Dandadan currently has some of the best arcs in the story, including Acrobatic Silky which has already aired in the anime.
Dandadan, the anime premiering in the Fall 2024 season, has surprised fans with its first two episodes, including some of the arcs below. This adaptation of Yukinobu Tatsu’s shonen manga, produced by Science Saru, offers touching romance, strong comedy, and imaginative action. It has the potential to be a strong contender for the best anime of the year.
However, what fans have witnessed in these first few episodes is only a small part of Dandadan’s fascinating journey into the supernatural. Momo and Okarun’s encounters with aliens, spirits, and other strange phenomena get stranger and more thrilling in this manga.
The unique adventures of the couple Momo and Okarun have reached an important milestone with the completion of the Kintama Hunt Saga, opening up a new, grander chapter in the Dandadan manga. This is the perfect time to revisit all the exciting twists and turns of the story.
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Best Arcs in Dandadan Anime
Here are the best arcs in Dandadan stories that you should know.
9. Serpo Arc
One of the best arcs in the dandadan manga is the Serpo arc. This storyline depicts Okarun and Momo’s relationship facing its first hurdle, forcing them to practice teamwork with Aira Shiratori, a new member in their supernatural army.
Aira, who was originally Momo’s romantic rival, undergoes significant character development after the conflict with Acrobatic Silky. She went from being a fierce competitor to an ally who began to value true friendship, although still hoping to win Okarun’s heart.
Serpo’s plot is best remembered for its creative and challenging fight against aliens. This fight highlighted the strength and ingenuity of Serpo’s species, with the use of a flooded school environment, comedic scenes of team friction, as well as moments of intense space horror.
While it doesn’t have as strong a plot development as the previous installments, the encounter with Serpo is still great, especially with the presence of fan-favorite character Jiji at the end.
8. Turbo Granny Arc
The opening plot in this popular manga is crucial to determining the future of the work. Its ability to draw readers in can make or break a series. One of the great shonen openers is Dandadan’s Turbo Granny plot.
The first episode of the Dandadan anime adaptation successfully introduced a unique and interesting world. Turbo Granny’s storyline features dynamic and fun characters, and incorporates space and paranormal elements in shonen combat. Smart and bold humor adds to the series’ appeal.
The character building in Dandadan is very strong, especially between Momo and Okarun whose chemistry is apparent from the first interaction. Side characters like Seiko and Turbo Granny are also interesting with their own unique quirks. Although the storyline is filled with strange moments, such as alien abductions and awkward situations, Dandadan manages to show its soft and sincere side.
The revelation of Turbo Granny’s purpose and Okarun’s attraction to Momo adds to the appeal, ensuring that readers are not only entertained but also connected to the underlying emotions.
7. Silky Acrobatic Arc or Acrobatic Yokai
The introductory plot of the heroine, Aira Shiratori of Dandadan, shows her specialty in electrifying shonen storytelling. After defeating Turbo Granny and making her their mascot, Momo and Okarun now face a new challenge: finding Okarun’s missing kintama, which becomes the focus of the search in the manga’s continuing story.
Okarun and his friends engage in a treasure hunt that brings them into conflict with Aira, a popular and arrogant schoolgirl, and the antagonistic yokai Acrobatic Silky. Dandadan takes on the theme of humanizing evil spirits by exploring their regrets, starting with the character Turbo Granny.
Acrobatic Silky’s plot characterizes the series’ narrative with touching and substantial elements. Acrobatic Silky’s tragic past, which is connected to Aira’s grief, presents moments that are emotionally draining, even bringing many readers to tears. Despite all the exciting action, the final flashback is the highlight of the storyline.
6. Kaiju Arc
In the Dandadan storyline, although initially limited in scale, the Kaiju section marks the expansion of the series’ world with the emergence of an alien threat. Okarun and Momo, who were originally just following a cute clue for “bananas,” are now embroiled in a clash with mysterious kaiju creatures that possess never-before-seen powers and destructive abilities.
This action-packed storyline introduces two new characters: Vamola, the main hero of the Space Globalists plot, and Kinta Sakata, a controversial hero with an obsession with mechs. The addition of these characters makes Kaiju’s storyline even more interesting, with witty interactions and humorous banter always present in Dandadan, despite the heroes’ frequent disagreements.
