Yukinobu Tatsu’s Dandadan introduces Japanese yokai and otherworldly occult science fiction monsters as part of its shonen romance adventure. Dandadan has built up incredible hype over the past few months, becoming one of the most eagerly anticipated anime of the year.
Studio Science Saru delivers an unapologetically weird, stylish, and anarchic opener that marks it out as one of anime’s first must-watch shows in the Fall season, keeping fans anticipating more. Yukinobu Tatsu introduces viewers to two main lead characters, Momo Ayase and Ken Takakura, dealing with supernatural and alien threats.
While some may mistake Ken Takakura aka Okarun as the main protagonist, the creator designed Momo to be the story’s central character. To their surprise, the mangaka revealed he envisioned Dandadan with a female lead in mind, which eventually inspired Momo’s design.
Why Dandadan‘s Creator Was Determined to Feature a Female Protagonist
Anyone with their ear to the ground has likely heard the buzz around Dandadan, an adaptation of Yukinobu Tatsu’s million-selling oddball manga. Unlike most anime that spend an episode or two explaining the backstory or its characters’ motivations, Dandadan takes a different approach with its brisk pace that prioritizes getting straight to the big moments.
The story revolves around high school classmates Momo Ayase and Ken Takakura, aka Okarun. After a quick talk, each realizes they’re into slightly ‘out there’ interests. Momo believes in ghosts, while Okarun is mad at alien conspiracies. The anime is a treat for alien and occult fans, with much of its growing popularity driven by these enthusiasts.
While Okarun often steals the spotlight, Dandadan focuses on Momo Ayase, as Yukinobu Tatsu has expressed his intent to have a female lead from the start. In an interview, the creator disclosed his interest in crafting a manga with a female protagonist. He said:
I had always wanted to draw a boys’ manga with a girl as the main character but it kept failing in serialization meetings, so I thought it would be better to have a boy next to her. I thought that there has never been a boys’ manga with a girl as the main character, and I thought that just by having a girl as the main character, the conflicts would change in many ways and patterns.
Tatsu also revealed that his lack of experience with female protagonists posed a challenge for him. Well, it seems the creator put a great deal of thought and effort into Momo’s character, as she’s been receiving plenty of praise and attention from fans.
Tatsu has also revealed that Okarun was a crucial character to enhance Momo’s likability, which was a clever choice as the duo has captured fans’ hearts.
Hideo Kojima’s Endorsement of Dandadan
With a career that stretches across nearly 40 years of game design, Hideo Kojima is one of the most experienced developers in the industry. Apart from being the mastermind behind the Metal Gear and Death Stranding franchises, Kojima is well known for sharing his love for the anime and manga industry.
Interestingly, Kojima recently expressed his approval and shared how impressed he was by Dandadan‘s adaptation. Hideo Kojima praised Dandadan for its unique animation style, stellar character designs, and voice acting on social media.
Hideo Kojima’s games are renowned for their artistic cinematics and surreal narratives, and given the eccentricity of Dandadan in its writing and animation, the story and presentation align perfectly with Hideo Kojima’s unique creative style.
Dandadan is available to stream on Netflix and Crunchyroll
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