when we first met him. He likes reading sci-fi about mecha, he acts like a chuunibuyo, and he does JoJo poses like it’s second nature. Unfortunately for him, he lacks the one thing that enabled Okarun to start growing out of his shy and nerdy exterior: rizz. He’s got no rizz whatsoever, and he’s jealous of Okarun for having that.

The first few minutes of the episode are a retelling of Momo and Okarun’s first day back to school after their initial fight with Turbo Granny. The anime wants us to think that he’s been there the entire time watching them, but it’s so obvious that he’s shoehorned in that it’s hilarious. Which I feel like was kind of the point: the series is trying to make him seem like this guy who’s always been there in the background, but now he wants to take the spotlight.

Kinta Tries too Hard

In a nutshell, Kinta has one goal and one goal alone: to get girls to notice him. The problem is that he’s even more socially inept than Okarun was at the start. So when he tries to ask Okarun how a fellow nerd like him is now getting attention from beautiful girls like Aira and Momo, Ken has no idea how to respond. As if to drive the point home, Okarun’s class rep and Momo get into an argument over him because the latter keeps disrupting their studying. And since Kinta has no clue about the golden balls, he mistakes what they’re saying for spicy talk and tries to emulate it, only to come off as a total creep. It’s hilarious!

As a fellow nerd, I can recognize when one of our number is turning people off by trying too hard. And Kinta is trying way too hard! If I were to give the guy any advice, it would be that you can’t force yourself to have charisma. Okarun has rizz without even trying because he’s not trying to be someone he isn’t. He’s a naturally nice person, and so attracts people to him.

We’re Going Kaiju Now!

In any event, Kinta ends up getting more than he bargained for when he follows Okarun and Momo after school. They’re trying to find what they think is Okarun’s remaining nut, only for them to be unable to catch it once it starts flying around all over the place. Yet, despite him being more or less clueless about everything, Kinta does manage to prove to have some value. Thanks to his knowledge of sci-fi, he’s able to figure out that their enemy is using cloaking and finds a way to get past it. And it works! They’re actually able to stop this invisible enemy…for a second. Then they get to see its true form.

That’s right, people! In a series filled with ghosts and aliens, it was only a matter of time before we got one of Japan’s most famous cultural icons, the kaiju! There’s only way to fight a kaiju without summoning another one, and that requires a giant robot. Next week, expect some kaiju on mecha action! But in the meantime, I stand by what I said about Kinta. He might be awkward as they come with his chuuni ways, but he’s going to fit right in with this cast.

LOL, Okarun Ragebaited the Evil Eye

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DanDaDan S2, Ep 9 Review

Well, thatโ€™s certainly one way to solve your problems, Okarun. After going through a short anime training arc, Ken Takakura came back to the Ayaseโ€™s to challenge the Evil Eye to a fight. Normally, anime logic would mean that the training he went through was enough to get stronger than the Evil Eye. However, let us not forget that itโ€™s still the strongest Yokai in the series to date. That fact hasnโ€™t changed. So, how does Okarun overcome this? By pulling out another time-honored card in the arsenal of Shonen heroes: outsmarting his enemy.

LOL, Ragebait

For anyone who was hoping that the rematch between Okarun and the Evil Eye would be this epic clash that would take up most of the episode, you only got half of what you wanted. The fight, while it is pretty fun to watch, lasts all of two minutes. After that, Okarun runs out of juice, while the Evil Eye is in his Madara Uchiha mindset. Heโ€™s having too much fun to stop now.

Which is why Okarunโ€™s real plan is absolutely brilliant.

Now, this isnโ€™t the first time Iโ€™ve seen a Shonen protagonist bait an enemy into doing what they want. Goku did it with Majin Buu; Luffy did it with Laboon; and Okarun has now done it with the Evil Eye. However, the fact that Okarun goaded the Evil Eye into cooperating by calling him mid was comedic genius. With the Evil Eyeโ€™s attention firmly on him, he will no longer look to kill anyone else. And as time passes, he and Jiji might be able to heal the centuries-old hatred in the spiritโ€™s heart. And the best part is that now Okarun will have more motivation to keep getting stronger so the Evil Eye canโ€™t hurt anyone. Everyone wins!

