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
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. Thatโs the good news, though. The bad news is that Jiji is still possessed by the Evil Eye, the yokai thatโs so far into its crash-out that it wonโt be satisfied until itโs killed all of humanity. And because they canโt 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 Ayaseโs attempting to exorcise the Evil Eye from Jiji (whoโs 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 nothingโs working, theyโre left with only one option: head home and keep Jiji sealed inside Taro until they figure out a plan.
Upon returning home and reuniting with Aira (who wasnโt happy about being left behind), Seiko apologizes to everyone for whatโs happened. If she had gone with them in the first place, they might not be in this mess. Therefore, itโs up to her to help Jiji, but even she canโt do it alone. So theyโre 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 Jijiโs 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. Itโs not foolproof, but itโs 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 itโs not just a Shonen action series. Itโs about teen romance, with the mess that comes with it. By now, itโs 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.
As for Aira, though, sheโs now reaping the cost of her own actions. After confessing to spreading lies about Momo getting around, sheโs gone from school idol to pariah. However, itโs for the best. If people only liked her for her good looks, then they donโt know her at all. Sheโs found real friends in Momo and Okarun. Speaking of which, she and Okarun move in with the Ayaseโs 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 sonโs sake. And theyโre right next door to the Ayaseโs!
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 boyโs cuteness, and I canโt blame her. The kid deserves his own plushie!
Itโs nice to see that the showโs 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!
In case people who haven't/don't watch the dub were wondering, yes, they did have Aleks Le sing the Ranma 1/2 opening in Japanese like they did with the Slam Dunk OP/ED
— ElTigre – Mountain Yokai (@eltigre13131) July 31, 2025
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!
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.
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!
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 familyโs 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, itโs not because he canโt win, as the next round proves. Itโs because he prioritizes Momoโs 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 isnโt as visually impressive as the other fights weโve seen in the series thus far. Though, to be fair, it might be because itโs not as long as other fights are. Both of them run out of steam due to the poison in the area, meaning they canโt 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.
Dandadan Episode 3
ABSOLUTELY FUCKING INSANE. I'VE BEEN WAITING YEARS TO SEE THIS FIGHT GET ADAPTED, I CAN'T BELIEVE I GET TO SEE IT ADAPTED IN ALL ITS GLORY. THANK YOU SCIENCE SARU๐ญ๐ฅ๐๐ฝ๐๐ฝโฅ๏ธ pic.twitter.com/GgOPo49foS
Too bad Okarunโs cool moment doesnโt last long. When he tries to save Turbo Granny, he winds up getting stuck in whatever gunk the Worm spews out of itself. Now theyโre both trapped. Luckily, Momo has a foolproof plan to get rid of the worm: burning down the cursed house!
Rare occurance of Turbo Granny breaking character & showing us her true self/feelings.. Can't believe some still think she has it in her to betray us at some point.. Even if it may seem that way or she has to act that way, I think the truth is apparent..#DanDaDan#ShadzDanDaDanpic.twitter.com/NuhAAkmyjg
While Okarun and Jiji are doing battle, Momo finds out that itโs all but impossible to get them a means to climb out of the pit. Thus, she changes tactics to killing the Tsuchinoko. It canโt take the Sunโs UV rays, so by luring it above ground before sunset, itโll kill itself. So she burns down the house.
A Momo รฉ mesmo muito esperta. Ela lembrou de uma coisa que o Jiji tinha contado pra ela quando ainda eram bem pequenininhos, e foi isso que ajudou a derrotar a Minhoca gigante.#ใใณใใใณ#Dandadanpic.twitter.com/O7O0AdFMhd
— ๐๐ผ๐ธ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ผ ๐นญ (@Kokoro_Shoyo) July 17, 2025
It turns out that worms breathe through their skin, which is why they crawl up to the surface when it rains; otherwise, theyโll drown. And by calling the fire department, sheโs 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 arenโt happy about what Momo did. And to top it off, the part about it being connected to the volcano was true. Now the mountainโs 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 โYou Wonโt Get Away With This!โ a 3.5/5
It’s only been one day since Naofumi and his party arrived in Siltvelt, and he’s already growing sick of the place. His only goal right now is to get to Q’Ten Lo and stop them from coming after him and Raphtalia. However, Siltvelt’s leaders seemed determined to keep him in their country for as long as possible; likely forever! And as the follow-up episode demonstrates, the leaders of Siltvelt will play dirty to make sure that that happens. Fortunately, Naofumi has a zero-tolerance policy for red tape and stalling, and when one of the country’s leaders tries to make a move, he decides to put them all on the OPP’s list unless they give him what he wants.
