I’m in no way a hardcore anime fan, however there have been a handful of those sorts of exhibits that I’ve loved over time, from my childhood viewing of Yu-Gi-Oh! and Dragon Ball Z Among the finest animated TV exhibits of all time), to presently making my manner by means of One Piece after having fun with the live-action adaptation’s first season with my Netflix subscription final yr. However now I can confidently say that Dan Da Dan is the weirdest anime I’ve ever seen, though I imply this in a great way, because it excels in mixing humor and absurdity with darkness. Extra importantly, in the event you’re a fan of physique horror and/or The X-Recordsdata, it’s essential test this present out.

The primary episode of Dan Da Dan, tailored from the same-named manga by Yukinobu Tatsu, has premiered on each Netflix and Crunchyroll, although full disclosure, I used to be in a position to see the primary three episodes early. The sequence, which is arguably one of many greatest anime releases of the yr, follows excessive schoolers Momo Ayase and Ken “Okarun” Takakura, with the previous believing in ghosts, the latter believing in aliens, and neither believing within the different’s fascinations. The 2 quickly study that they have been each appropriate, and these discoveries result in the 2 gaining particular powers. Should you want a little bit of a push in direction of watching this bonkers anime, listed here are the trippy Dan Da Dan opening credit:

Want further incentive to observe? Nicely, to these of you who fall into one or each of the classes I discussed earlier, learn on!

Why Physique Horror Followers Will Like Dan Da Dan

The primary story of Dan Da Dan correctly kicks off when Momo dares Okarun to go to a tunnel that’s rumored to be haunted, and Okarun dares Momo to go to an deserted hospital the place a UFO was supposedly sighted. In Okarun’s case, he runs right into a decrepit and lewd demon known as Turbo Granny that not solely curses him, but in addition, and I swear I’m not kidding, takes his penis. The result’s him steadily turning right into a monster resembling Granny, and it’s solely due to the psychic powers that awaken inside Momo throughout her alien abduction that this new a part of himself might be stored at bay.

Watching Okarun’s transformations into this demonic entity might be uncomfortable, however those that’ve watched the perfect physique horror motion pictures ought to delight on this side of Dan Da Dan. Frankly, this may additionally apply to these of you who’ve loved the perfect motion pictures about demonic possession, too, as that’s precisely what Okarun has to take care of throughout Dan Da Dan. Perhaps he’ll ultimately attain some extent the place he can management the curse Granny placed on him, however for now, if Momo wasn’t with him, he’d be wreaking havoc.

Why The X-Recordsdata Followers Will Like Dan Da Dan

Let me clear one thing first: under no circumstances does Dan Da Dan emulate the procedural points of The X-Recordsdata, which might be streamed with a Hulu subscription. Nonetheless, in the event you appreciated the exploration of aliens on that present and wish to see that ratcheted as much as a ten on the weirdness scale, then Dan Da Dan’s for you. Whereas Okarun is coping with the madness that’s Turbo Granny, Momo is kidnapped by aliens that put on bizarre-looking human fits and and are determined to procreate together with her. It’s solely as a result of the cursed Okarun was in a position to journey by means of Momo’s telephone and arrive on the spaceship that this was prevented.

These aliens are not like something I’ve seen in different media, and are arguably simply as creepy-looking as Turbo Granny. They usually’re not the one forms of aliens that will probably be current in Dan Da Dan, however I can’t say any greater than that. Regardless, I’m to see extraterrestrials explored on this present, significantly studying about their homeworlds and cultures. Additionally, hopefully not all of the aliens, and for that matter ghosts, are antagonistic in direction of Momo, Okarun and their allies… however I’ll have a blast watching them combat those which can be.

New episodes of Dan Da Dan drop Thursdays on Netflix and Crunchyroll. Should you’re in search of related exhibits to take a look at, take a look at what different anime are good to observe for the Halloween season.