And with that, the Evil Eye Arc comes to an end. But not before the Ayase house not only gets restored, but gets an upgrade.

New house and the Evil Eye goes to school

Thanks to Ken and Aira telling Mantis Shrimp what happened, the alien was able to call in a friend of his to rebuild the Ayase residence. Not only that, but they did it using blocks made out of nanomachines. Theyโ€™re like a fusion of clay and LEGO, able to take any shape someone wishes. Which means that from now on, the Ayase home can be turned into everything from a regular house to a spaceship to a giant robot. Thatโ€™s going to come in very handy at some point!

The last few minutes of the episode are among the funniest, though. While the Evil Eyeโ€™s keeping their promise, theyโ€™re not completely docile. Case in point, Jiji goes ghost in the middle of school, forcing her to babysit E.E. (Evil Eye), with hilarious results.

You canโ€™t help but laugh at how silly this is! This is going to cause plenty of headaches down the line, but plenty of comedic material for us. The fact that the school is oblivious after this and the other weird stuff is nothing short of a miracle.

Back on the hunt for the kintama

Speaking of which, Momoโ€™s friends inadvertently give her a potential lead on Okarunโ€™s missing kintama. Could he finally be getting his missing junk back?

Probably not. The season is almost over, and from my understanding, weโ€™ve got a ways to go before we get to that point. We do get a post-credit scene, though, introducing us to a new character. And thereโ€™s something familiar about their voiceโ€ฆprobably nothing.

I give โ€œI Want to Rebuild the Houseโ€ a 4/5. Bonus points for E.E. Stripping naked for comedic effect. And for creating a new meme.

What a Musical Battle

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DanDaDan S2 Ep 8 Review

DanDaDan is at its best when its doing one thing: embracing chaos. And it has seen a lot of chaos so far. From escaping perverted aliens to fighting a Loch Ness monster in a flooded pocket dimension, where there is chaos, the show thrives. But this episode might be among the strangest and most chaotic things that DanDaDan has done to date. And it all has to do with Ken and Aira using angry musical ghosts to train.

Musical Chaos

Having grown frustrated at not being able to stop the Evil Eye, Ken and Aira opt to train under Turbo Granny. Unfortunately, her idea of โ€œtrainingโ€ involves them fighting the Music Room Portraits. Theyโ€™re beings created from peopleโ€™s fears of their freaky paintings, and they will kill anyone who plays music badly in front of them. As a result, Okarun and Aira are forced to fight them in an increasingly chaotic battle.

I will be blunt: I find it very hard to accurately describe what is going in this episode. From the teens having to dodge musical notes to the portraits creating a domain expansion and summoning armies of clones to fight, itโ€™s the sort of thing that has to be seen to be fully appreciated. Itโ€™s these kinds of moments when DanDaDan is at its absolute best, as it gives the story the chance to run wild with its imagination. As usual, Science Saru does a superb job of bringing the chaos to life, going evern further by having the entire fight set in monochrome, with only Okarun and Airaโ€™s ghost forms providing color.

The main focus of the training, though, is to help the pair find their sense of rhythm in battle. I donโ€™t really understand it, but the whole point is to get Okarun to tap more into Turbo Grannyโ€™s powers. And when youโ€™re into a song that makes you want to get up and move, youโ€™d be surprised to know what rhythm you gain.

It ends up working in the end. Aira holds her own against the music portraits even after they grow to the size of Titans. Which, by the way, gave me Attack on Titan vibes!

And by the end, Okarun is able to move faster than he was before. And according to Turbo Granny, thereโ€™s still plenty more of her power that he has yet to tap into. Assuming he doesnโ€™t die along the way. TG admits that she didnโ€™t care if he or Aira didnโ€™t survive her training. Which makes it feel like karma when she accidentally riles the portraits up a second time by accident.

