Finally, it’s here, one of the most awaited anime adaptations of one of the most famous manga of horror, sci-fi, and comedy genres, and Dandadan episode 1 has already been released.
Though this particular episode is the initiation of this entertainment-rich series, to be honest, it’s quite a good watch in all.
This may be the first effort in the anime industry to put sci-fi and spiritualism in a blender, so this new approach is one of the unique selling points of this series per se.
So, let’s see, how Dandadan episode 1 actually performed.
Table of Contents
Initiation Of An Out-Of-The-Box Relationship
Ayase Momo a so-called “chill” girl of school and one nerd named Takakura Ken, what are the possibility of these unlikely two becoming a pair?
This is where the Dandadan series’s magic works and that magic initiates in Dandadan episode 1.
Ayase Momo is portrayed as a so-called Japanese School’s “Gyaru”, but unexpectedly, she has a soft maiden-like heart, that beats only for someone like her idol, an ages-old Japanese actor “Takura Ken”, but this one isn’t that otaku guy, so don’t be mistaken.
On the other hand, the ultimate definition of a loner, the otaku student Takakura Ken, is fanatic about Occult matters, especially UAP(Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena).
So, when a heartbroken Ayase Momo meets a bullied Takakura Ken, the story begins.
Well, certainly, the relation between these mismatch pairs in Dandadan episode 1 is quite unusual, to be specific, out-of-the-box, kind.
But the situation that led to that relationship becoming more meaningful, is more bizarre and idiotic, but quite entertaining.
I mean, what are the chances, that two polar opposite people get to experience the things they vehemently deny to believe in firsthand and get mixed up in that mess together?
Just as you know, Ayase Momo didn’t believe in aliens or UAP, but believed in spiritual existence, on the other hand, Takakura Ken was just the opposite of that.
So, when Ayase gets abducted by aliens to experience and for some other explicit purpose, and Takakura gets cured by a spirit called Turbo Granny, loses one of his important body parts, and turns into a half-monster, things get out of control, giving birth to a budding relationship between those unlikely duo.
Ayase Momo And Takakura Ken In Dandadan Episode 1
First, let’s see how Ayase Momo is shown in Dandadan episode 1.
A child brought up by her grandmother had always loved her grandmother and her seemingly different from the normal occupation of Spiritual Medium.
However, adolescent minds are often fickle and they happen to be influence heavily by surroundings.
So, when her grandmother’s teachings become a thing of mockery of her friends and even the boy he liked, she starts hating all of that and seemingly grows cold towards her grandmother.
But, there is another catch, she actually hated the fact more, that the boy she loved ridiculed her most beloved and important person, her grandmother.
So, in short, she is very defensive about her grandmother and adores her, but in secret.
This typical representation of a teenage mind is so detailed and shows the hidden motions they sometimes hide deep, with a short sequence, and that makes Dandadan episode 1 a perfect and short example of the inner workings of teenage minds.
The same thing also applies to the representation of Takakura Ken, as he is shown as a teenager, social outcast, and turned eccentric due to loneliness and hunger for attention.
So, he had to look for friends outside of the planet and choose the lonesome and arduous path a teenager could take, the way of Otaku.
All of these characteristic qualities of these mismatched duo actually stem from the same kind of root, which is the fragility of youth.
And that factor is shown appropriately in this episode with added Sci-fi and horror spices.
Perfect Mesh Of Sci-fi And Horror
Dandadan episode 1 does a great job of mixing horror, especially the spirit-related element with the sci-fi element, without any sort of discrepancies.
The fact that Ayase gets the taste of alien abduction and Takakura gets cursed at almost the same time in synergy is due to an undeniably well-planned and well-executed script.
Besides that, these two different people of different personalities and beliefs accidentally get their wish granted, be it for good or for worse, showing a perfect blend of sci-fi and horror.
In short, from the incidents, those weird ass aliens tried some explicit things with Ayase and Turbo Granny cursed Takakura to turn into a half-monstrosity by stealing one of his most important body parts of his, the perfect synergy between horror and sci-fi is shown.
Final Thought
All in all, Dandadan episode 1 serves as a great opening for the series, especially the ending where student Takakura Ken says a renowned dialogue of the star “Takakura Ken” whom Ayase Momo is a fan of, and reveals his name to her along with the explosion that coincidentally happens behind Ayase, that served as a nice and dramatic shot hinting towards next episode.
This episode, in short sets this new kind of sci-fi mixed with a horror story right on the track and gets it rolling.
