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Season 2 of DanDaDan premiered just a few days ago, and there's already a lot to unpack. Between Jiji's (voiced by Kaito Ishikawa in the original Japanese and by Aleks Le in the English dub) haunted house, Momo's (Shion Wakayama/Abby Trott) terrible experience in a hot spring, and Okarun's (Natsuki Hanae/A.J. Beckles) newfound rivalry, the debut episode came packed with new info — but one element might have flown past you. The premiere episode, titled "Like, This Is the Legend of the Giant Snake," included a reference to a major villain of the franchise. But fans who only watch the anime series probably didn't spot it.

The reason why the reference might have gone unnoticed by most fans is because it's related to a character wiho hasn't even been introduced yet. In the manga series created by Yukinobu Tatsu, one of the villains from the later arcs is someone called Count Saint-Germain,...

Dan Da Dan’s director, Fuga Yamashiro, and leading members of the series’ English voice cast appeared at Anime Expo on Saturday, where they discussed changes to the show’s creative approach between seasons, the prospect of more Dan Da Dan, and a gaming announcement.

Held in the Peacock Theater at the Los Angeles Convention Center, the panel event saw director Yamashiro and Science Saru producer Kohei Sakita were joined on stage by English voice cast members Abby Trott (Momo), A.J. Beckles (Okarun), and Aleks Le (Jiji). Attendees were privy to special messages from Japanese voice actors Mayumi Tanaka (Turbo Granny) and Shion Wakayama (Momo), a live dubbing experience, exclusive looks at the upcoming season (including a still from episode 21), and the announcement of a Dan Da Dan crossover event with anime RPG Grand Summoners featuring an original story — with the promise of more details via the game’s social media and in-game notices.

There are many things that DanDaDan fans want to see when the series returns for Season 2 later this week. First and foremost, they want to see Okarun (voiced by Natsuki Hanae in the original Japanese and by A.J. Beckles in the English dub), Momo (Shion Wakayama/Abby Trott), and Turbo Granny (Mayumi Tanaka/Barbara Goodson) again. Then, they want to find out what happened after the boy and the girl agreed to visit Jiji's (Kaito Ishikawa/Aleks Le) house to find out what's going on in the eerie place. Once episodes start rolling out, everyone will have their favorite moments, but series' co-director Abel Gongora has already revealed to Collider which episode of the season is his favorite.

During the interview, Gongora told Collider's Laura Adams that his favorite episode comes fairly early in the season: it's Episode 2, whose title is yet to be revealed. We do know, however,...

DanDaDan fans have been waiting for this week for a long time. With Season 2 of the anime series finally about to debut, we can't help but imagine what lies in store for Okarun (voiced by Natsuki Hanae in the original Japanese and by A.J. Beckles in the English dub), Momo (Shion Wakayama/Abby Trott) and Turbo Granny (Mayumi Tanaka/Barbara Goodson) in the new episodes. Fortunately for you, Collider was able to talk to the show's co-director Abel Gongora (Devilman Crybaby) earlier this month, and he talked about the look of the upcoming episodes.

During the interview, Gongora broke down to Collider's Laura Adams some of the things that the DanDaDan team is playing with in order to bring a fresh look for Season 2 of the series. As anyone who watched Season 1 knows, the visuals of DanDaDanare an important part of the story, and the animation team is fully aware of that.

Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War had us confront many changes in the storyline and art style, but it also extended to a few of the voice cast. A prime example is the recasting of Yasutora “Chad” Sado’s replacement. His original voice actor was Jamieson Price, but he’s now voiced by Alain Mesa.

These changes caused some debate amongst fans, who loved what the original voice actors brought to these characters. The anime series for Bleach ended 10 years ago, but has returned now. The change is jarring, but it brings up a very important conversation about the voice acting industry.

Most English voice casts in anime consist of white actors, whereas Bleach involves characters from diverse racial backgrounds. The change might have been controversial, but it was a necessary move.

Bleach Seeks to Be More Inclusive With Its Voice Cast

As previously mentioned, Tite Kubo didn’t make all of his characters exclusively Japanese.

Last week, the box office numbers indicated that DanDaDan was close to a threshold. Now, with the compilation movie DanDaDan: Evil Eye debuting in more countries, the franchise has broken new records and continues to make history in domestic earnings. The new movie wrapped up the weekend with $5.5 million earned in the U.S., making it officially five times more profitable than the franchise's previous movie, DanDaDan: First Encounter.

With the new number, DanDaDan: Evil Eye also managed to fly past one of the highest-ratedMy Hero Academia movies. Last year, My Hero Academia: You're Next was able to make $5 million domestically, and now that DanDaDan: Evil Eye surpassed it, the franchise already ranks among the 25 highest-earning Japanese anime movies ever in the U.S. If it manages to bring in more than 6.8 million, DanDaDan will eliminate legendary titles like Studio Ghibli's Princess Mononoke from the list.

The number is...