You got to admire someone who refuses to deal with baloney.
Before we get started, let’s back up to the season premiere. A few days before it premiered, I remembered I had the light novels that this season should be covering on my smartphone. I started reading through them, and thanks to that, I’m better able to notice a few things that the anime has changed or rearranged. More importantly, it made me remember that the story established earlier than the anime that Jaralis was going to be a problem. For example, in the light novel version of his audience with Silvelt’s leaders, Jaralis starts by singing Naofumi’s praisings before twisting his words into saying that they should go out and crush all who oppose them. And then he basically ends the meeting early by having everyone walk out.
Naofumi vs. an Army of Horny Demi-Humans
Unfortunately, this episode, while rearranging the order of certain events, still meets with the same outcome: irritating Naofumi. Firstly, he’s told that his party must stay in a separate bedroom while he sleeps in one meant for royalty. It’s clearly an attempt to separate him from those he trusts. It’s only thanks to his insistence that Raph-Chan stay with him that it falls through.
And it’s a good thing that Raphy (Raph-Chan’s name in the dub). Without her, he might not have made it through what happens next with his chastity intact.
While the light novel doesn’t have the water laced with aphrodisiacs and the women were waiting in advance, everything else is accurate. If Raph-Chan hadn’t been there for backup and to call Raphtalia, Naofumi would’ve had his chastity stolen that night. Not lost, stolen. And considering what Witch did to him messed him up so bad he’s all but sworn a life of celibacy, this experience was one giant trauma button for him. Needless to say, his blow-up at Werner is more than justified.
Atla and Fohl are more important than you realize
Unfortunately for Naofumi, the rest of his experience in Siltvelt isn’t any more productive. He’s forced to attend parties, banquets, and other social gatherings in his honor, all while listening to the elites trying to outdo themselves in their efforts to glaze him. He doesn’t buy it for a second, and the longer they stall, the more Naofumi decides to just figure things out on his own.
— Antoneighs ๐ก๏ธ (@Tonynotherebro) July 16, 2025
Thankfully, this is where Fohl and Atla manage to come in handy.
Iโm not sure how much of their story has been revealed thus far in the anime, but Fohl and Atla are not ordinary Demi-Humans. They are part of the Hakuko, AKA the white tigers. Years ago, they had been one of the four most powerful races of Demi-Humans in Siltvelt, and their father had been a prominent leader. However, when Siltvelt lost the war against Melromarc, and they lost their parents, the Hakuko fell from power. And we know how Naofumi found them.
In any case, though, the siblings still have allies in Siltvelt. Through them, Naofumi starts making his own plans to get to Qโten Lo, since itโs clear the country is useless to him. But then something happens that makes everyone leading the country into an OPP: someone tries to poison Naofumi and his party.
Jaralis did it. We all know he did it!
Well, to be fair, itโs Jaralis who did it. The smug look on his face says it all. However, when Jaralis and Werner continue to be at each otherโs throats, Naofumi decides that this farce has gone on long enough. In a rather surprising twist, though, heโs not the one to start blowing off. Itโs Atla.
This should be interesting to watch. That girl is Naofumiโs number one stan, so seeing her get mad at the people in charge of Siltvelt should be entertaining. Still, itโs a little frustrating to see multiple scenes from the light novel get removed from the anime. But the plus side is that this makes me look forward to seeing what will happen when Allen Blasterโs fanfic gets to this point!
Friday, September 12th, 2025. Anime fans, mark your calendars, clear your schedule that day, and be prepared to head to movie theaters. Demon Slayer is coming back to theaters for its endgame.
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba has been one of the most popular Shonen anime of the last six years, earning critical acclaim and fans around the world. And itโs not hard to see why. Between the characters, music, and god-tier animation, Demon Slayer lives up to the hype. It even managed to have the highest-grossing film in 2020 with Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba โ The Movie: Mugen Train. Five years later, it looks like history is about to repeat itself as the series approaches its climax.
