Similar to the hate between goths and emos, the occult and paranormal communities have long been mistaken for one another. The paranormal has to do with the unexplained (think back to the latest UFO sighting), whereas the occult has to do with the natural and divine worlds Shows like The X-Files made these topics popular, exposing many of these urban myths and cryptids to the public. It is now, however, rare to see shows tackle these ideas, and the two genres have become shadows of their former selves. With nothing of recent memory coming close to shows like The X-Files, Dandadan is a breath of fresh air. Developed by Science Saru (DEVILMAN Crybaby), the show is a blend of school life, shonen, and rom-com elements. Following a couple of high school students, Momo Ayase (Shion Wakayama) and Ken Takura (Natsuki Hanae) are both obsessed with the occult and paranormal, respectively. Momo and Okarun’s fates become intertwined when, after making a bet, their lives are forever changed.

Can Aliens Laugh?

The first season of the show revolves around the central characters trying to retrieve Okarun’s “golden balls.” That is the literal plot of the first season, which is exactly as crazy as it sounds. The crew is not just dealing with the odd ghost here and there, as they must often also contend with aliens who have a knack for showing up when least expected. To make things worse, these aliens have one single goal, which is to reproduce (exactly as bad as it sounds). Anyone unfamiliar with anime may find the comedy off-putting, however, as it tends to rely on screaming whenever delivering a joke. Many anime series do this, and it can be either a hit or a miss for viewers. In all honesty, there are times when the screaming gets to be so much that taking a break mid-episode is understandable. 

As funny as the anime can be, that does not mean it fails to tackle more serious issues. Surprisingly, the anime employs a striking level of nuance to some of its more serious stories and themes. For example, one episode focuses on the backstory of a dancing ghost but does so in less than ten minutes and with little to no dialogue. The scene in question even went viral and was lauded for the manner in which it told its story. Contrast this with shows like Dragon Ball Z or Naruto, which have been known to rely on overly drawn-out monologues to get the point across. Naruto was especially egregious with the term “talk no jutsu” being coined as a result of the titular character being able to talk literal terrorists into backing down with monologues that lasted half an episode.

Aliens Need Love, too?

Despite only being the first season, the show does a great job of introducing its characters and an even better job of getting viewers to fall in love with them. Momo Ayase, for example, is pleasantly charming from the get-go. From her introduction to her interactions with other characters, she never overstays her welcome. One particular character that steals the show, however, is Turbo Granny. With voice talents from none other than Mayumi Tanaka, the legendary pirate Monkey D. Luffy’s voice actress lends her talents. With an obscene mouth, this particular character is, without a doubt, the heart of the show. Not only does she add a comedic distraction from some of the more serious events occurring in each episode, but she also adds some background information to certain spirits/monsters that the group encounters.