Let the Rematch Begin!

Meanwhile, things arenโ€™t looking good at the Ayase house. After the recent scare, Seikoโ€™s apprentice is insisting that itโ€™s not safe to keep Jiji bonded to the Evil Eye and wants to call the Hayashi back. All of this is taking a toll on poor Jiji, who feels guilty about putting everyone in danger. Itโ€™s not his fault the Evil Eye is doing this. His kindness led him to want to save the ghost in the first place. He shouldnโ€™t have to feel bad about wanting to help someone who deserves it. But he canโ€™t do it alone.

And that brings us to the end of the episode. Having leveled up from training, Okarun comes back to the Ayase house with one purpose and one purpose alone: to fight the Evil Eye.

Next episode is going to be straight fire, people. That’s all that I have to say. Straight. Fire. I can hardly wait!!!! You can do it, Okarun! Which is also the name of this episode!

I Give “You can do it, Okarun” a 4.5/5

Heavy Metal Hayashis, Maid Cafes, and Evil Paintings, oh my!

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DanDaDan S2 Ep. 6 & 7 Review

So, since I was at a convention last week, I was unable to watch the new episode of DanDaDan. So, I’m combining my review for the last two episodes since they both continue the Evil Eye Arc! And as we have already seen multiple times by now, the Evil Eye is a problem, and will continue to be a problem until it’s gotten under control. But since Jiji is such a good person, that means that the family is going to have to do things the hard way. And as these two episodes demonstrate, this ragtag group has very much become a family.

So, after Jiji almost lets the Evil Eye out thanks to some room-temperature soy sauce, it becomes apparent that the Family can’t keep going like this. Fortuntately, the Hayashi that Seiko sent for arrive…and they double as a heavy metal band! In some cultures, music is said to have mystical properties and can banish supernatural evils, but this takes it to a whole new level! As a casual fan of heavy metal myself, I wholeheartedly approve of this creative decision. Especially since the anime does a great job of giving us the private concert that manga readers have waited years to see!

One might think that having Jiji decide to not exorcise the Evil Eye would make that entire scene pointless, but it wasn’t. It was a good source of entertainment, which is what stories are supposed to do. Plus, it’s likely that we’ll see the band again in a future arc. Until then, though, the group has to keep watching Jiji while they train to get stronger to stop the Evil Eye.

In all honesty, though, we can’t really fault Jiji for feeling sympathy for the Evil Eye. After what they went through in life, many people would end up as angry and vengeful as that yokai has become. This also isn’t the first time that a teenager has opted to try and befriend a demonic being calling their body home, either. Granted, Yuji never could get Sukuna on his side, but Naruto was able to win over Kurama the Nine-Tailed Fox, so there’s hope! Not that it doesn’t make it any easier when Jiji nearly loses control again and almost kills Momo. The look of guilt on his face is overwhelming. That is the look of someone who thinks they’re a burden and a monster. But more on that later; let’s talk about Momo’s new job!

MAID-O BEAM!!!

In light of the recent damage to her home, Momo has come to the decision that she needs to get a part-time job to help pay for repairs. That’s when her two gyaru friends come in clutch and land her one at a nearby cafe. However, they also do two things. Firstly, they mischeviously drag (literally drag) Okarun there while she’s working to embarass the two of them. Secondly, they neglect to tell her that this cafe in particular…is a maid cafe.

It takes a certain level of confidence to work in a restaruant that requires its employees to wear potentially embarassing attire. Normally, Momo has that kind of confidence down pat. When she’s forced to work in front Okarun, her mutual crush, though, it’s likely one of the most embarassing moments of her life up to that point! Anyone who has had the misfortune of being on the clock when their crush walks in on them can relate! Still, it does feel like it’s worth it when the two end up walking back to the Ayase home together. Sadly, this is also when the incident with the Evil Eye happens again, meaning it’s back to the seriousness.