Fans have known for a year now that Demon Slayer would be wrapping up its story on the big screen rather than with a new season. The Final Battle arc, split into the Infinity Castle and Sunrise Countdown, demands no less than that. And Aniplex is splitting everything up into three movies just to make sure they cover all their bases. While the first film should already be out in Japan, Americans will have to wait another two months. And it looks as though it will be released both subbed and dubbed.
Anime has pretty much gone mainstream at this point thanks to the efforts of fans and streaming services, but that doesnโt mean we should be lax when it comes to promoting this film. If we really want to give Demon Slayer the send-off it deserves, then we need to start preparing. Make plans with friends. Coordinate with your local cosplay groups. Make sure that when the time comes, every seat in whatever theater is showing Demon Slayer is filled. Having all three films break box office records in America would be a massive win for us, and I wholeheartedly encourage everyone to see that it happens!
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. Itโs 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 wasnโt just the Worm that was the threat. Believe it or not, it wasnโt 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!!
This is what you call a 10/10 adaptation. Adding stuff they don't have to & giving me additional nightmare fuel for no reason but the love of the game lol. #DanDaDan#ShadzDanDaDanpic.twitter.com/LlQF10ISPR
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 Wormโs 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.
— Momo X Okarun ๐๐ฝ๐ป (@OmarRei41969377) July 11, 2025
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 couldnโt 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 Silkyโs 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 didnโt 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 Jijiโs heart, and he goes into โrighteous Shonen protagonistโ mode. He makes it all the way to the spot where E.E.โs body lies and promises to be his friend and play with him as much as he wants. In other words, heโs 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 Zenitsuโฆinto Yokai Sung Jin-woo. And Iโm not just saying that because all three share the same voice actor. Iโm 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 Eyeโs collected malice, and he turns into an apex predator. And he wields that football like itโs a cannonball. If Okarun hadnโt shown up when he did, Jiji would’ve killed Momo and Turbo Granny.
Thereโs 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!
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 โTo a Kinder Worldโ 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 Jijiโs 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, letโs 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. Itโs 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. Itโs not as great a beat as that of โOTONOKEโ, but thatโs 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 doesnโt make it any less disturbing. Thankfully, the hot spring was falling apart, so Momo was able to escape unharmed. In addition, itโs 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. Itโs good that sheโs not alone, but itโs 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 dragonโs priests are?
— DAN DA DAN Anime EN (@animeDANDADANen) July 4, 2025
Meet the Kito family, aka Jijiโs landlords and the perverts who tried to molest Momo. Theyโve been luring victims in for two hundred years and sacrificing them to the dragon to keep the volcano dormant and the hot springs running. Itโs 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), itโs revealed that itโs not a dragon. Itโs a cryptid called a Mongolian Death Worm.
As soon as we learned the โdragonโ was a Death Worm, I knew that things werenโt going to turn out how the Kito Family expected. That didnโt dampen the black comedy, though, when the beast chose to eat the Kito Family first. However, that doesnโt change the fact that the quartet is now facing a giant worm cryptid, and Okarun and Momo start tweaking out!
Tatsu is one of the best in the game rn when it comes to double page spreads. So I hope more of them get this kinda near 1 to 1 treatment later on too. ๐๐ฝ#DanDaDan#ShadzDanDaDanpic.twitter.com/v1pEr3qBw1
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 โLike, This is the Legend of the Giant Snakeโ a 4/5
Everyone, we have found our Chopper, and he is adorable.
In 2023, the live-action adaptation of One Piece premiered on Netflix, and despite what many fans feared, it didnโt stink! In fact, it was one of the most faithful and enjoyable live-action adaptations of an anime that many had ever seen. Thus, it was inevitable that Netflix would end up green-lighting a second season as the Straw Hat Pirates finally leave the East Blue behind for the Grand Line. That means the show would be heading into the vaunted Alabasta Saga, which would introduce us to fan-favorite characters like Crocodile, Vivi, Nico Robin, and many more. However, there is one character that fans have been concerned about more than anyone else: Tony Tony Chopper.
