Dandadan

Jiji just Went from Zenitsu to Sung Jin-woo!

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

DanDaDan S2 Ep 2 Review

Do you guys remember that one episode of DanDaDan last year about Acrobatic Silky’s backstory? The one that garnered critical acclaim and broke the Internet from its sheer sadness? If you thought that the tragic story of Silky’s life and death was sad, then brace yourselves. It’s gotten a sequel. As Ken, Momo, Turbo Granny, and Jiji are at the mercy of a giant worm, an even bigger threat appears: a yokai with a backstory as sad as Silky’s. Maybe even sadder, because the Yokai in question…was just a little kid.

The Evil Eye is scary…

At the end of the last episode, the group was in a bad spot. They were already being cornered by the Mongolian Death Worm. But then, Okarun starts going ghost and tweaking out and trying to kill himself, with Momo soon following suit! As Turbo Granny explains, the Worm emits psychic waves that compel people to off themselves. It’s the ultimate predatory skill, and for some reason, only Jiji is immune to it. All he can do is run for his life while keeping his friends from killing themselves/realizing that this might be what made his parents try to kill themselves.

Except that it wasn’t just the Worm that was the threat. Believe it or not, it wasn’t the only creature haunting the house. There was another being; one far more terrifying than the Worm. A yokai that makes even the likes of Turbo Granny freak out: the Evil Eye.

…But his backstory is SO SAD!!

The Evil Eye is, quite possibly, one of the most powerful yokai in the entire series and a nightmare to deal with. Like the Worm, the Evil Eye also has the power to make people want to off themselves just by looking at them. The upside that its waves cancel out the Worm’s waves, bringing Momo and Ken back to their senses. The bad news? Now they have to run from both while making their way through the Uzumaki-like labyrinth. And when Jiji looks right into its eyes, he sees its whole backstory, and it is a tragedy.

The short version: the Evil Eye was once one of the sacrifices the Kito family gave to the Worm. They had locked him up underground until he was an emaciated husk before burning him alive. But instead of moving on, he somehow became a cursed spirit. And whenever anyone other than kids saw him, they would be compelled to off themselves! And then the Kito Family just buried the son alive in the house as another sacrifice, leaving him to starve of die of asphyxiation, while the spirit couldn’t do anything to help him. And this just kept repeating victim after victim, until that sweet little spirit finally crashed out and decided to kill all humanity. Everyone would die as penance for the cruelty those people were shown.

I thought that Acrobatic Silky’s backstory was sad, but this? This happened to a little boy. A child! And they were doing this to countless people for years to a monster that didn’t care about them and just ate them the first chance they got. No wonder the Evil Eye crashed out. A lot of people would wind up doing the same thing if it happened to them!

Jiji Goes from Zenitsu to Sung Jin-woo

And this just tugs at poor Jiji’s heart, and he goes into “righteous Shonen protagonist” mode. He makes it all the way to the spot where E.E.’s body lies and promises to be his friend and play with him as much as he wants. In other words, he’s offering up his body to be used as a vessel for the yokai, like Ken and Aira.

Big. Mistake. It turns Jiji from a goofy Zenitsu…into Yokai Sung Jin-woo. And I’m not just saying that because all three share the same voice actor. I’m saying that because E.E. Jiji is him! In fact, its revealed that Jiji has a ridiculous amount of dormant spiritual power. Combine that with the Evil Eye’s collected malice, and he turns into an apex predator. And he wields that football like it’s a cannonball. If Okarun hadn’t shown up when he did, Jiji would’ve killed Momo and Turbo Granny.

There’s a reason why DanDaDan fans consider this and the proceeding arc to be among the series best thus far, and its for moments such as this. Now, Okarun has to protect Momo and Turbo Granny from Jiji and the Death Worm! This is going to be a tough fight, but one that fans are going to be enjoying to the fullest extent. And I cannot wait!

I Give “Evil Eye” a 4/5

DanDaDan, Check out This Giant Worm!

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

Dandadan S2 Ep 1 Review

When the world needed them most, DanDaDan returned!