In less than two weeks, DanDaDan fans will get to dive into the highly anticipated Season 2 of the worldwide phenomenon. In order to do that, they will need to have a subscription to a streaming platform. The good news is, the anime series is not exclusive to any streaming service; there will be multiple options for fans to check out the new adventures, and all platforms will release episodes simultaneously with Japan. At this point, we already had confirmation that Netflix and Crunchyroll will once again debut episodes in their respective libraries. This week, Hulu joined the chorus and confirmed that it will be yet another option to stream DanDaDan when it returns.

Season 2 of DanDaDan comes highly anticipated. Last year, the anime series set a high bar for itself with its gorgeous art style and its entertaining mix of supernatural and sci-fi stories. With a perfect 100% score on Rotten Tomatoes...

Anime fans know that this will be a pretty great summer to be a fan of Japanese animation. In order to tease what's coming our way, Crunchyroll unveiled a complete line-up of titles that are debuting or returning to the platform as soon as the season starts, and fans should keep it at hand in case they don't want to miss any of the exciting anime series that have been highly anticipated.

Summer will kick off with the new series Takopi's Original Sin. Based on a manga released in 2021, the sci-fi story centers around an octopus-like creature that crash-lands on Earth and strikes up a friendship with a nine-year-old girl. The series debuts on June 28. Shortly after that, on July 1, it's time to dive into two other new series: Detectives These Days Are Crazy! and Necronomico and the Cosmic Horror Show. Both series debut on the same day as the highly anticipated Season 4 of Rent-a-Girlfriend.

The DanDaDan team is certainly happy that they decided to make the Season 2 premiere a theatrical event. The compilation movie DanDaDan: Evil Eye is moving at full speed at the box office, and even if it doesn't rake in a blockbuster-level gross, the new title has already managed to shatter the records of its own franchise — and now it's aiming for other anime franchises: the movie is about to outperform one of My Hero Academia's best-rated theatrical releases.

With just one weekend, DanDaDan: Evil Eye managed to outperform the previous entry in the franchise, the debut compilation movie DanDaDan: First Encounter. Released last year, First Encounter amassed a little over $1 million at the box office, mostly because DanDaDan was relatively unknown at the time. Now, with two weeks in theaters, Evil Eye has already managed to make it past the $5.03 million gross in the U.S. The number is dangerously...

You can always count on anime fans to show up in theaters to check out their favorite series. In DanDaDan's case, the performance of the franchise's new movieDanDaDan: Evil Eye was sort of expected, since the compilation movie offers a chance to check out the beginning of the highly anticipated Season 2 in the best way possible — on the big screen. The movie premiered last Friday, and the weekend report has already revealed that the movie broke its own record when it comes to box office numbers.

DanDaDan: Evil Eye's debut weekend has raked in over $3 million in the U.S. The number is three times what the franchise's previous movie — DanDaDan: First Encounter — made in the U.S. last year. The performance underscores that not only anime lovers tend to support cinematic events like these, but also how the DanDaDan fan base has grown over the last year. We...

In less than a month, Dan Da Dan returns with another extraordinary season, half a year after impressing fans with its massive Season 1 finale, "Let's Go to the Cursed House." While fans eagerly await the new chapter, another Dan Da Dan production that everyone can’t stop talking about, appears to be doing as good as the original anime series. It's none other than Dan Da Dan: Evil Eye! The filmlanded in North America on Friday, June 6, and most recently, it has earned a laudable feat on Rotten Tomatoes, finding favor among the audience soon after its release.

Dan Da Dan: Evil Eye currently boasts a 97% audience rating on Rotten Tomatoes, which is slightly higher than Dan Da Dan’s 93% but a few numbers away from the original series' 100% critics’ score. It should, however, be noted that, as of this writing, the anime film's critics’ rating is unavailable on the review aggregator website.

Ever since the finale of Season 1 and the discovery of a mysterious room full of talismans in Jiji's home, DanDaDan has been building up to an inevitable clash between the bespectacled occult fanatic Okarun and the demonic Evil Eye. All the teasers for Season 2 and the Evil Eye compilation movie have been setting the stage for the battle ahead, showing off Jiji's transformation to accommodate the yōkai and its immense power. It represents one of the series' greatest and most anticipated threats from the original manga yet, which will push Okarun, Momo, and Turbo Granny to their limits in their fight against the supernatural. Yet there's also a deeper, more personal layer connected to Jiji and Okarun's relationship and who these characters are that Okarun's English dub voice actor A.J. Beckles believes elevates the epic moment to another level.

Ahead of the release of DanDaDan: Evil Eye, which...

DanDaDan is about to get serious. When the hotly anticipated sci-fi anime premiered last year, it introduced viewers to a frantic, goofy, mysterious, and action-packed story of two high school students discovering that ghosts and aliens are very real and using their newfound abilities to combat the strange and horrific supernatural entities around them. The stakes are higher in Season 2, though, as Momo (Abby Trott) and Okarun (Aj Beckles) face their greatest threats yet, including, most notably, the demonic Evil Eye, who pushes the pair to their limits. During a conversation with Collider's Laura Adams for the Evil Eye compilation movie, English dub stars Beckles, Trott, and Aleks Le opened up about how the new arc sends the series in a more intense direction that leaves behind a bit of the laughs for more serious storylines.