A blue-nosed reindeer that ate a Devil Fruit, granting him sentience, Chopper serves as the Straw Hatโs doctor and one of its most popular members. Beloved by fans for his adorable appearance and sweet nature, heโs one of the most marketable members of the cast, and the subject of tons of merchandise. Given how picky fans can be with using CGI (Ugly Sonic), people were naturally worried about what Netflix would do to Chopper. And when Netflix put out an ad saying there would be a big announcement at their annual Tudum festival about One Piece, everyone knew what was coming.
And we were right. We got our first-ever look at the live-action/CGI version of Chopper.
So far, reactions to the Netflix Chopper has beenโฆmixed. Some people are saying itโs as bad as Ugly Sonic. Others are saying that they could make him cuter. Others are going to be upset no matter what Netflix does, though. And while he could be made to look cuter, Netflix got one thing right about Chopper: his personality.
In the span of the short teaser, we see Chopper act just like how he does in the anime and manga. His shy and childish nature (because he is still a kid), his love of compliments, and his expressive face are all present. While itโs a little sad that they donโt get his English VA, Brina Palencia, to voice him, Mikaela Hoover captures the spirit of the character. Plus, itโs likely the Japanese subs will use her seiyuu, so there is that.
In addition to the reveal of Chopper, Tudum also confirmed that the show will be returning in 2026. For those who canโt wait, not to worry! LEGO is making sets based on the Netflix show set to come out later this summer. Either way, thereโs plenty to look forward to in the coming months.
One year ago, the anime workd was devastated by the news of Akira Toriyamaโs death. Toriyama, the man many consider the godfather of the modern Shonen manga, was gone. Millions of people around the world, from his friends and family all the way up to world leaders, all mourned his passing. However, his death would not be the end of his story. At least, not yet.
Less than a year earlier, Toei animation had announced that Dragon Ball would be returning with a new anime series to celebrate its 40th birthday. Even better, though, was the fact that Toriyama himself had written the story for this new anime, Dragon Ball Daima. Now, by fate or chance, Daima had become the last thing Toriyama worked on for the world that he created. If fans were already excited as it was for Dragon Ball to return in anime form, now they wanted to see how his final story would play out.
Now that Gokuโs untold adventure had come to an end, though, how does Daima hold up? Did it meet fans expectations? Could it have done anything better? Is it even canon? While that last question will likely be debated for a while, the first two have an actual answer to them: yes and yes.
What is Daima About?
If you didnโt keep up with Daima during its run, hereโs a quick synopsis.
Taking place shortly after the defeat of Majin Buu, Goku and his family are enjoying their lives now that peace has returned (and Gokuโs alive again.) Unbeknownst to them, Gomah, the new Supreme King of the Demon Realm that Dabura ruled before his death, has been watching them for a while. Terrified at how Goku and the others defeated Majin Buu and seeing them as a threat to his rule, Gomah hatches a plan. Traveling under the radar to Earth, he uses the Dragon Balls to turn Goku and all his allies into kids, thinking they wonโt be a threat in that state. And, for good measure, he kidnaps Dende to make even more Dragon Balls in the future.
Naturally, Goku and the others canโt let this stand, and when someone from the Demon Realm comes saying they were sent to bring the ones who beat Buu, they embark on a quest to rescue Dende and return to their normal ages. This quest will take them to the Demon Realm, a part of the cosmos that has never been fully explored in the history of Dragon Ball!
This is Like GT but with Better Writing
In case itโs not obvious, Dragon Ball Daima takes a lot of inspiration from another anime in the franchise, Dragon Ball GT. Released back in the 90s by Toei as a sequel to DBZ, GT told a completely original story that starts with Goku being reduced to a child by a set of Dragon Balls. The initial arc would see him, Trunks, and his granddaughter Pan travel the galaxy to retrieve these Dragon Balls in the hopes of saving Earth from being destroyed. Becauseโฆreasons!
In hindsight, GT felt like an attempt by Toei to fuse the original adventure genre of Dragon Ball with the more popular Shonen fighting genre that most people know the franchise for. Unfortunately, while it did have its good points, most notably Super Saiyan 4, GT wasnโt as good as DBZ. Toriyama himself had little to no involvement beyond some character designs, and it showed! The plot tried too hard to be funny, only to come off as cringe. Several of the characters became unlikable. And the less said about Dolltaki, the better! Itโs for these and many other reasons that fans debate whether or not GT is even canon or part of another timeline!
