REVIEW: ‘DanDaDan’ Season 2 Episode 6 – “We Became A Family”

While it’s hardly a secret, DanDaDan Season 2 Episode 6 fully encapsulates one of the less talked about strengths of the adaptation and what makes Science Saru the perfect studio for it: the details. The beauty of the series, what elevates and separates it from the manga, isn’t just the bombastic action sequences or the charismatic performances.

It’s the character-driven details that add personality to any given scene or interaction. Because while mangaka Yukinobu Tatsu thrives in busy, dizzying backgrounds, the anime finds greater depth in the in-between, subdued moments. The effect is startling. 

It’s funny that it’s so apparent in what is such a loud, comedy-heavy installment. From hair-metal exorcisms to abundant physical comedy, DanDaDan Season 2 Episode 6 strikes a relentless, abrasive pace. The Hayashi arrive to help Seiko (Nana Mizuki) perform an exorcism to forcibly remove the Evil Eye from Jiji’s (Kaito Ishikawa)  body. Every part of this sequence is delightful.

From the timid first approach of the band, which works in contrast to their over-the-top looks, to their return and subsequent setup for their performance, and then Momo (Shion Wakayama), Okarun (Natsuki Hanae), and Aira’s (Ayane Sakura) reaction to it, each frame exudes a necessary playfulness. There’s joy with the cadence and pacing hitting a percussive pace as each joke lands and then transitions into the next scene. 

The Hayashi delivers comedy and a head-banging performance.

“We Became a Family” explodes in color during the performance, as the band’s exuberance lights up the sky behind them. The distinctive color pallets and expansive direction highlight one of the key, recurring visual notes of DanDaDan, making sure that these diminutive characters stand tall against a vast sky. The reminder is clear – they’re linked to greater forces, no matter how unlikely it may seem. Even this is a small detail that works itself into the visual language of the series. 

Another is the sheer empathy of its characters. This is obvious when Jiji rejects the exorcism, begging Seiko and his friends to let the Evil Eye stay. Jiji is so moved, so saddened by the Evil Eye’s plight, that he’d rather work harder to maintain control rather than execute a life that never got to begin. How the empathy ripples throughout the ensemble is just as significant. First, Seiko stopped the ritual, moved by Jiji’s pleas. Then, Okarun offered to train harder to help Jiji if he loses control. 

DanDaDan Season 2 Episode 6 understand the heightened nature of the story – so much of these emotional moments happen as the Hayashi wail in the background. But the balance of tones comes together to create a cohesive story. 

Empathy is key to the series’ narrative success. 

This is in part why the details make such an impact. Because, despite these larger-than-life sequences and the hilarity that follows, the smaller beats are where “We Became A Family” shines. The best part of the episode is when Okarun wakes up to accompany Jiji to the bathroom in the middle of the night. It shows Okarun’s growth twofold. First, in allowing another friend into his life, and secondly in how he took Seiko and Momo’s kindness and repurposed it, paying it forward however he’s able. 

But it’s also the details of the character movements and the disarray of the house boarded up with cardboard following the Evil Eye’s last appearance. There’s just an innate charm and personality to the difference in how the two move throughout the house.

We see it in the difference between how Okarun shuffles across a tear in the foundation versus Jiji’s leisurely step. And, later, the details of how Okarun reaches to tape back together a hole in the wall rather than let Jiji expose himself to the early morning dew. 

These expressive, physical details are what set DanDaDan apart. In the manga, the sequence where Aira readies herself for the day is two panels. This is stretched out to an entire sequence, and while you could argue it’s unnecessary in relation to the plot, it adds a lot to her character. And, not for nothing, it’s animated beautifully. Sometimes it’s the smaller, intricate motions that make the most significant impact. 

DanDaDan Season 2 Episode 6 knows that details are key.

The humor also adds a lot to DanDaDan Season 2 Episode 6. The series directors know how to craft a well-executed sight gag. In the manga, Jiji waving goodbye to Momo, Okarun, and Aira is one frame. The anime pushes it further to incorporate Jiji continually yelling nonsense and cheers in the background as the other three continue on their own discussion. Again, maybe unnecessary. But it brings one of the biggest laughs of the episode and cements the fours’ dynamic. 

DanDaDan Season 2 Episode 6 ends on another strong bit of physical comedy, and Miko and Muko scheme to drag Okarun to Momo’s new job, where she works at a maid cafe. While we’ve yet to get a lot of time with Momo’s friends, the instances where we do are fun and make it clear why the three would be friends. 

The entire sequence of the two dragging Okarun, who refuses to somehow dishonor his feelings for Momo by going on anything approaching a date, is hilarious. So much so that it almost distracts from the clean animation of the city and the different coloring that shifts as they move further and further into it. All of which culminates in an adorable scene where he and Momo see each other and realize what has happened, much to Miko and Muko’s delight. 

DanDaDan Season 2 Episode 6 is a glorious blend of tones and animation. The series shows no sign of faltering when it comes to bringing this work to life, ensuring that the adaptation builds on the strong foundations to make something only possible through the animated medium. 

DanDaDan Season 2 Episode 6 is available now on Crunchyroll and Netflix. 

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