Evil Eyekicks off the second season on the silver screen, covering the events...

The 2024 breakout hit anime DanDaDan is officially back with the release of DanDaDan: Evil Eye in theaters this weekend. Made up of the first three episodes of Season 2, which premieres next month, the feature-length adventure pits high school students turned fighters of the supernatural, Momo Ayase (Abby Trott) and Ken "Okarun" Takakura (A.J. Beckles), against their most powerful foe yet — the demonic Evil Eye, a Yōkai that has possessed Momo's childhood friend Jiji (Aleks Le). His transformation to accommodate the imposing spirit is a chilling one, and it was easily one of co-director Abel Gongora's favorite moments he helped create. In an interview with Collider's Laura Adams, he shared why he loves the scene so much and what made it such a challenge to translate from manga to anime.

Before the supernatural action comedy series, Gongora was one of the first five staff members to join the animation studio Science Saru,...

Dandadanquickly rose in popularity following its Netflix debut, and following the anxiety-inducing end of Season 1, it was swiftly granted a second season.

The battle shonen animecleverly explores the unlikely relationship between spunky Momo Ayase, played by Abby Trott in the English-language dub, who insists upon ghosts being real, and Ken "Okarun" Takakura (Aj Beckles), the self-unassured high school boy with an obsession with aliens. At Anime Central 2025, Trott reflected on her career in the entertainment industry and shared her experience of what it was like to bring Momo to life.

Dandadan Voice Actor Hopes Anime Industry Is Shifting Toward 'Something New' for Women Image via Science Saru

"As a kid, I was huge nerd," Trott said. "I loved animation and video games, so I was naturally drawn to those things, but I didn’t realize they could be a career. I focused on theater, another passion of mine. I stumbled...

The wait for Season 2 of DanDaDan is almost over. Today, it was confirmed that fans who aren't too fond of subtitles won't have to wait longer than others to find out what happens in the new episodes of the hit anime series. The English dub trailer for the new season just dropped, hinting that everyone who wants to be up-to-date with the series will do so regardless of how they choose to watch. Season 2 of DanDaDanis slated to premiere on July 3. Just like in Season 1, the series will stream on Netflix and Crunchyroll.

The trailer lets us hear once again the English voices of Okarun (A.J. Beckles), Momo (Abby Trott), and Turbo Granny (Barbara Goodson) as they prepare to fight one of their most formidable foes yet: the Avatar of Hatred, or Evil Eye (Anne Yatco). Fans of DanDadan will also be glad to realize that the English dub trailer...

In Science Saru's hit supernatural comedy anime, Dandadan, Ken "Okarun" Takakura is introduced as a loner who his classmates often mock. For Okarun's English voice actor, Aj Beckles, this aspect of the character resonates with him on a personal level.

In a recent interview with Cbr, Beckles sat down with fellow Dandadan voice stars Abby Trott (Momo Ayase) and Aleks Le (Jiji) to discuss the series and their respective roles. Before Dandadan, Beckles also portrayed Tokyo Revengers lead Takemichi Hanagaki -- a character who fearlessly takes on one of Japan's most notorious gangs to save his girlfriend's life. While Okarun has a similarly valiant spirit, this is initially overshadowed by his status as the school outcast. Beckles stated that he was once in a similar social position when he was younger. "...I related a lot to where Okarun is when we first meet him, where I was like into a lot of nerdy things,...

Dandadan has been a major breakout anime hit, but it has not been without its controversies. In a recent interview, official Momo English dub voice actor Abby Trott cleared the air on how she interprets Momo’s most divisive scene from Dandadan’s first season.

Dandadan hit the ground running with Season 1 of the anime. It was consistently a highly rated series among both fans and critics, repeatedly featuring in Netflix’s top 10 throughout its run. However, many viewers resolved to drop the anime after a particularly chilling scene in the anime’s very first episode involving the series’ lead protagonist, Momo Ayase. As Momo’s English Dub actor, Abby Trott has a unique perspective and understanding of the character, and in a recent chat with Cbr alongside Aleks Le (Jiji) and Aj Beckles (Okarun), she explained her own take on that and similar scenes.

Momo's English Dub Actor...

Spooky season is coming soon for fans of the critically acclaimed sci-fi/supernatural series Dandadan. The first English dub trailer for the theatrical Season 2 premiere this June has just been released.

Gkids Films, the New York-based indie film distributor behind Studio Ghibli and Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX, released the first English dub clip of Dandadan Season 2, which will go by the name of Dandadan: Evil Eye for its upcoming theatrical screening. Abby Trott once again headlines the English dub as Momo Ayase, alongside A.J. Beckles as Ken Takakura Okarun.