The fact of the matter is that at this time, none of the Family can hold a candle to the Evil Eye. If they want to win, they need to get stronger fast, especially Okarun. Surprisingly, Turbo Granny proves quite forthcoming about ways to tap into her power more, bringing him to his school after dark, with Aira following out of curiosity/she’s simping for Okarun. She talks about having to maintain a steady rhythm or something during combat and how slow Okarun is. That matter can wait, though, as they have to fight haunted paintings.

…Wait, haunted paintings? Oh dear!

I Give “We Became a Family” and “Feeling Kinda Gloomy” a 4/5 and 3.5/5

Jiji 1/2 Needs an Exorcism

Aside Roderick J "Jay" Friz Anime, Anime Reviews, Crunchyroll , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

DanDaDan S2 Ep 5 Review

Well, somehow the gang managed to pull it off. They defeated the Kito Family, killed their pet Death Worm, and saved the village of Byakuja from being destroyed by a volcano. Thatโ€™s the good news, though. The bad news is that Jiji is still possessed by the Evil Eye, the yokai thatโ€™s so far into its crash-out that it wonโ€™t be satisfied until itโ€™s killed all of humanity. And because they canโ€™t get rid of it yet, the entire gang is going to have to work 24/7 to keep it under control as we enter into the next arc of the series: The Evil Eye Arc.

This is going to be stressful for everyone involved.

The episode starts off as Manjiro and the Ayaseโ€™s attempting to exorcise the Evil Eye from Jiji (whoโ€™s secured inside Taro) as everyone watches. Much to their irritation, though, the yokai is so angry that it refuses to leave Jiji or move on to the afterlife. When it becomes clear that nothingโ€™s working, theyโ€™re left with only one option: head home and keep Jiji sealed inside Taro until they figure out a plan.

Dang Failed Exorcism

Upon returning home and reuniting with Aira (who wasnโ€™t happy about being left behind), Seiko apologizes to everyone for whatโ€™s happened. If she had gone with them in the first place, they might not be in this mess. Therefore, itโ€™s up to her to help Jiji, but even she canโ€™t do it alone. So theyโ€™re going to have to hire Hayashi (musicians that exorcise spirits and yokai). In the meantime, Taro attempting to eat some Oden winds up revealing a temporary solution to their Evil Eye problem. When Jijiโ€™s splashed with hot liquids, he turns back into himself. But when he gets hit by cold liquids, the Evil Eye takes over and will go back to trying to kill everyone.

So, for the time being, the gang will have to watch Jiji with thermosโ€™ full of hot water on hand. Itโ€™s not foolproof, but itโ€™s better than making Taro serve as a living prison for the poor teenager. Easier said than done, though. Skipping ahead to the end of the episode, we see that all it takes is for a single drop of soy sauce to get on him for the Evil Eye to come back.

If there’s an analogy for this situation, it would like someone being asked to guard a nuclear bomb that is armed and could go off at any given moment.

Yet, despite everything, life goes on.

Life Goes On

Part of the beauty of DanDaDan is that itโ€™s not just a Shonen action series. Itโ€™s about teen romance, with the mess that comes with it. By now, itโ€™s clear that Momo and Okarun have some sort of feelings for each other. So, seeing them try to figure out what they are to each other is just adorable, giving us cute moments like this.

https://twitter.com/DandanShots/status/1950958635200475279

As for Aira, though, sheโ€™s now reaping the cost of her own actions. After confessing to spreading lies about Momo getting around, sheโ€™s gone from school idol to pariah. However, itโ€™s for the best. If people only liked her for her good looks, then they donโ€™t know her at all. Sheโ€™s found real friends in Momo and Okarun. Speaking of which, she and Okarun move in with the Ayaseโ€™s until they fix Jiji.

Mantis Shrimp and Chiqi are here to Stay!

The best part, though, is the return of Mantis Shrimp and the introduction of his son. Due to the cow they got being unsuitable for survival on their planet, Mantis opted to move to Earth for his sonโ€™s sake. And theyโ€™re right next door to the Ayaseโ€™s!

