The anime adaptation of Dandadan has already gained significant traction in the anime community worldwide. Created by Yukinobu Tatsu, the series offers a fresh mix of the occult, extraterrestrial elements, and high school antics, making it a standout among contemporary Shonen manga. However, bringing his unique vision to life wasn’t an easy feat.
In an interview, Tatsu elaborated on the challenges he faced in bringing his vision to life for Dandadan, particularly the hurdles he encountered in serialization meetings. His determination to make a unique Shonen story featuring a female protagonist, Momo Ayase, reflects a creative gamble that could revolutionize the genre.
Yukinobu Tatsu’s ‘Kobayashi Maru’ Moment with Dandadan
Yukinobu Tatsu’s journey to create Dandadan wasn’t a piece of cake. In an interview via ComicBook, Tatsu revealed why he specifically chose Momo Ayase and Okarun as his protagonists, as he initially wanted to create a Shonen manga with a girl as the lead, which was drastically different from other series in this genre. In his own words,
I had always wanted to draw a boys’ manga with a girl as the main character but it kept failing in serialization meetings, so I thought it would be better to have a boy next to her.
By pairing Momo and Okarun, this vision established a unique dynamic that differentiates Dandadan. The decision to push Momo to the forefront while keeping Okarun as a co-lead wasn’t just a practical one — it was a creative risk that paid off.
For decades, Shonen manga has been primarily led by male protagonists, with female characters often diminished to secondary roles. Thus, Tatsu saw the opportunity to change the conflict patterns traditionally associated with male-led Shonen stories.
Tatsu’s choice to focus on Momo Ayase was revolutionary due to both her gender and the way her viewpoint influenced the story’s direction. Momo’s character isn’t your typical Shonen love interest or sidekick. Her introduction has made Dandadan stand out as a manga that deviates from the norm of boy-centered action-adventure stories and embraces a wider range of narrative possibilities.
The Future of Dandadan: A Potential Shonen Giant
Beyond Momo and Okarun’s unique dynamic, Tatsu also shared how his love for the 1980s helped shape the tone and style of Dandadan. He incorporated comedic elements in the series to bring back this sense of joy and vitality of this era to viewers’ lives. He remarked,
I like the 1980s and other times when people were still energetic. I think the social situation is still bad these days and it’s so dark and gloomy and I don’t like it. I want people who read my manga to be energized, to laugh, and to enjoy themselves. That is my premise so somewhere in me I want to bring back the energetic feeling I had back then.
Dandadan is poised to capture the attention of a much larger audience with its genre-blending premise. The anime adaptation, produced by Science SARU, has the potential to become one of the next big franchises in the anime world.
Its combination of compelling characters, unique plot elements, and Tatsu’s willingness to push creative boundaries suggest that Dandadan is more than just another Shonen series — it’s a revolution in the making, and it has the ability to change the trajectory of the genre forever.
By centering the story around a strong female protagonist, Momo Ayase, Tatsu is carving a new path for the genre. Together, Momo and Okarun represent a departure from the usual hero and sidekick trope, creating a relationship where both characters are essential to the plot’s progression.
Dandadan is currently available to watch on Crunchyroll.