Dandadan's Debut Season 2 English Dub Trailer Teases New Spine-Tingling Adventure for Momo & Okarun

The new English dub trailer for Dandadan: Evil Eye teases a deadly situation for the main oddball couple. Jin "Jiji" Enjoji, as played by Aleks Le of Solo Leveling fame, has succumbed to the Evil Eye that's been residing inside his body. Naturally, now that the evil spirit finally has a body,...

With just one month until the premiere of DanDaDan: Evil Eye in movie theaters, a new trailer was unveiled to tease fans about the kind of events they will see on the big screen this June. The movie will kick off the new season of the hit series, and it will be a compilation of the first three episodes of Season 2. The story will follow Okarun (voiced by Natsuki Hanae in the original Japanese and by A.J. Beckles in the English dub) and Momo (Shion Wakayama/Abby Trott) facing a threat that they discovered at the end of Season 1. DanDaDan: Evil Eye premieres in theaters on June 6.

The new trailer for DanDaDan: Evil Eye goes in a slightly different direction than the others that were released so far. Before, the focus was on the new villain, The Avatar of Hatred, but now we get a glimpse at other monsters, demons,...

The wait is almost over for the new episodes of DanDaDan, and in order to tease the new season — which will once again have a unique rollout system — Gkids decided to unveil a new trailer for DanDaDan: Evil Eye. The theatrical release of Evil Eye is a compilation of Season 2's first three episodes, and it will be screened in movie theaters in several parts of the world. The movie premieres on June 6, while the new season of the hit anime series premieres officially on July 3.

The trailer for DanDaDan: Evil Eye doesn't beat around the bush and immediately reveals the full look of the series' new villain, The Avatar of Hatred (voice actor to be officially announced), and his unsettling third eye that can be deadly to whoever fights him. In this case, the person who will take him on is Okarun (voiced by Natsuki Hanae in the original...

This week on The Anime Effect: LeAlec, Leah and Nick give a rundown of some of the nominees for the Anime Awards! They share their reactions, reveal the categories they wish existed, and more. You can see the full list of nominees right here on Crunchyroll News. In our audio-exclusive episode, we fill you in on the latest news in the anime world, including the MLB partnering to create an anime, Shangri-La Frontier getting another season and more! Episode 58 of The Anime Effect is now available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and anywhere else you listen to your podcasts! If you're waiting to watch the video episode, it'll be live on Crunchyroll and YouTube at 7 p.m. Et. Vote For The 2025 Anime Awards Right Here Listen or Watch on: Episode 58 Summary In this week's news episode, Leah, Nick and LeAlec discuss some of the latest announcements from Nintendo, the MLB anime project , among other updates.

The wait for DanDaDan Season 2 just got a little bit easier. Gkids and Shout! Studio announced today that Season 1 of the massively popular anime series will get an extra-special Blu-ray release soon. The artwork of the Blu-ray release evokes every element from the show: comedy, sci-fi, supernatural and the tiny kitten mascot who is actually the spirit of an old woman along with protagonists Okarun (Natsuki Hanae in the original and A.J. Beckles in the English dub) and Momo Ayase (Shion Wakayama and Abby Trott). The series will hit shelves on June 10.

The collector's edition of the DanDaDan Blu-ray will come in a box with a 32-page booklet, as well as art cards that champion the anime's distinct visual style and a die-cut sticker. As fans of the manga know, the art from DanDaDan stands out both in animated form and in stills, and it's one of the reasons why the franchise became so popular.

The following contains discussions of sensitive subjects. Please proceed with caution.

When anime fans think of controversial anime, they often remember anime adaptations that made some questionable creative changes, or original anime series that dropped the ball. Others would even cite anime series that had turbulent productions and creations. Broadly speaking, these anime's qualities range from mediocre to terrible.

This, however, is not the case for these particular anime. These anime were good or even great. More to the point, they were loved by just about everyone who watched them. But thanks to outside controversies that were either the creators' or fans' fault, these anime fell from grace and never recovered from their abysmal reputations.

Jujutsu Kaisen’s Fandom Embodied Spoiler Culture at Its Worst The Jujutsu Kaisen Manga Was Ruined by Spoiled Fans

The last two years were undeniably great for Jujutsu Kaisen. However, whatever appreciation fans could've hadwas...

Last year, Science Saru's Dandadan anime introduced viewers to Momo Ayase and 'Okarun' -- two teenagers with oppositional personalities who form a powerful bond while teaming up against creepy aliens and eccentric apparations. Abby Trott, who voices Momo Ayase in the English dub, recently revealed which "Mokarun" moments are her absolute favorites so far.

During a lengthy interview with Cbr, Trott divulged what sets Dandadan apart from her other major series, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba. In the latter anime, Trott portrays Nezuko, an adorable demon girl who mainly communicates by "growling or kicking." According to Trott, Momo is a much more "dynamic" role. Consequently, her behavior toward 'Okarun,' (A.J. Beckles) sometimes teeters between friendly and combative. For Trott, this part of Momo's character makes both her and her relationship with Okarun very interesting. "Momo is very outspoken. She speaks what's on her mind. Except when it comes to emotion,...