More importantly, though, is how quickly the teens take a liking to Chiqi. Some of the funniest background scenes involve Aira just gushing over the boyโ€™s cuteness, and I canโ€™t blame her. The kid deserves his own plushie!

Itโ€™s nice to see that the showโ€™s sense of humor remains as fresh as ever. Considering the headache that the Evil Eye will be, it does a good job of balancing out the drama and action with comedy. Like this!

The mangaka and writers are hilarious.

By the way, this episode reveals what happened to the Kito’s. They got their just desserts and hauled off to prison, with the sole exception of their matriarch. Who also happens to be a being called a Subterranean who’s now out for Momo’s blood. Move on, woman!

Great episode, though. Really great!

I Give โ€œWe Can All Stay There Togetherโ€ a 4.5/5

How I Pulled Out a Giant Worm to Stop a Volcano

Aside Roderick J "Jay" Friz Anime, Crunchyroll , , , , , , , , , , ,

DanDaDan S2 Ep 4 Review

The phrase “out of the frying pan, into the fire” is often used to describe a bad situation getting worse. But what do you call it when the fire in question is an exploding volcano? A nightmare waiting to happen, that’s what! Just when Momo thinks she’s in the clear after killing the giant death worm, it turns out there was some merit to all those stories about it and the volcano. Now, she has to save Byakuja village from destruction while also dealing with both the Evil Eye and the angry Kito Family. And she doesn’t have Okarun or Turbo Granny to help her! *gulp*.

The Kito Family SUCKZ!!!

So, as soon as the Tshuchinoko, AKA the Mongolian Death Worm, drops dead, the volcano near Byakuja village starts to go off. As Momo is dumbfounded, the matriarch of the Kito Family starts going off about how they were right the whole time and that the Worm was the only thing saving the village from death. But then Momo, being the smart girl that she is, remembers the story that Manjiro, the priest at the shrine, told her about the monster. The story goes that when the volcano blew its stack, a dragon would rise from the ground and cast a rainbow as the lava destroyed everything. But the Worm couldn’t go aboveground without dying in the sun! That’s when she realized something: the whole time, the story had been referring to the geysers that erupt when a volcano is about to erupt.

In other words, not only had the Kito family gotten it wrong this whole time, but they had been sacrificing people for centuries for no reason! So, Momo decides enough is enough, and opts to make sure the story never comes true. Using her powers, she proceeds to turn the dead worm into a firehose and use it to stop the lava from hitting the village. However, instead of admitting their wrongdoing and taking the L, the Kito Family insists on doubling down by trying to kill Momo.

When you think about it, this whole story about Byakuja village is so sad. The Kito Family’s ignorance led them to kill dozens, if not hundreds of people, for no reason. The Evil Eye never had to be created in the first place! Admittedly, though, it’s funny seeing the Family continuing to think they were in the right, because they can’t stand the idea of someone else being the hero. And to make matters worse, the Evil Eye shows up and continues trying to kill everyone present! It must have been so cathartic for the yokai to hit the monsters responsible for its suffering! Thankfully, though, the cavalry shows up to save the day in time.

The Cavalry is Here!

As it turns out, Manjiro is actually a student of Momo’s grandmother, who had called him in advance to say that the quartet had been coming to help. But since that went south and Manjiro couldn’t handle the Evil Eye on his own, Granny Seiko had to step in, and she brought backup. Taro, the living mannequin, Mr. Mantis Shrimp in his UFO, and even his son, Chiquitita, show up to help resolve the situation. It should also be noted that Chiqui (my nickname for him) is super sweet, singing while he pilots his dad’s starship and quickly befriending Momo.

With everyone’s help, the group is able to seal away the Evil Eye inside of Taro, whose insides Seiko covered with seals to surpress its energy. Chiquitita takes over putting out the fire, and even helps Momo rescue Okarun and Turbo Granny from what’s left of the house. Thankfully, the worm goop they got stuck in was lavaproof, saving their lives and leading to Momo giving Okarun a well-deserved hug.

