DANDADAN

DESCRIPTION

CAST

CHAPTERS

ANIME ActionDandadan

REVIEWS

• 

  verzeke

  85/100
  MUST read for those into aliens and yokai/folklore, or just if you want a super fun and emotional short read

  I honestly didn't expect to enjoy this so much, I saw it around and thought wow the art is really good but that was it since I didn't see many people talk about but I'm so glad I did. This manga can only get better the only thing it's missing right now is more chapters everything else is solid IMO.

  

  Plot: simplified aliens and yokai/folklore are real, the yokai fight against the aliens but are also hostile towards people and my boy Okarun (the mc) loses his balls between all of this, so his friends and him are trying to get them back while dealing with aliens and yokai lol

  

  Dialogue/humor: I liked it none of it felt out of place, everything the characters said just felt like actual teenagers and nerds talking, tho
  I will say the humor might not be for everyone, but I found it funny, I would say it is around the same kind of humor as mob psycho

  

  Characters: The characters are just super likeable to save time I'll try to not talk about them too much but to summarize why I like them because they act like actual teenagers and nerds, they are flawed with pitty teenage problems, and have some realistic development because of it. Also their all super caring and fun, I love em and the growth that each of them has is great. Personally, Jin is my fav since he’s super silly but he’s extremely caring of others

  

  Protagonist: Okarun (Ken Takakura) is great, He's fun, nerdy, and has great internal development. I really like how his development was done and how he himself saw flaws and wanted to improve. Plus he's just really caring for others and funny.
  

  Antagonists: Love the different types of villains here all with their own unique traits and motives, and how the majority of them aren’t beaten by just punching hard plus their designs are great, aliens and yokai/folklore leave so many possibilities for villains and allies can’t wait for more of them, while we only had 2 really big main antagonists we haven't had one final end game one so far, but we have multiple threats for now
  

  

  Character Designs: I love these designs the art just shows them off super well and the pose they get into are super dynamic it's great every time and the design range for Dandadan can go from super silly to horror-like, to looking super cool it’s awesome
  

  Art : I mean just look at it, it's crazy while still extremely clean to read not once was confused about what was going on, and during fights its really well choreographed
  

  Enjoyment/final thoughts: This is the most fun I had reading a manga I almost read it all in one day, the chapters were so enjoyable I got through them so fast. I can't recommend this enough, differently on my top 5 favorite new Gen mangas. Super enjoyable read the only thing I could say as a negative is that I just want more chapters with that I could see the rating going even higher. OH YEAH the backstories are all super emotional they surprised me a lot
  

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• 

  IntentoInsano

  88/100
  Gyaru&Nerd: Yokais&Aliens, Creepypasta, UrbanLegends, ConspiracyTheories, Kaiju, Tokusatsu, Romcom, HeavyMetal&Idols...

  This review is basic and provisional and aims to recommending the manga to those interested in the elements I will cover. In addition to reduce the excessive hype among manga readers that may affect the enjoyment of anime-only watchers.

  Dandadan is a shonen manga that returns to the old, less dark days of Jump (Although drama and dark elements are a constant presence, the anime is, above all, colorful and exciting, it is not based on being dark like JJK or Chainsaw Man, for example), but also bringing its "new" features: a gyaru girl shares the lead with a nerdy boy and the modern use of yokais and aliens, uniting the supernatural with ufology/science-fiction, as well as other conspiracy theories, creepypasta, modern myths and pop culture like heavy metal, idol culture, kaiju, tokusatsu etc.

  Below, to avoid spoilers, I will point out some general elements without pointing out specific moments from the manga:

  1. Despite the diversity of themes and references played, it is a conventional battle shounen with a lot of action and continuous slice of life and romcom elements, don't expect a fantastic plot, just a good and fun shonen, nor an attempt to deconstruct the genre, subverting tropes or major ruptures and innovations (like HxH and JJK in depth, characters and power system; Gintama or Saiki Kusuo in metahumor; or even Chainsaw Man and Sakamoto Days with their Hollywood style cinematics and dialogues/Tarantinoesque), as I said, it is a return to old shonen with many new references and aesthetic themes;

  2. It's a shonen that features vanilla romance (romcom), appropriate to the characters' ages;

  3. The characters have distinct traits, but rare depth, as almost all shonen presents. The drama is built more around flashbacks or origins of human and yokai characters than the present moment of the plot;

  4. The ecchi can be annoying at times, I hate it, but I tolerated it in my manga experience, as it was progressively reduced;

  5. The art is something subjective at the end of the day, from my experience reading the manga, I found the art pleasant and aesthetically appropriate for the manga's thematic proposal. I won't risk analyzing technically in this aspect, as I don't have the eye for it (or a or the basis for a theoretical analysis), so it's an element that left me satisfied from a subjective aesthetic point of view.

