As more and more anime series become available on Netflix, it seems like the average quality level continues to drop (though perhaps some of it is due to my tastes which become pickier and picker over time). Regardless, in the last year or so I would say there is one anime that I really enjoyed every single episode of, “Dandadan” （ダンダダン), so I wanted to post about it. (Note: at time of writing only the first season is available, so I will be focusing on that.)
Dandadan (whose name sounds like the sound of repeated striking, giving it a nice feeling of action) focuses on a pair of characters: one who is obsessed with aliens, the other with the occult. This alone is a pretty unique setting, but this show manages to take this idea and run with it.
First of all, the production value of this series is extremely high, both in terms of visuals and sound (effects and music). The show feels very modern and (unlike some other series on Netflix), the use of CG is done tastefully instead of sticking out. While the scenes are not as beautiful as something out of a Makoto Shinkai film, overall the quality level feels pretty close.
But the real treasure of Dandadan is how the two main characters interact, and how there is a good mix between comedy, cuteness, and life-threatening conflict. Their dialogue is really well written and executed, almost like a professional comedy duo. Their interactions feel very fresh and realistic, and you really want to know what is going to happen to them.
The action is also great throughout, with amazing battle sequences that have interesting twists and turns. For a good number of episodes there is basically what I call a ‘boss battle’, where some big beastie comes and they have to take it down. But it’s not that simple, in at least one case things quickly turn into a teary-eyed, gut-wrenching side story (at least from my perspective). Despite some patterns in terms of conflict/resolution, the series has managed to keep you guessing for the most part.
One of the few drawbacks of this story is that it does have a few somewhat explicit sex-related scenes (related to rape, especially), and that will turn off some viewers. While I don’t enjoy watching that sort of thing, fortunately it’s only a relatively small part of the story so far. I wouldn’t say they are rated X, but a strong R and not recommended for children.
The other thing is that I was a bit disappointed that some of the ideas mentioned in the first episode haven’t panned out as much as I would have liked; but perhaps those will be address in future seasons.
Language-wise the series uses a great deal of slang expressions, which is a nice bonus for those learning Japanese. If you are studying Japanese I would recommend first watching it with no subtitles, and then rewatching with Japanese subtitles.
In summary, if you are an adult looking for a great modern, high-quality anime, I highly recommend checking out Dandadan.