Demon Slayer is one of the most visually appealing masterpieces by Ufotable studio. But other than being carried by animation, the series is all about compelling storyline and themes. The sibling bond is something that had us viewers rooting for the Mc, but there’s one thing that the series did best.

Tanjiro Kamado in a still from Demon Slayer anime | Credit: Ufotable

Apart from animation and pacing, the anime peaks in voice acting. This holds for the English voice actress Abby Trott, who plays Tanjiro’s sister. To everyone’s surprise, her role as Nezuko is widely recognized compared to Momo for this interesting reason.

Demon Slayer Va’s recognizable yet ironic role as Nezuko

Demon Slayer stands as one of the landmark anime in the shonen genre for various reasons. Some attribute its success to Ufotable’s par excellence animation, yet it is gripping in most aspects. This...

The genre-blending anime series “Dan Da Dan” will return for its second season on Crunchyroll in July 2025, following Thursday’s Season 1 finale.

Science Saru, the animation studio behind “Scott Pilgrim Takes Off,” unveiled a new key visual for the sophomore season that centers on the character Jiji under the watchful gaze of the mysterious Evil Eye. The artwork incorporates classical composer portraits and a kaiju, suggesting new supernatural elements for the upcoming storyline.

The series, based on Yukinobu Tatsu’s manga published in Shonen Jump Plus, blends supernatural action with romantic comedy elements. Fuga Yamashiro helms the project, with “Chainsaw Man” composer Kensuke Ushio providing the score. Tatsu previously worked as an assistant to Tatsuki Fujimoto on his global hit series “Chainsaw Man” and “Fire Punch,” and Yuji Kaku on “Hell’s Paradise: Jigokuraku.”

“Dan Da Dan” follows the story of a high school girl named Momo who is from a family of spirit mediums,...

Following today's airing of the Dan Da Dan Season 1 finale (and its shocking cliffhanger!), it has been officially announced that the show will return for a second season on Crunchyroll July 2025! We have a look at the full teaser artwork and description below:

"The newly unveiled Season 2 announcement visual captures a sense of tension and unease, while the ominous presence of Evil Eye, fixated on Jiji standing at the center, commands attention with its unsettling gaze. The deep purple hues that fill the background heighten the anticipation of the intense and merciless battles that await Momo, Okarun, Jiji, and Turbo Granny. Adding to the intrigue, the artwork features portraits of renowned classical composers and a small kaiju, hinting at the bizarre and unpredictable adventures still to come in Dan Da Dan."

About Dan Da Dan Season 1

Based on the popular manga by Yukinobu Tatsu, Dan Da Dan is an electrifying,...

Science Saru is peaking with its masterpiece anime Dandadan. The series is at an all-time high with its growing popularity. But what is even more interesting is the richness of the series.

Its ability to unpack depth and complex emotions makes it so much better. With each episode, the studio overdid itself in more ways than one. The recent episode, however, is sure to shock and rile the fandom up.

Momo and Okarun in a still from the anime | Credit: Science Saru

This is especially true for Gojo fans who are yet to make peace with the character’s demise. With Gojo’s Va joining Tatsu’s series, it was nothing short of a visual treat.

Moreover, it stands in contrast with the fandom’s disagreement and toxicity when it comes to Gojo’s contentious fate. It all circles back to the community’s extreme antics and online abuse.

Gojo...

Dandadan fans get to see two vastly different sides to Ken “Okarun” Tanaka throughout the anime. When he is in his human form, he is a passionate, but very timid, young man. He shies away from the slightest controversy and is typically only outspoken as long as it’s about one of his interests (namely aliens). His personality seems to completely change once he is in his spirit form. He is nihilistic, and overtly confident, and he could not care less what people think of him.

Many fans theorize that Okarun’s personality completely changes due to his powers, but one could argue that Okarun always has nihilism and raw confidence within him. This is shown in how he reacts when he is in his spirit form and Momo Ayase is in danger. Okarun’s true feelings are also shown in how he treats Aira Shiratori with complete disinterest. Okarun...

With each episode, Dandadan is climbing the charts in terms of its enthralling plot. The visuals and new characters have most fans on the edge of their seats. However, that is not all, considering the tempo, comedic timing, and impeccable animation have a lot to offer as well.

With the recent episode, however, it fell flat in terms of its dub and this has more to do with one of the crucial scenes in the anime. It flatlined one of the most interesting aspects of the manga but that is not the sole reason that had fans foaming at the mouth.

A still from Episode 11 from the anime | Credit: Science Saru

The episode’s introduction of Jiji in the love triangle has most fans vexed. On top of that, he is all set to be yet another hated character apart from Aira Shiratori in the series.

With Episode 11, fans left...

As Science Saru's adaptation of Yukinobu Tatsu's Dandadan gains global traction, it has attracted an increasingly dedicated and diverse fanbase. The term fandom describes a group of individuals—whether large, small, or even just one person—deeply devoted to a piece of media, a person, or an idea. This concept often thrives in online spaces, where communities form around shared passions. Dandadan’s fandom has been fortunate to enjoy behind-the-scenes insights from one of the lead voice actors, Aj Beckles.

