Review of Dan Da Dan

Chaos, Cringe, and Cult Classic Potential Dan Da Dan is one of the weirdest things you'll watch in a long time. There’s just no predicting where the plot will go or what bizarre, awkward, or downright cringy moments you’ll be subjected to next. It’s trippy, chaotic, and often so over-the-top that by episode three, you’ll probably consider dropping it (despite it being only 12 episodes long). But somehow, it keeps you glued to the screen. Maybe it’s Okarun’s ridiculous charm. Maybe it’s the surprisingly compelling (if kind of mid) romance between him and Momo. Or maybe it’s the OP, which is an instant cult classic. Seriously, youwill be singing “dan-da-dan-dan-da-dan-dan-da-dan” for days. It’s that catchy. And the art of the OP just hits different.

As for the story? I won’t even try to summarize it. Just know that it's probably the most over-sexualized and perverted plotline I’ve seen in anime. The sheer absurdity of what’s on display—aliens, ghosts, spiritual genitalia (yes, you read that right)—makes me question how this became popular or, more like, what world we live in. But clearly, over-the-top insanity is trending.

Is Dan Da Dan a good anime? Not really. Is it entertaining? Absolutely, if you can endure the wild tone shifts and the utter nonsense of some episodes. One minute, it’s slice-of-life teen drama; the next, it’s a crazy alien battle or a golden ball hunt. I still haven’t fully processed what I watched.

But maybe that’s the point.