Welcome back, everyone, to an all-new season of the megahit Shonen anime, DanDaDan. When it came out in the Fall of 2024, this anime set the entire world on fire. The animation was god-tier, the characters were hilarious, and the OP was so good, it wound up trending on YouTube. Not to mention how the episode “To a Kinder World” went down as one of the best moments in anime history. Needless to say, people have been eagerly awaiting its return, and are grateful we did not have to wait long. Especially since the first season ended on a big cliffhanger. Okarun and Jiji found a creepy room in Jiji’s house, and Momo was under attack from a gang of perverts. Anime-only fans wanted to know what happened next, and now is the time!

But first, let’s discuss the new OP, “On The Way” by AiNA THE END. As with the previous OP, fans are treated to a visual spectacle as they see Okarun, Momo, and their growing list of allies face the forces against them. It’s got the same high-tier animation as before, if not better. At the same time, though, I feel like the song itself is a little softer. It’s not as great a beat as that of “OTONOKE”, but that’s just my personal opinion.

Now, Where Were We?

The episode opens up right where we left off in December: Momo being attacked by perverts. Guys peeping on girls is not out of the ordinary in anime, but that doesn’t make it any less disturbing. Thankfully, the hot spring was falling apart, so Momo was able to escape unharmed. In addition, it’s revealed that Turbo Granny smuggled herself along for the ride because she wanted to enjoy the hot springs, and her cat body might have helped. It’s good that she’s not alone, but it’s unsettling to hear her say that the entire house is bad news. And she is absolutely right.

The short version: the locals have a legend about the nearby volcano being home to a dragon that will destroy the village unless it receives a sacrifice. And guess who the dragon’s priests are?

Meet the Kito family, aka Jiji’s landlords and the perverts who tried to molest Momo. They’ve been luring victims in for two hundred years and sacrificing them to the dragon to keep the volcano dormant and the hot springs running. It’s like the sacrifice from The Wicker Man, but with a dragon. And Jiji, Okarun, and Momo are their victims this time. Naturally, none of them are keen on this happening, and they refuse to go down without a fight. However, once they arrive in the lair of the Tsuchinoko (the dragon), it’s revealed that it’s not a dragon. It’s a cryptid called a Mongolian Death Worm.

As soon as we learned the “dragon” was a Death Worm, I knew that things weren’t going to turn out how the Kito Family expected. That didn’t dampen the black comedy, though, when the beast chose to eat the Kito Family first. However, that doesn’t change the fact that the quartet is now facing a giant worm cryptid, and Okarun and Momo start tweaking out!

Man, what a good episode! DanDaDan is back and it is looking to be one of the best anime of the year for a second year in a row! Definitely looking forward to spending my summer watching this!

I Give “Like, This is the Legend of the Giant Snake” a 4/5

This Summer, ANIME FANS SHALL FEAST!!

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

Ten Anime and Films to Look Forward to in Summer 2025

Now that it is meteorlogically behind us, I think we can all be honest about the Spring 2025 season of anime: it wasn’t that good. There were a number of great anime, to be sure. My Hero Academia: Vigilantes, Wind Breaker, the return of One Piece, and Lazarus (at times) were all good. However, it feels like many of the anime this season were a bit of a let down. The Beginning After the End, for example, had the potential to be the next Solo Leveling, but became a laughingstock. However, deep down, I think most people knew that the spring was going to be a lean time for many anime fans. What everyone was really waiting for was the arrival of summer, because we’ve got one of the strongest anime lineups in years. Spring might have been lean times for many, but this summer, fans shall feast!

Lord of Mysteries (June 28th)

After the disaster that was The Beginning After the End’s anime (THANKS A LOT, A-CAT!), isekai fans need a palette cleanser. Whereas TBATE was born in the USA, though, the next big isekai, Lord of Mysteries, comes from China. The premise is that a young Chinese man suddenly finds himself reborn into a world that’s a combination of the Victorian Era, steampunk, and magic. Now going by the name of Klein, the man is entangled into some sort of supernatural conspiracy as he tries to find a way home. I know next to nothing about the series, but everyone who talks about it on YouTube says its on par with Re:Zero and Mushoku Tensei in terms of quality. That alone is enough for me to be intrigued! Though, it won’t be the only isekai to look out for this summer.

