Image by Science SARU
With over 391k posts on TikTok, 288k posts on Instagram, and 144k posts on YouTube under the hashtag “dandadan,” Dandadan has become the latest craze among anime enthusiasts. Now streaming on Crunchyroll, Netflix, Hulu and Apple TV, Dandadan has captivated viewers all over the world with its bizarre plot, unfiltered dialogue, and gorgeous artstyle. Dandadan is centered around two high school students, Okarun and Momo, who in a bet to settle whether ghosts or aliens exist are thrown into a world of paranormal dangers and superpowers, all while discovering love along the way. Or, as sophomore Jaeden Moe likes to say, “Boy loses his family jewels to ghosts and searches for them with his best friend. And also there’s aliens.” Despite the very questionable synopsis, the anime has won many awards since the first episode’s release on October 4, 2024. These awards include the 2024 Winner for Anime of the Season, 2024 Winner for Favorite Couple Ship and is a 2025 Nominee for Anime of the Year. Furthermore it has an 8.5/10 on IMDb with 4.3 million streams on Netflix.
This success is a combination of many things. One reason as to why most viewers enjoy the anime is the relationship between Okarun and Momo. Moe says, “I love how each character works with the other and the friendship they share. The two main characters, Momo and Okarun, fit the classic trope of a popular girl befriending the loser nerd. However, the two characters’ relationship doesn’t feel forced or without reason. Momo and Okarun compliment each other due to their similar interests and shared pain and emotions. They aren’t afraid to talk about what they feel or help each other in times of need.”
Another reason for the show’s popularity is its interesting characters. Moe says, “The characters are all fun and interesting with their own little quirks that make you love them.” Adding on, freshman Alexei Seledstov talks about his favorite character: “I like Turbo Granny because she’s an old woman but also a cat. She’s freaky, monotone, and satirical, but still funny.” Moe adds on, saying “It’s just because they’re sort of absurd but in a way that works for the world, as well as the fact that the characters have moments that ground them and make them more three dimensional.”
However, Dandadan has been criticized by some for having crude language. “Some of the jokes are just too inappropriate,” Seledtsov says. “But even though there are dirty jokes, I think that y’all should watch it (without your parents around) because it’s a new-generation anime. It has a lot of depth to it, including a lot of references to old Japanese folklore.” Moe agrees, saying, “It does have crude humor that some people might not find funny, while others will, since humor is subjective. But the humor is not the only thing that the show has going for it. It has a good plot, likable characters, and great animation, so even if the humor isn’t funny to someone, it’s not what makes the show good, it just makes it better for those who like those sorts of jokes.”
Dandadan is a wild ride, but that’s what makes it so good. Moe says, “It has this feeling to it, like it’s not afraid to break out of the norm that is placed by other popular mangas that the publishing company puts on the front page. The plot is weird but in a good way. Like, why are there aliens invading the world? Why does the main character keep getting his nuts stolen? Why are there so many creepy ghosts? Usually in anime I don’t see that weird stuff often.” Ultimately, the little oddities in Dandadan make it a great anime to watch.
Nikita Murugesan is a freshman at Washington High School. She was born and raised here, in Fremont.This is her first year at the Hatchet and she is interested in covering topics like important things happening in our school, community and world. Nikita enjoys reading books and mangas.When she is not reading, she enjoys hanging out with her friends, playing badminton, teaching indian martial art’s, skateboarding and rollerblading. For this year she plans to get better at playing the trombone. She is unsure of which major she wants to pursue but she wants to attend a UC college.