Beckles frequently shares his thought processes and reasoning behind specific line deliveries after episodes air, offering fans a deeper appreciation of the craft of voice acting. His engagement has also helped bridge the lingering divide some fans have regarding English dubs in anime. However, Dandadan’s fandom recently revealed a toxic side when it reacted to a piece of fan art featuring the protagonists, Okarun and Momo.

Lynn...

Many a time, we come across the race-swapping phenomenon in movies and shows. With Dandadan jumping on the bandwagon, things have gotten a bit out of hand. But it has more to do with a certain fanart that had several fans foaming at the mouth.

With a fanart signaling the reimagination of the main characters as black, it didn’t sit well with the fandom. Several fans called out the blackwashing aspect of the illustration. But the art garnered support and solidarity as well.

Ken Takakura and Momo Ayase in a still from the anime | Credit: Science Saru

A.J Beckles and Kari Wahlgren who voiced Momo and Okarun extended their support to the artist. However, Beckles’ support and his strong opinions garnered further criticism.

And while it may seem too blown out of proportion, it points to a growing debate between two vocal sides within the global anime community – hypocrisy.

Dandadan is one of the best new anime of 2024. It is loved worldwide for its unique story and beautiful animation. However, Dandadan has also become one of the few anime where the English dub is widely preferred over watching the anime with Japanese audio and English subtitles. Most anime fans would argue that the English subtitles (subs) are always better because that is how they were created to sound. Dandadan’s English dub proves that belief wrong.

Dandadan’s English dub is sharp, poignant, and has excellent comedic timing. It allows for the actors to use colloquialisms or slang to help audiences connect to the story more. Plus, there is a clear passion and care that the English voice actors bring to their roles. Dandadan is an excellent show that is made even better when watching the English dub.

Related 10 Shonen Heroes Dandadan’s Okarun Could Beat

Okarun is much stronger than he looks.

Ever since its premiere, Dandadan has amazed fans with every episode, sometimes with the spectacular visuals, other times with the enthralling plot progression. None of this would have been possible without the phenomenal voice acting that brings the story and characters to life. If you’re wondering whether it’s the Japanese or English voice acting that is being discussed, Dandadan has another surprise for you!

Turbo Granny and Momo in Dandadan anime | Credits: Studio Science Saru

The ever-going sub vs. dub debate comes to a halt with Dandadan, as both versions of the series are exceptionally good. And, once you discover who Turbo Granny shares her voice actor with, you’ll understand why fans find the English dub so appealing.

Turbo Granny and Rita Repulsa Share the Same Voice Actor

Just the mention of Rita Repulsa is enough for fans to reminisce about her antics in Power Rangers. Rita...

How Stranger Things Influenced Dandadan's Okarun Voice Actor - Main Image

The hit supernatural anime series Dandadan has a lot to offer, from its fluid animations to its quirky, exciting story. However, an impressive aspect is the incredible work done by the Western dub team. In fact, one actor shared how his personal interests helped him bring his character to life.

Aj Beckles, the voice of Ken Takakura (Okarun), explained in an interview that his childhood fascination with the occult plays a big role in his performance. If you're curious about how the English dub actors are nailing their roles, read more below.

How Their Interests and Experience Helped Dandadan Voice Actors Play Their Characters

In Dandadan, the main characters, Okarun and Momo, are at the center of all the crazy and wacky events that unfold, with their decisions and mishaps driving much of the story.

Okarun’s voice actor,...

Dandadan has recently become a hot topic in the anime scene, as it has become a standout for its unique blend of paranormal thrills, alien encounters, and quirky high school drama. At its heart are Okarun and Momo, two misfit teens brought together by bullies, bound by their opposing beliefs in aliens and spirits, and thrown into a world where the line between reality and the supernatural blurs.

Dandadan | Credit: Science Saru

Aside from Yukinobu Tatsu’s masterful storytelling, the creative brilliance of the entire team — whether it’s Japanese or Western, can’t be overlooked. Among them, A.J. Beckles and Abby Trott’s portrayal of Okarun and Momo, respectively, has particularly resonated with the global audience for their nuance and charm in voice acting. However, perhaps, the most fascinating thing is Beckles’ admiration for Stranger Things, as they have a significant contribution to Okarun’s portrayal in Dandadan.

Shaping...

Megan Thee Stallion, the Grammy-winning rapper and anime superfan, is back at it again, sharing her love for all things anime, and this time she has set her sights on Dandadan. Available on Netflix, Dandadan is a fast-paced and unpredictable series thats been making waves among fans, including Megan, who shared some serious praise on her social media.

This isnt the first time Megan has gained a lot of attention in the anime community. Known for her vibrant personality and love of anime-inspired fashion, shes been vocal about her favorite series in the past, from Naruto to Attack on Titan. Now, her endorsement of Dandadan will not only make the series more popular, but solidifies her status as one of animes most high-profile fans.

