“Being from the generation that loves the occult…”: Hideo Kojima Was So Awestruck by Dandadan He Gave it his Stamp of Approval Even Before Reading it

SUMMARY

• As if the soaring popularity wasn't enough, Dandadan anime also got a special mention from Hideo Kojima for its striking qualities.
• Hideo Kojima shared his first impressions of the series through an X post and any fan of the series would be ecstatic with his stamp of approval.
• For his own fans, this is the highest form of praise anything could get and a compelling reason to check out Yukinobu Tatsu’s popular series.

Every anime fan should be aware of the adrenaline-inducing premier of Dandadan by this point, given its soaring popularity. Dandadan anime has become a highlight of this season as it brings the spooky and somewhat wholesome pages of YukinobuTatsu’s manga to life. Fans were already loving the anime and its faithfulness to the manga, but now a famous personality has also joined the tribe. Hideo Kojima recently made a post on X expressing his awe of Dandadan anime.

Momo and Okarun | Credits: Studio Science SARU

Kojima’s stamp of approval adds to the glory of the anime. It wasn’t just one or two things that appealed to Kojima, but a long list of reasons. If you’re someone who has been holding off on watching Dandadan or someone who is incessantly in love with the dynamic duo of Okarun and Momo, Kojima’s words definitely have something for you! 

Dandadan Anime gets the Highest Form of Praise from Hideo Kojima 

A still from Dandadan anime Episode 2 | Credits: Studio Science SARU

Hideo Kojima is a renowned video game designer who is highly regarded for his exceptional skills. Among the many notable titles under his belt are the Metal Gear series and Death Stranding. Recently, Kojima made an X post where he shared his thoughts on Dandadan anime, which has just started its run. The anime left a strong first impression on him, and he praised it without even being familiar with the manga. 

I got a bit tired of reading so browsed my subscription. Saw the anime “Dandadan” was up, so I decided to watch the first episode. I haven't read the original manga, but being from the generation that loves the occult and UFOs, it really hit home 🛸 I used to skim through “Mu”… pic.twitter.com/9eUGAybh1s

From the occult and supernatural themes of the series to the experts working on it, Kojima had something to say about every aspect. It was primarily the occult and the UFOs that piqued his interest. He also commended Studio Science SARU for their work on the animation. The involvement of Naoyuki Onda, the character designer and chief animation director for the initial episodes, was also reassuring for Kojima. 

Onda has been in the industry for quite some time, having worked on series like Gundam Z and Psycho Pass. Kojima gave a special shoutout to Shion Wakayama, Momo’s voice actor. Wakayama has previously starred in the NieR Automata anime and many video games such as Honkai: Star Rail and Ys X: Nordics. Kojima said that he plans on following the series. 

Dandadan is Unstoppable at this Point!

A still of Okarun and Momo’s endless banter | Credits: Studio Science SARU

For an anime that Kojima happened to stumble upon, Dandadan must have really impressed him for him to write such a detailed review of it. For his fans, this is the highest form of praise that anything could get. His fans who were not familiar with the anime-manga series earlier might check it out just because he gave it a shoutout.

As for the anime itself, it isn’t that big a surprise, given its soaring popularity. While not a surprise, it’s definitely an honorable mention by a highly regarded figure. The anime has become a hot topic of discussion among fans for its unique appeal. Science SARU has done a brilliant job bringing Yukinobu Tatsu’s distinct art style to life.

Momo | Credits: Studio Science SARU

While the occult and the adventure are huge parts of the appeal, the importance of the relationship dynamics between the central duo can’t be undermined. Besides Okarun and Momo, the other characters add to the fun as well. Hopefully, the subsequent episodes will maintain the momentum of the premiere, if not for the fans, then for Hideo Kojima, who’s now part of the fan club! 

Dandadan anime is available to stream on Crunchyroll. 

Written by Laveena Joshi

Articles Published: 184

Laveena holds a Bachelor's Degree in Journalism with a keen interest in entertainment journalism. Known to defend Naruto with her life, her love for anime has turned into great appreciation for the Japanese Culture. Besides considering herself a veteran weeb, she's also a self-proclaimed coffee connoisseur. Better if the perfect brew is paired with a random video essay from YouTube. Blending her love for anime with the know-hows of content writing, she is now an anime content writer at FandomWire.