New Saga (July 2nd)

What’s the one thing better than the chance of being reborn into a new world with a clean slate? Going back to an earlier part of your life with all your memories intact, giving you the chance to change how your life turns out. That is the premise behind this new anime, New Saga. Set in a fantasy world nearly destroyed by a war between humans and demons, this anime tells the story of Kyle, the hero who saved the world at the cost of his life, only to awaken four years in the past. Given a second chance to save everyone he loves, how will he put this time to good use? I don’t know, but I’m eager to find out.

DanDaDan Season 2 (July 3rd)

Sometimes, life is good. It’s only been a few months since the first season of DanDaDan ended, and we’re already getting season two. Then again, given the cliffhanger the first season ended on, anime-only watchers wouldn’t want to wait very long. The second season looks set to pick up right where we last left off with the Evil Eye Arc, with Okarun and Jiji hunting for the ghost haunting the latter’s home, while Momo has to fend off a group of perverts in a bathhouse. And judging by the trailer that we’ve gotten, not only will the animation be as good as ever, but the story will get even crazier. Given how the series became one of the biggest hits of 2024, expectations for DanDaDan remain at an all-time high. At the very least, here’s hoping that the new OP is as catchy as “Otonoke.”

Nyaight of the Living Cat (July 6th)

Of all the versions of the zombie apocalypse, this is, by far, the most cruel and evil version I have seen to date. In this comedy horror, a mysterious virus spreads throughout the world, turning everyone who touches a cat…into a cat. Given how beloved cats are by humanity for their companionship, endearing behavior, and natural floofness, this is pure torture! As a cat-lover myself, having to avoid petting their floof feels scarier than any zombie horde. Which is probably the whole point. It’s not meant to be taken seriously and is meant for laughs.

New Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt (July 9th)

After all these years, Panty and Stocking have returned. For those who don’t remember, this was an action-comedy about two angelic sisters who got kicked out of Heaven for bad behavior and have to redeem themselves by killing evil ghosts. Sadly, they’re easily distracted by their respective vices of men and candy. The show happens to be a favorite of the founders of this blog, so it’s return is going to be a big deal. Just don’t let any minors see it. It’s raunchy enough to rival the likes of South Park!

The Rising of the Shield Hero Season 4 (July 9th)

Just when things seemed to be going Naofumi’s way, the Shield Hero ends up facing a new problem. Thanks to a misunderstanding, Naofumi discovers that his companion, Raphtalia, is actually the long-lost heir to an isolationist nation with techniques capable of beating the Cardinal Heroes. Rather than let them keep coming after her, Naofumi opts to travel eastward so he can stop the fight at the source. Unfortunately, the only way to get there is by going through the Shield Hero-worshipping nation of Siltvelt, and they have their own plans for him. In addition to uncovering more about Raphtalia’s lineage, this season will also shed light on the lineage of two of his newest allies, Atla and Fohl. Given how Shield Hero has managed to remain consistently good (barring its second season), this going to be one of the big isekai of the summer.

Sakamoto Days, Part 2 (July 14th)

It’s been a few months since we last saw any new episodes of Sakomoto Days, but the new shonen anime about the former assassin who doesn’t kill is coming back with a new cours. The first half ended in the middle of the Sakamoto Family fighting Lu Xiaotang’s Triad family for the right for her to stay with them. However, the second half seems to have the stakes get raised as more assassin’s begin to target Sakamoto. Most notably, the trailer explictily shows that these new hitmen are willing to target his wife and daughter. Even if he didn’t kill anyone anymore, though, that’s still going to be the biggest mistake they ever make! You don’t mess with a person’s family unless you’re ready to risk your life!

Kaiju No. 8 Season Two (July 19th)

Much like DanDaDan, Kaiju No 8 is a shonen series from last year that’s returning for its sophomore season. At the end of the last season, the main protagonist, Kafka Hibino, was forced to out himself as a humanoid Kaiju to his comrades in the Anti-Kaiju Defense Force. Thankfully, he was able to convince them to give him a chance, leading him to be taken in by the First Division. With the threat of Kaiju No. 9 hanging over Japan, Kafka will have to gain greater control over his Kaiju form if he hopes to be of any help. While it might have gotten overshadowed by the likes of DanDaDan and Solo Leveling in terms of hype, Kaiju No. 8 remains an amazing anime with great animation, so it’s going to be one to look out for.