What Makes Dandadan So Unique? A Genre-Defying Rollercoaster Of Chaos Ladies and Gentlemenwe got her pic.twitter.com/Nakcx3KQaC Aj Bummed Af Beckles (@AJBecklesVO) November 21, 2024

As reported by A.J. Beckles,...

Science Saru's wholesome occult rom-com Dandadan continues to impress millions of global viewers. Netflix's latest TV rankings reveal an extremely consistent performance for the series compared to other Fall 2024 anime, including one of the biggest Shonen Jump IPs of all time.

Dandadan's impressive run continues on Netflix's Top 10, ranking fourth globally with 9.3 million hours viewed this week. When divided by its 2-hour and 53-minute runtime, this amounts to 3.2 million views. This marks Dandadan's sixth week in the rankings, and notably, it's the only anime series left standing after Dragon Ball Daima and Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba: Hashira Training Arc bowed out after placing 8th and 10th last week. Ranma 1/2 also spent three weeks in the top 10, last appearing in late October.

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Netflix has debuted the trailer for their latest animated effort, “Jentry Chau vs. The Underworld,” a supernatural action series starring Ali Wong (Birds of Prey, “Paper Girls”).

“Jentry Chau vs. The Underwold” premieres on Netflix on December 5, 2024.

Wong executive produces the 13-episode series, from first-time show-runner Echo Wu, alongside Aron Eli Coleite (“Locke & Key”).

The series follows “Jentry Chau (voiced by Wong), a Chinese-American teen living in a small Texas town, who finds out a demon king is hunting her for the supernatural powers she’s been working her whole life to repress. With the help of her weapons expert great-aunt and a millennia-old jiangshi (Chinese hopping vampire), Jentry must now fight an entire underworld’s worth of monsters while balancing the horrors of high school.”

Lori Tan Chinn voices Jentry’s aunt Gugu and Bowen Yang as Jentry’s sidekick, Ed. Additional cast includes Lucy Liu, Jimmy O. Yang,...

Netflix has released a fiery new trailer for the upcoming animated series Jentry Chau vs The Underworld, and in it, we see the titular character (Ali Wong) try to become a regular teenager despite her devastating powers. Created by Echo Wu, who also serves as showrunner, the supernatural series will debut in December and features an extraordinary ensemble led by Wong. Others on the list include Lori Tan Chinn as Jentrys aunt Gugu and Bowen Yang as Jentrys sidekick, Ed alongside Lucy Liu, Jimmy O. Yang, Sheng Wang, A.J. Beckles, and Woosung Kim.

Ali Wong is back on Netflix — at least, her voice is.

The “Beef” Emmy winner and “Single Lady” headliner executive produces and voice acts in the upcoming 13-episode animated series “Jentry Chau vs the Underworld,” premiering on the streamer December 5. Joining her in the voice cast are Bowen Yang, Lori Tan Chinn, Lucy Liu, Jimmy O. Yang, Sheng Wang, Woosung Kim, and A.J. Beckles. Netflix released the first trailer November 14.

The official logline reads: “The series follows Jentry Chau (voiced by Ali Wong), a Chinese-American teen living in a small Texas town, who finds out a demon king is hunting her for the supernatural powers she’s been working her whole life to repress. With the help of her weapons expert great-aunt and a millennia-old jiangshi (Chinese hopping vampire), Jentry must now fight an entire underworld’s worth of monsters while balancing the horrors of high school.”

High school is difficult enough for anyone,...

“Jentry Chau vs. the Underworld”, a new supernatural, animated fantasy TV series, created by Echo Wu, stars Ali Wong, with Lucy Liu, Bowen Yang, Lori Tan Chinn, Jimmy O. Yang, Sheng Wang, Woosung Kim, and A.J. Beckles. streaming December 5, 2024 on Netflix:

“…’Jentry Chau’, living in a small Texas town, finds out a demon king is hunting her for the supernatural powers she’s been working her whole life to repress.

“With the help of her weapons expert great-aunt and a millennia-old vampire, Jentry must now fight an entire underworld’s worth of monsters while balancing the horrors of high school.”

Click the images to enlarge…...

"Do we have to start And end the day killing demons?" Netflix has revealed the full official trailer for the animated series called Jentry Chau vs the Underworld, created by an animation up-and-comer named Echo Wu as her first real series. Made by animation studio Titmouse. It will be streaming on Netflix starting in December soon if anyone wants to watch. "Slaying demons or slaying homecoming dance? Why not both?" A Chinese-American teen living in a small Texas town finds out a demon king is hunting her for supernatural powers she's been working her whole life to repress. The main character Jentry Chau is voiced by Ali Wong, who also executive produces the series. The voice cast includes Bowen Yang, Lori Tan Chinn, Lucy Liu, Jimmy O. Yang, Sheng Wang, Woosung Kim, and A.J. Beckles. This looks like a spooky fun animated horror comedy series - a woman battling demons...