Daima is Toeiโs second attempt to tell a story that returns Dragon Ball to its adventurous roots. And unlike before, Toriyama was fully on board. In aย recent interview with Akio Iyoku, Daimaโs exec producer, it was confirmed that the series was a deliberate attempt to evoke the feeling of GT. Funnily enough, that same interview confirmed that Toriyama was only meant to have limited involvement. But Toriyama found it so exciting, he pretty much handled it all by himself.ย
In hindsight, that might partly why he died so young, but at least he died doing what he loved. And it also explains yet another thing he worked on being a big influence on Daima.
Good Old JRPG Action!
Outside of his work as a mangaka, Toriyama is famous for his work in another medium of entertainment: video games. He was the character designer for the Dragon Quest and Chrono Trigger series, the latter being one of the greatest JRPGs ever made. Whether he intended to or not, it seems that his experiences with those games helped to influence how he wrote Daima, because it feels an awful lot like a JRPG.
Itโs been stated several times throughout this blogโs reviews for this series, but Daima feels like the Dragon Ball equivalent to Dragon Quest. The quest to save an entire world from a tyrannical king. The ragtag party of heroes that add more members as the adventure goes on. The concept of the Medi Bugs even sounds a lot like items you find in an RPG!ย
It doesnโt stop with the story and gameplay mechanics. Up until the final battle against Gomah, the fights give off the feeling of a classic JRPG fight. And this blog isnโt the only one whoโs noticed the similarities. Plenty of other fans have noticed the comparisons between Daima and Dragon Quest.ย One article from Screenrantย even says that it only serves to make Daima an even bigger tribute to the legacy of Toriyama. It combines his magnum opus for both manga and video games into a fairly entertaining story that could easily work as a standalone video game! Itโs funny enough to be one!
Toriyama Never Lost his Sense of Humor
When it comes to the action, Dragon Ball Daima can feel a tad lackluster when compared to Z and Super. However, there is a good reason for that: Dragon Ball didnโt start out as a franchise focused solely on fighting. Fighting and martial arts were always a part of the story, but in the beginning, Dragon Ball was more concerned about the adventure. The entire story starts because Goku and Bulma go on an adventure to find the rest of the Dragon Balls together. Daima was an attempt to return to the franchise roots as a story inspired by Journey to the West, best exemplified by Gokuโs retrieval of his Power Pole. By focusing more on the adventure aspects, this meant that the series could also focus more on the comedic aspects.
Toriyama was a man with a pretty good sense of humor. His first big manga, Dr. Slump, was a gag comedy. And while it would come to be best known for the fights, Dragon Ball never really lost its sense of humor. Thanks to its premise, Daima was able to bring the comedy back in full. From the oaf and straight-man routine that Goku and Glorio established to even the villains proving to be fairly goofy, you can tell Toriyama wanted to make his fans laugh. And it largely worked. Special mention goes to Hybis and his absolute deadpan attitude towards everything!ย
Thankfully, Daima never forgot about the action, and when it wanted to focus on that, it went HARD! By the time the final episodes rolled around, it had already returned to the same levels of action from DBZ before starting to edge closer to what comes in Super. And judging by the Internetโs reaction, fans were more than satisfied with what we got.
SUCH EPIC FANSERVICE!
Speaking of which, can we just bring up the fact that Daima was amazing at delivering fanservice? Most people associate that concept with images of attractive anime characters, but in a broader sense, itโs about giving the fans what they want to see. In the case of Dragon Ball Daima, it was getting to see things that plenty of fans wanted to see. The return of Gokuโs Power Pole was a good example of fanservice for those who like the earlier Dragon Ball adventures, but thereโs more than that.
Exhibit A: Super Saiyan 3 Vegeta. Vegeta was only ever shown achieving this form in video games, which were, by their nature, non-canon. Getting to see that form appear in the anime, albeit as Kid Vegeta, was a big deal. However, that would end up paling in comparison to what we would get next.