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Infinity Castle

This summer, the final battle between the Demon Slayers and Muzan is about to begin. Shortly after the end of its fourth season, it was revealed that Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba wouldn’t be getting a fifth season. It would be getting something better: a three-part film trilogy covering the events of the Infinity Castle Arc, and presumably, the final battle against Muzan. While it’s still unclear when the films will be released outside of Japan, fans are ecstatic over this news, and will no doubt flock to movie theaters to give the beloved series the ending it deserves. The D&A Anime Blog will be included among them.

Chainsaw Man: The Reze Arc (September 19th)

At last, Chainsaw Man HAS RETURNED!! Despite how I felt about the ending to the first season, I was still interested in seeing the rest of the series unfold as an anime. And like many people, when I heard that the next arc, the Reze Arc, would be getting the movie treatment, I had one question: what day does it come out? Sadly, like Infinity Castle, we don’t know when the film releases stateside, but when it does, I hope to be there to see it. In all of its bloody glory.

Everyone Wants Okarun’s Banana Now

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

Dan Da Dan Ep 8 Review

Ken-Chan (that’s what I call Okarun) has not had it easy since the start of the series, has he? First, he got possessed by a ghost that took his manhood. Then, when he got it back, he lost his balls in the process. After a lengthy fight with Acrobatic Silky (ending in a HEARTBREAKING FLASHBACK), he finally got one of his balls back. There’s just one problem: he’s got an unwanted admirer named Aira.

Aira Still a Chuuni…

After processing what they just went through, Aira joins Momo, Okarun, and Turbo Granny at the Ayase house for dinner where Momo tries to bury the hatchet. You would think that Aira would drop her delusions about Momo being a demon, but instead, the pink-haired girl doubles down on it and says her grandma and Okarun are also demons. To be fair, she does bring up some fine points. Seiko Ayase looks too impossibly young and attractive to be considered a grandmother. And seeing Ken-Chan go ghost could be mistaken for demonic possession. But it seems like the misunderstanding won’t get cleared up anytime. In fact, it gets even worse when it becomes clear that Aira has fallen for Okarun.

After the absolute emotional rollercoaster that was episode seven, it’s adorable to see that Dan Da Dan can effortlessly return to its comedic side. This episode was filled with plenty of hilarious moments. From Turbo Granny and the Ayases returning Ken’s ball with baseball to Aira calling Seiko hot, it’s all pretty funny. This is a series that knows how to effectively balance the comedy and profound moments, and I love that. Even the moment where Aira tries to kiss Okarun is pretty funny to watch.

…Wait, what?

…But Now She’s Fallen for Okarun

Yes, after seeing him save her life, Aira has fallen head over heels for Okarun. And despite being one of the more popular girls in school, it’s revealed that her concept of romance is laughably poor. And influenced by her father’s 18+ content. Thus, seeing her awkwardly try to kiss Ken, despite still thinking he’s a demon, is pretty funny to watch. Until the moment when they fall on the ground right as Momo comes by. Then it becomes awkward.

It gets worse, though. The aliens are back, and they still want Okarun’s banana.

Just like before, the aliens trap Momo and Okarun (and Aira) in a pocket dimension so they can capture them. Or rather, they simply want to capture Okarun, hoping to take his/Turbo Granny’s powers for themselves. And much like before, their insistence on bringing his “banana” is both hilarious and disturbing. Considering how Aira was just expressing a desire to get intimate with him, this couldn’t have happened to Okarun at a worse possible time. And they’re not alone, either. They brought an alien that looks like a mantis shrimp and something that resembles the Loch Ness Monster, the latter of which is hunting Momo! But just when it seems like Okarun’s going to lose his manhood yet again, Aira comes in clutch.

https://twitter.com/ReignOfPride/status/1859719130418684343

Guess Aira Was Chosen, After All

Aira’s chuuni boastings of being chosen now have some merit to them. As it turns out, Silky transferring her aura to save her life also gave her her powers. In other words, now Aira can go ghost, as well, bringing our group of supernatural fighters up to three.

I said it already, but I will repeat it: Dan Da Dan knows how to handle sudden changes in mood. This episode might not have been able to top the magnum opus that was episode 7, it did bring the laughs. And it looks like next episode will only continue that. As for poor Okarun, he needs to clear things up with Momo and tell Aira that he’s not interested. The longer he leaves her hanging, the worse it will be.

https://twitter.com/DandanShots/status/1860306015268246014

I Give “I’ve Got this Funny Feeling” a 4/5

Dan Da Dan is the Best Anime of 2024. CHANGE MY MIND!