The following contains slight spoilers for Dandadan Season 1, streaming on Crunchyroll

Science Saru's adaptation of Yukinobu Tatsu's Dandadan Episode 5, "Like, Where Are Your Balls?" displays how this latest shonen craze will break away from typical shonen storytelling and character writing. Taking place the day after protagonists Momo, a popular psychic girl, and Okarun, Ken Takakura, a boy with a profound belief in aliens, bested and exorcised Turbo Granny in Episode 4, Dandadan pivots from Shnen storytelling to instead focus on an episode more akin to a shojo.

This storytelling decision by author Yukinobu Tatsu makes Dandadan different from other shonen anime. Other anime quickly thrust the characters into a new plot, battle, or training arc. Still, Dandadan switches the formula up entirely and moves to remind audiences that this is a romance story between two characters disguised as an action shonen. Considering the research Yukinobu Tatsu had to do to make this story possible,...

Grimmjow Jaegerjaquez is one of the most popular characters in Bleach because he is a violent and endearing villain. He was the Sixth Espada in Aizen's Arrancar army, and battled Ichigo Kurosaki several times. Many fans assumed Grimmjow had been mortally wounded by a fellow Espada, but the Thousand-Year Blood War revealed that he survived. Grimmjow has gotten much stronger since his last appearance, but there are several Sternritter from the Thousand-Year Blood War who can defeat him.

The Sternritter are extremely powerful Quincy, but certain Quincy possess overpowered and somewhat broken abilities that can defeat anyone, including Grimmjow. Some of these Sternritter are members of Yhwach's Royal Guard, and they have true god-tier powers. One Sternritter can beat Grimmjow with their teeth, and another can defeat him with love. One Sternritter can beat Grimmjow with his mind.

Lille Can Pierce Through Grimmjow's Body And Avoid All Of His...

Ury Ishida is one of Bleach's central characters, and he plays a significant role in the Thousand-Year Blood War Arc. The anime recently revealed Ury's Quincy: Vollstndig transformation, which came as a surprise since he never used this technique in the manga. Quincy: Vollstndig enhances all of Urys physical abilities and it grants him access to special Energy Feathers that fire lethal energy projectiles. This form is strong, but there are several Bleach characters who can destroy Ury's Quincy: Vollstndig.

Many of the characters who can destroy Ury's Quincy: Vollstndig are Captain-ranked Soul Reapers with powerful Zanpakuto. Several high-ranked Quincy and a former Espada should be able to take Ury down as well. Most of these characters can destroy Ury's Quincy: Vollstndig because they possess insanely overpowered abilities.

Gremmy Can Nullfy Ury's Quincy: Vollstndig With The Visionary A Quincy Who Turns Fantasy Into Reality

Character Name...

The overnight sensation of Dandadan has taken the world by storm with its quirky characters and a thrilling storyline. It’s the perfect blend of the occult with a touch of aliens wrapped in one of the most visually appealing anime ever. Dandadan also doesn’t shy away from making realistically hilarious characters that serve as a message for those who relate to them to be themselves. The voice actors for the English dub of Okarun and Momo are grateful to Yukinobu Tatsu for this exact reason.

Okarun and Momo Ayase in Dandadan. [Credit: Science Saru]

While the two might be rather eccentric and stereotypical in their portrayals as the cool girl and nerdy guy, their actions are rooted in reality. The English dub actors find it seamless to portray them and appreciate Tatsu’s take on these tropes. It shows how nuanced Okarun and Momo can be amidst all the chaos of the Dandadan storyline.

2024 has seen the release of some of the greatest anime series, but the one that has made the most amount of noise is Dandadan by Science Saru. The anime series is based on the manga created by manga creator Yukinobu Tatsu, and it offers a unique perspective into the worlds of occult and spirits. Fans have appreciated the series and can’t get enough of it.

Dandadan Anime | Credit: Science Saru

The series follows the adventures of Okarun, also known as Ken Takakura and Momo Ayase. The two have different beliefs in life, but fate brings them together, and even though they are two completely opposite characters, they fit perfectly well with each other and develop a love interest. While it only has four episodes under its belt, the series has developed a big fan following.

One of the main contributors to the success of Dandadan is the voice actors...

Anyone with their ear to the ground has likely heard the buzz around Dandadan, an adaptation of Yukinobu Tatsu’s million-selling oddball manga. Yukinobu Tatsu introduces Japanese yokai and otherworldly occult science fiction monsters as part of its shonen romance adventure.

Momo, Okarun and Seiko Ayase | Credit: Science Saru

Dandadan introduces viewers to two main lead characters, Momo Ayase and Ken Takakura, dealing with supernatural and alien threats. Indeed, the anime is a treat for alien and occult fans, and much of its growing popularity is driven by these enthusiasts. Dandadan may have only begun its anime adaptation, but it’s already making a major splash. Interestingly, the voice actors behind Momo and Okarun once revealed insights into the anime’s rapid rise in popularity and success.

What Makes Dandadan Special? Voice Actors Reveal the Secret to Its Success

Dandadan has built up incredible hype over the past few months,...