Be it ghosts or aliens, Dandadan is anything but a run-of-the-mill series and this is especially true for its riveting storyline. But what’s even more interesting is its approach to the occult.
The series outlines intricacies and minuscule details that highlight its sheer brilliance. This also applies to both heroes and villains. Undoubtedly, the manga is superior to its contemporaries in this aspect. But here’s a catch.
Fuga Yamashiro, the series’ director has a unique process of rendering brilliance to it, and his mere process and vision are what sets it apart from other anime.
The series is on par with the top-tier anime Chainsaw Man. With fans comparing it to Fujimoto’s series, one thing is for sure – Yamashiro notched the anime up through his expertise.
Fuga Yamashiro’s color symbolism in the anime
What hooks the viewers to anime is its stunning visuals and excellent animation. Be it Toei or MAPPA, the animation studios have always managed to exceed viewers’ expectations. Science SARU, however, is no exception to this.
The studio was founded almost 2 years after MAPPA, and what sets it apart from its competitors is its versatility. Most productions from the studio incorporate vibrant and vivid color schemes. This would often remind one of vintage pop art.
Interestingly though, the studio has produced some of the finest works. This includes Space Dandy, Devilman Crybaby, and The Heike Story. As a leading animation studio, Science SARU has its signature style which is evident in most of its earliest anime including Tatami Galaxy.
The use of diverse and unusual colors further inspired Fuga Yamashiro. For Yukinobu Tatsu, the director used a similar palette but with more bold and risque tones. There is, however, a deeper symbolism attached to this process.
In an interview with Anime Corner, Yamashiro revealed the color symbolism. He quoted:
I assigned different colors to each of the different characters. If it’s this alien, it’ll be blue. If it’s this ghost, it’ll be red, etc. When that character appeared, I would flush the screen with their theme colors. Just like on a stage, we would change the stage lights for different characters or get a different spotlight.
Yamashiro’s vision fits perfectly with the persona of the characters. From Momo’s teal earrings to her aura, it signifies her bold yet subtle personality. With Momo’s character, it’s mostly grey and red.
While the red signifies Turbo Granny’s possession, the grey reflects his ambiguity. It is this very aspect that makes the series top-tier in comparison to Tatsuki Fujimoto’s series.
Dandadan reigns supreme over Chainsaw Man in this aspect
Dandadan continues to be a rager in terms of its excellent visuals and storyline. Since the manga’s initial release, it continues to take the internet by storm. From fleshed-out characters to compelling plotlines, the series is a visual treat.
In recent times, though, it has been compared to other shonen anime. This is true with the series’ impeccable art style and its take on the supernatural genre. The anime stands in contrast to yet another magnum opus.
It is only recently that Yukinobu Tatsu is getting his due recognition as an artist. But most importantly, his mentor is partly responsible for his success. He assisted Chainsaw Man mangaka Tatsuki Fujimoto in his magnum opus.
While most fans draw similarities between both series, it is quite the opposite. Apart from the goofy and silly humor, Tatsu’s vision stands out in his series. His unconventional approach to shonen protagonists is one such example. And there’s more to it.
Dandadan’s enmeshing of different genres is what makes it different from Fujimoto’s series. It is a beautiful rendition in terms of the retelling and deconstruction of urban legends. With fleshed-out villains and impeccable art style, Dandadan takes the cake with this one.
Dandadan and Chainsaw Man are available for streaming on Crunchyroll. The manga is available for reading on Viz Media.