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

Dan da Dan Episode 1 Review

Everyone, I need to get real with you. I think I’ve found my favorite anime for 2024, and its not an isekai, or the new Dragon Ball anime. Its an entirely new anime series that‘s hilarious, surreal, full of quirky, memorable characters, and has some of the best animation that I’ve seen in years. Animation that’s on par with the original FLCL and the best of Studio Trigger; if you’ve seen the former and any of the latter, the you know how high praise that is. So what is the name of this new kid on the block that’s so good, Hideo Kojima himself is praising it? Its name is Dan Da Dan!

There’s only one episode out by the time I’m writing this, but if you’re wondering why I’m already calling this the GOAT of 2024, read on.

Give Us Your Banana

Meet Momo Ayase and Okarun, two teenagers that couldn’t be more opposite if they tried. Momo is an extroverted gyaru-type quick to stand up for herself. Okarun is an introverted nerd who doesn’t have friends and a prime bully target. Even their shared belief in the strange is opposing: Momo believes in ghosts but not in aliens, while Okarun believes in aliens but not ghosts. They get so passionate that they bet each other to prove the other wrong.

Spoiler alert: not only are they both right, but they both get in trouble. Okarun gets possessed by a ghost obsessed with genitalia and becomes like Danny Phantom. Momo gets abducted by perverted aliens that want her “banana” for reproduction and awakens psychic powers.

Did I mention that Okarun also got his junk stolen by that ghost? Or how the aliens were planning to molest Momo for the sake of propagating their species while also taking her junk? The anime doesn’t hold anything back. At all. Then again, the mangaka worked as an assistant on Chainsaw Man, so that explains a few things.

Dan Da Dan is Gorgeous from Start to Finish!

From the moment the opening credits start to the end credits finish, Dan Da Dan doesn’t hold anything back in terms of animation or storytelling. The series is animated by Science Saru, a studio that came to my attention last year for creating Scott Pilgrim Takes Off. However, that show feels like the studio was on training wheels compared to what they give us in the premiere of Dan Da Dan. To clarify what I said at the start, this show is what I imagine would happen if the original FLCL was made today. It has some of the best animation I’ve ever seen in an anime, and I’ve seen what Studio Trigger can bring to the table!

Nowhere is this shown better than with the OP, which wound up trending on YouTube. Anime OPs can exaggerate the show for the sake of hyping things up, but Dan Da Dan is one of the rare few that doesn’t do that. Because the animation in the show itself is just as crazy as in the OP. The fluidity of the characters as they make meme-worthy expressions is just amazing to look at.

I Love What Momo and Okarun Have Going On

But good animation doesn’t matter if the characters are flat and boring. Thankfully, Momo and Okarun are anything but, and quickly establish their personalities within seconds of screen-time. We see Momo getting dumped by her loser boyfriend for not putting out, then crying about she only dated him for looking like this brooding actor she has a crush on. While she may seem shallow, the premiere also reveals that she’s very insecure about herself. Her grandma is a famous psychic medium, and that got her bullied as a kid.

Then we have Okarun. He’s timid and mousy, but lights up when he thinks someone shares his interests in aliens. He’s basically Dib from Invader Zim, but somehow even sadder. He even admits that he wanted to meet aliens so they could be his friends. How sad is that? But to his credit, he steps up when he and Momo are in danger, showing a hidden inner strength.

And the best part? He shares the same name as Momo’s celebrity crush!

This anime isn’t just a surreal shonen series, by the way. Its also going to be a love story, and Momo and Okarun seem to be the main focus.

Watch this Now!!!

This might be one of the best premiere episodes for an anime that I have seen in years. Dan Da Dan seems to check off all my boxes. Its hilarious, has a surreal plot, interesting characters, and watching the animation is like a spiritual experience. We’re only on the first episode, but I’m already putting it on my list of best anime of 2024. If you havent seen it yet, then please! Stop what you’re doing, go watch it on Netflix or Crunchyroll, and then come back for the next episode!

I Give “That’s How Love Starts, Ya Know!” a 5/5