“They look strange and mysterious”: Dandadan Director Captured the Biggest Theme of the Series Through the Most Misunderstood Characters

One rarely comes across a stellar masterpiece such as Dandadan. Be it the manga or the anime, the series is all the rage and for the right reasons. In terms of its enthralling plotline and visuals, it’s a complete banger.

But that is not all considering its wholesomeness. It isn’t a bog-standard, run-of-the-mill shonen series. It subverts stereotypes in more ways than one. Even the Director would vouch for it being an avant-garde gem in the shonen genre.

In a recent interview, Fuga Yamashiro, the animator behind the series, opened up about the conception and production. From the characters to the concepts, it was entirely theatrical.

And while the series is lauded for its vibrant hues and quirks, there’s a greater meaning and profundity within the themes. This is especially true with the idea of aliens and alienation along with extended families.

The Diversity of Elements in Dandadan

Be it occult, action, or comedy, nobody does it better than Dandadan. The series’ enmeshing of these elements is what makes it different from most shonen series in the genre. It is wholesome in its manner of balancing the elements well.

It has romance, but it isn’t laden with cliche tropes. Likewise, it has action and occult but it is the quirk that makes it stand out. But most importantly, it perfectly carries out the supernatural tropes in its unique way. But that is not the end of it all.

Yukinobu Tatsu is redefining and reinventing the genre through his writing of occult stories. His blend of urban myths and legends, along with conspiracy theories, gives it a modern flair. His charting of the complexities within individuals outlines his brilliance.

The series is truly unconventional in its characterization. From Momo to Okarun to Turbo Granny, Tatsu left no stone unturned in highlighting diversity in his manga. This is something that even the Director would vouch for. 

In an interview with MyAnimeList, the Director Fuga Yamashiro opened up about the diversity among the aliens. He quoted:

I put a lot of effort into giving each of the aliens and youkai their own visual personality. My goal was to create visual effects that made you feel like these creatures had different values, a different culture from us. They’re living authentically in their own ways, but to us, they look strange and mysterious. That’s what I aimed for in the direction.

The beings and entities each have their unique flair, be it the Serpoians or Mantis Shrimp. This also ties well with the Yokai who have their oddity among their humanness. This humanity is what makes it a visual and literal masterpiece in every sense.

The Alien and the Alienated

Barring the Serpoians, the manga highlights one of the key themes of the series. To be understood is something that Momo and Okarun strive for. This extends to the non-humans as well, especially the Yokai and the aliens.

From Turbo Granny’s protectiveness to Acrobatic Silky’s sacrifice, the anime humanized the yokai and the aliens. It is attributed to Yukinobu Tatsu’s brilliant writing, which showcases the need for a community. The alien and the alienated are one of the central tropes of the series.

Aira hugs Acrobatic Silky in the anime | Credit: Science Saru

To render human traits to Yokai and Aliens is a remarkable feat in itself. And Dandadan does it beautifully with its tragic backstories and fleshed-out characters. By doing so, it doesn’t strip the characters of their quirkiness.

With Okarun’s loneliness and Momo’s strong girl persona, the mangaka highlights the inner conflicts within the characters. Along with Turbo Granny and Acrobatic Silky, Mr. Mantis Shrimp resounds the idea of parenthood and family.

The series highlights the importance of extended family and friendships. Amidst the supernatural chaos, Yukinobu Tatsu’s mapping of relationships and camaraderie makes it stand out as a masterpiece. 

Dandadan is available for streaming on Crunchyroll. The manga is available for reading on Viz Media.