  Commentary 1: I believe that more than the first episodes of the anime now being released, the hype is justified by the manga and those who have read a good part of what has already been published and know what lies ahead. The first season should not cover all the elements mentioned here, which is why I think the hype is excessive as the first episodes will be more about building the anime universe and introducing the main and most recurring characters. Many people are already disappointed with just 6 episodes and this is the fault of all the established hype that promises too much and generates projections and impatience.

  Commentary 2: On myanimelist I read some review mentioning the work being nonsense, well, it's an intentionally absurdist (aesthetically and thematically, not in plot) work, what did you expect?!

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• 

  AlexSonicfun2012

  50/100
  Review of Dandadan (Up to Chapter 175)

  At the time of writing this review, I am up to date with Dandadan through chapter 175. The series gained initial fame, in part, due to its catchy anime opening theme and the notoriety of its creator, Yukinobu Tatsu, who was formerly an assistant to Fujimoto Tatsuki (Chainsaw Man). This background—alongside industry connections—helped the series find its footing. The manga’s rise coincided with the hiatus of Chainsaw Man, which allowed Dandadan to grow and nurture a fanbase. Its anime adaptation, bolstered by the viral popularity of its opening song, further propelled its visibility.

  The Premise
  
  The story begins with an unusual friendship between Momo Ayase, a believer in spirits, and her classmate Ken Takakura, nicknamed “Okarun,” a UFO enthusiast. Their clashing beliefs prompt a playful challenge: Momo visits a UFO hotspot to prove aliens don’t exist, while Okarun ventures to a haunted tunnel to disprove the supernatural. What follows is a bizarre and chaotic tale blending young love, otherworldly encounters, and humor—infused with an overtly horny tone revolving around both spirits and aliens.

  While the premise isn’t groundbreaking, it has potential if executed well. However, in my opinion, the execution is messy, and the narrative struggles to find coherence.

  Strengths

  The most undeniable strength of Dandadan lies in its artwork. Yukinobu Tatsu has delivered some of the most visually stunning panels in recent manga. The dynamic paneling, intricate designs, and vibrant depictions of yokai and aliens are truly eye-catching. The series oozes style, making it a visual treat. The character designs are appealing—almost to a fault—with the standout being a GILF-esque character who seems straight out of a crossover between Jujutsu Kaisen and Bayonetta. Tatsu has arguably surpassed Fujimoto in terms of pure artistry.

  One notable arc, the Alien Invasion (chapters 97–120), exemplifies the series’ "rule of cool." It feels like a fusion of Gantz, Terra Formars, Eureka Seven, Tokusatsu, and Gainax productions, delivering an adrenaline-fueled, sugar-rush spectacle. Although the arc concludes with an anticlimactic ending, its chaotic energy is reminiscent of my teenage love for action-packed absurdity.

  Weaknesses

  Despite its artistic merits, the series falters in storytelling. While Momo and Ken are likable protagonists with potential, their development is often sidelined in favor of humor and shock value. The reliance on degeneracy (including rape and choking jokes), Reddit-style humor, and one-note character traits undermines any deeper narrative potential.

  The plot becomes formulaic and repetitive: the protagonists embark on wacky adventures, absurd events ensue, transformations and cool monsters appear, rinse and repeat. The pacing suffers, particularly due to the Alien Invasion arc occurring too early in the story. This arc raises the stakes significantly, only for the narrative to return to lower-stakes adventures, creating a sense of de-escalation. Had this arc been placed near the end, it could have served as a proper climax rather than a mid-series spectacle.

  In comparison to Chainsaw Man, which balances its chaos with moments of levity and character growth, Dandadan leans entirely into its craziness, leaving little room for meaningful development. The lack of variety in tone and its over-reliance on absurdity can make the story feel exhausting.

  Final Thoughts

  Dandadan is an enjoyable read if you approach it with a “turn-off-your-brain” mindset. It excels in style and visual appeal but lacks the depth and balance needed for a truly great story. For those seeking similar eccentric energy with more substance, I recommend exploring works like Soul Eater, Dorohedoro, or Tsutomu Nihei’s manga. Alternatively, No More Heroes or Takashi Miike films offer a comparable blend of style and madness.

  Score: 5/10
  While Dandadan has its moments, it doesn’t live up to the hype surrounding it.

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