REVIEW: ‘DanDaDan’ Season 1 Is A Masterful Blend Of Heart And Humor

Aliens, love, and missing genitals take center stage in the sensational DanDaDan Season 1 from Science Saru. What starts as an absurd comedy slowly becomes a heartfelt story about finding love in unexpected places. Plenty of laughs will be had, but it will also constantly pull at your heartstrings.

DanDaDan Season 1 focuses on two main characters, Momo Ayase (Shion Wakayama) and Ken Takakura (Natsuki Hanae), also known as Okarun. Momo is an outgoing, public person who loves the attention she receives from her classmates. Okarun, on the other hand, is an introvert who spends his time alone. The two meet after school one day in a clash that will irreparably change their lives forever.

The events that bring the duo together give a first glimpse at how absurd DanDaDan Season 1 is. They encounter both aliens, something Momo did not previously believe in, and paranormal creatures, which Okarun thought were a childish thing to believe in. That dynamic brings them together when the aliens try to steal Momo’s reproductive organs, and Okarun gets his balls stolen by a creature known as Turbo Granny (Mayumi Tanaka).

It is clear from the start that the forces at play in the background of DanDaDan Season 1 are not your typical aliens or monsters. They are creepy and absurd and often go in unexpected directions with their words and actions. Most of the time, it is so absurd that it is impossible not to laugh. Still, that absurdity is grounded by Momo and Okarun’s relationship so well that even the wildest moments feel genuine.

Momo and Okarun provide the beating heart of Dandadan Season 1.

Despite the insane distractions, the real focus of DanDaDan Season 1 is the relationship between Momo and Okarun. They are brought together in a way no one will believe and are at each other’s throats more often than not at the start. They frequently have outbursts as they figure out how to communicate their feelings with each other.

It isn’t until midway through the season that the two realize they may have deeper feelings. Watching that unfold so authentically and somewhat unexpectedly enhances the experience for viewers. Some viewers may be frustrated as they wonder how the two can miss such obvious emotions, but when start to become more prevalent, the experience is rewarding.

Their relationship is never simple, either, as it is frequently tested along the way. Characters like Aira and Jiji enter as competition, even if Momo and Okarun are sometimes naively unaware. Those side characters help flesh out the main relationship and do an excellent job pushing the character growth across the season.

Beyond Momo and Okarun, several other heartfelt moments make DanDaDan Season 1 shine. The best is when the duo faces off against Acrobatic Silky, a paranormal villain haunting Aira. Acro Silky’s backstory is brutally crushing and will leave every viewer with tears in their eyes. It also adds a layer of humanity to the creatures they are dealing with, again making an absurd concept seem more authentic.

Science Saru concocts a visually electrifying experience.

DanDaDan Season 1 also stands out visually. The team at Science Saru does an incredible job at bringing the beautiful set pieces to life. Every character design is exciting, especially the aliens and monsters. For example, Turbo Granny’s animation in the first two episodes is as intriguing as it is trippy. That animation quality helps keep the viewer’s attention as the series progresses.

Some episodes have a color filter over them during specific sequences that really enhances the experience. These stylistic choices make DanDaDan Season 1 unique versus some more realistic-looking series. That approach also fits well with the story and the absurdity of the events taking place.

There are a handful of moments in DanDaDan Season 1 where things start to feel a little too weird. Some viewers might be turned away by the more suggestive comments, especially those made by the genital-stealing aliens. It never fully crosses any lines, but it is something that might not appeal to everyone and can border on the edge of going too far.

Thankfully, DanDaDan Season 1 always reigns it in before anything goes too far off the rails. Using the relationship between Momo and Okarun as the grounding force allows the creepy moments to be washed away when the two of them become more serious. Conversely, the serious character moments are often broken up by absurd humor before anything feels too weighty. It is a constant balancing act that the series nails down well throughout.

The biggest downside of DanDaDan Season 1 is that it ends without any resolution. Although Season 2 has already been confirmed, it would have been nice to avoid a cliffhanger ending instead of leaving things off in a severe situation in the season finale. Ultimately, this is a minor complaint, but wrapping up the story before diving into a new adventure might have been a better choice to end the season.

DanDaDan Season 1 masterfully blends humor and heart, constantly keeping viewers and characters on their toes as events unfold. There is so much to experience and enjoy in what is easily one of the best anime series of 2024.

DanDaDan Season 1 is airing now on Netflix and Crunchyroll.