Exhibit B: Super Saiyan 4 Goku. Say what you want about GT, but you cannot deny that SSJ 4 was cool! The red fur and wild hair may feel super-edgy these days, but that can be chalked up to it coming from the 90s. That decade was all about being edgy! What was more important is that this marked the first time in decades that fans got to see the fabled SSJ 4 in the anime, and we just ate it up! People are already saying that Gokuโs transformation into SSJ 4 is the second coming of the legendary first time we saw SSJ 3. And theyโre right!ย
Just donโt expect any explanation as to why this form never comes up in Super.
They Shouldn’t Have Rushed Things so Much
When it comes to it, there are two main problems regarding Dragon Ball Daima. One seriously affects the overall story, while the other is something that mainly concerns hardcore fans.
The big problem is the length and pacing of the series. The first nine episodes are focused on the setup and then Goku and the others’ journey through the first of the three worlds making up the Demon Realm. The time spent in the Second World amounts to around five episodes, with the last five focusing on the final battle against Gomah and his army. No matter how you look at it, thatโs some pretty uneven levels of focus! The show spends so much time in the Third World and expanding it, the lack of attention the Second World gets is a problem. Especially when you consider that it was hinting at parts of the Demon Realm we may never get to see!
The other problem is regarding whether or not Daima counts as canon. Since none of what happens gets mentioned in Super, some fans wonder if it counts as canon. The fact that Super Saiyan 4 never gets brought up doesnโt help matter. However,ย that same interview with Ikoyuย confirms that, yes, Daima is canon, mainly because it was written by Toriyama. That answer, though, does imply that anything made for the franchise following his passing may be non-canon.ย
My thoughts? Who cares?
Let’s be Happy We got more Dragon Ball
Who cares if Dragon Ball Daima is canon or not? Who cares if might contradict the established lore for Dragon Ball in a few ways. And who cares that none of this ever comes up in Super (yet.) At the end of the day, I donโt think whether Daima is even canon should be whatโs important. Whatโs important is that we got more Dragon Ball.
Itโs not something that fans want to think about, but the passing of Toriyama marks the end of an era for Dragon Ball. From now on, the franchise will have to continue without its creator, and while plenty of franchises have managed to do so, thereโs always the concern that things wonโt be the same. Whatโs more, many of the people who voice the characters arenโt getting any younger. Sooner or later, theyโre going to have to retire or will eventually pass away. Masako will let her voice live on through AI, but thereโs no telling what will others will do. Even Bulmaโs original seiyuu passed away years ago!ย
The bottom line is that Dragon Ball may not last forever, as much as we may want it. Sooner or later, itโs going to have to end or end up like The Simpsons: a pale shadow of its former self. So the way I see it, we should enjoy Dragon Ball as much as we can while we still have it.
A Worthy Send-off for a Legend
So, was Dragon Ball Daima a perfect series? No! It had its ups and downs, and I do think it couldโve benefitted from more episodes. However, the idea of a perfect story doesnโt exist, and if it did, that would just mean mankind couldnโt tell anything better. At the end of the day, though, Daima wasnโt trying to be a perfect story. It was just trying to entertain people, either by making them laugh or squealing in joy. And it largely succeeded, with most of the people I know and follow online loving it.ย
Whatโs most important, though, is that this series was the final gift that we got from Akira Toriyama. Thereโs no telling if he knew that his life was coming to an end, but if he did, then he chose to spend his final days pouring his heart and soul into making Daima the best that he could make it. And it paid off! Most fans seemed to love Daima, and consider it a worthy final work from a man who helped change the world. Dragon Ball will likely go on for years to come, and it might not be the same without Toriyama, but heโs already given us everything he had. Heโs more than earned the right to go to that big studio in the sky where all the great storytellers in human history get to chill for the rest of eternity. The least we could do as fans was make sure he got the sendoff he deserved.
And we did. Arigato, Toriyama-Sama. Youโve earned the rest.
The Ultimate Guide to East Asian Pop Culture. Dive into Anime Episode Reviews, Kdrama Recaps, Manga, Comics, & Graphic Novel Discussions. Discover Japanese Culture, Folklore, Mythology, and Adult Animated Series News.
D&A Anime Blog 