This Could be a Problem

As good as it is to know that the Tsuchinoko can’t eat anyone else and that they stopped the volcano, there are two things that prevent this episode from being a wholly happy ending. Firstly, where did the Kito family go? They seemed to have dropped off the radar amidst all the chaos, meaning they’re likely still out there. They need to face justice for their crimes before they hurt anyone else! Secondly, Jiji is still possessed by the Evil Eye. Sympathetic as their backstory might be, they can’t stay in poor Jiji. They need to either be exorcised, talked down, or persuaded to move on to the afterlife! Sadly, that will have to wait until the next episode. At least anime-only watchers can rest a little easier knowing that giant worm is gone!

I Give “That’s, Like, Way Deadly!” a 4/5

DEATH TO THE GIANT WORMS!

Aside Roderick J "Jay" Friz Anime, Anime Reviews, Crunchyroll , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

DanDaDan S2 Ep 3 Review

Well, this is certainly a pickle! It was already bad enough that Okarun, Momo, Jiji and Turbo Granny were trapped underground with a giant worm cryptid. Then they had to contend with a yokai borne from the hatred of the Kito familyโ€™s sacrifices. And to top it off, that yokai has now possessed Jiji and turned him into a force of nature bent on killing them all! Fortunately for Momo, Ken is capable of fighting the Evil Eye while Momo works to find a way to take down the giant worm.

Having managed to possess Jiji, the Evil Eye wastes no time in showing just how powerful it truly is, putting Okarun on the defensive and forcing him to flee with Momo in tow. However, itโ€™s not because he canโ€™t win, as the next round proves. Itโ€™s because he prioritizes Momoโ€™s safety over his own like a gentleman. Thanks to him, Momo is able to escape the pit to find a way to get them all out before the Tsuchinoko kills them.

With Momo out of the way, Okarun and the Evil Eye can fight for real. Admitedly, though, their fight isnโ€™t as visually impressive as the other fights weโ€™ve seen in the series thus far. Though, to be fair, it might be because itโ€™s not as long as other fights are. Both of them run out of steam due to the poison in the area, meaning they canโ€™t fight to the fullest. It makes up for it, though, by doing two things. Firstly, the Evil Eye lets Aleks Le flex his Jin-woo muscles. Secondly, the way that Ken Takakura rallies would make Jotaro Kujo proud.

Too bad Okarunโ€™s cool moment doesnโ€™t last long. When he tries to save Turbo Granny, he winds up getting stuck in whatever gunk the Worm spews out of itself. Now theyโ€™re both trapped. Luckily, Momo has a foolproof plan to get rid of the worm: burning down the cursed house!

Burnin’ Down the House!

While Okarun and Jiji are doing battle, Momo finds out that itโ€™s all but impossible to get them a means to climb out of the pit. Thus, she changes tactics to killing the Tsuchinoko. It canโ€™t take the Sunโ€™s UV rays, so by luring it above ground before sunset, itโ€™ll kill itself. So she burns down the house.

It turns out that worms breathe through their skin, which is why they crawl up to the surface when it rains; otherwise, theyโ€™ll drown. And by calling the fire department, sheโ€™s able to have the ground soaked in enough water. And thanks to her quick thinking, the monster is forced to the surface, where it shrivels up and dies, just like nature intended. It may not be the most climactic way to finish things, but there was no way Momo could beat the Death Worm in a straight-up fight.

Sadly, after the worm dies, it expels the last things that it ate: the very-much alive Kito Family, who arenโ€™t happy about what Momo did. And to top it off, the part about it being connected to the volcano was true. Now the mountainโ€™s blowing up and threatening to destroy the village.

How do we stop a volcano?

This was a good episode, overall. I wish that we had gotten more time to see Okarun and the Evil Eye fight, but something tells me that more of that coming in future episodes. For now, though, how is Momo going to stop the volcano and save her friends? And, yes, that includes Turbo Granny. That look on her face when Ken tries to save her is enough to qualify her as such.

I Give โ€œYou Wonโ€™t Get Away With This!โ€ a 3.5/5