The battles in Kaiju Saga keep readers’ attention, with exciting action between giant robots and kaiju. Dandadan manages to deliver the sheer excitement of this grandiose battle.
5. Onbusuman Arc
After the longest plot in the series, Onbusuman’s story presents a smaller and simpler spiritual conflict, similar to the beginning of the series. It introduces a new character, Rin Sawaki, the polite class president, who is tasked with dealing with a vampire craze girl who is involved with an evil yokai.
It tells the story of Rin’s childhood dream of becoming an idol that is shattered after a tragic accident that takes the life of her friend Mai. The story showcases Dandadan’s ability to develop characters with deep and emotional backgrounds.
Onbusuman’s Dandadan-style plot features humorous moments and visually appealing action, especially in the chase scene between the protagonist and an angry school spirit. While there are no major plot developments or epic battles, it remains a pleasant respite, encapsulating the elements that made readers love Dandadan.
4. Space Globalists Arc
The Space Globalists arc in Dandadan presents an epic story with the heroes facing a new threat from an alien globalist named Kur, who wants to destroy their home planet.
With dynamic training segments, intense battles, and unpredictable storylines, it highlights Yukinobu Tatsu’s incredible skills as an artist. The chapters feature gorgeous artwork and iconic panels that will be remembered in modern shonen history.
In a thrilling clash, Dandadan kept the focus on characters and strong emotions. Each hero gets a pivotal moment during the Globalist invasion, but Vamola, the alien girl who reluctantly befriends the team, resonates the most with the audience.
The dense and fast-paced storyline of Space Globalists is a challenge for weekly readers, but it still presents a riveting climactic event in Dandadan’s story.
3. Danmanra Arc
The final storyline of the Kintama Hunting Saga, Dandadan, features a unique structure and unusual characters. After achieving the second kintama, Momo and Okarun enter the cursed diorama world, where Momo must fight alongside Unji Zuma, a villain with a heart of gold. The interesting backdrop of the Danmanra world and Momo’s dynamics with her allies provide exciting entertainment in this story.
The final clash between the heroes and the Fairy Tale Card, the spirit of the diorama, is intense and imaginative, similar to the fight in Dandadan. For fans of Momo and Okarun’s romance, this moment is significant because Okarun finally reveals his feelings in a dangerous moment. However, Unji Zuma is the main star of Danmanra’s plot.
Zuma is one interesting and touching hero, with a sad backstory. This storyline showcases Dandadan’s skill in creating characters that feel human and authentic. Readers could not have hoped for a more surprising and uplifting ending to Dandadan’s first story than the Danmanra plot.
2. Cursed House Arc
Among all the characters in Dandadan, Jiji is the one who steals the show. In the fourth story titled Cursed House, Jiji is assigned to help a young boy deal with the spirits plaguing his home.
Together with Momo and Okurun, Jiji goes on an exorcism mission that seems simple at first in a small mountain town. However, the mission soon turns into a dangerous local conspiracy, full of life-threatening encounters and challenges for the heroes.
The storyline features Evil Eye, the great antagonist who is the spirit of a bad boy, as well as in-depth character development.
The relationship between Okarun and Jiji, which begins with misunderstandings but develops into a warm friendship, is one of the most interesting bonds in a romance manga. The battle against Evil Eye is also very satisfying, considered the best battle in the series, both in terms of visuals and narrative.
1. Evil Eye Arc
The best arcs in the Dandadan manga that is most popular among fans is the Evil Eye Arc. The Evil Eye arc, while not full of drama or big battles, closely mirrors what happened in Dandadan, making it a favorite among fans. After Evil Eye is trapped in Jiji’s body, the family must soon face problems with evil spirits.
To support Jiji, everyone needs to keep a close eye on her while finding ways to become stronger. Evil Eye’s narrative focuses on developing the family dynamics between the protagonists of Dandadan. Although their personalities and worldviews are often at odds, each character is determined to stick together under all circumstances, even if it means making sacrifices.
The Evil Eye plot in Dandadan depicts a gentle progression through various means, such as Okarun and Aira’s fight against the Music Room Portrait and Jiji’s reconciliation with the title spirit.
The main theme is evident in the brief fight between Okarun and Evil Eye, where Okarun chooses to make a deal with the spirit rather than exorcise it. This plot is touching, engrossing, and deeply meaningful, culminating in the core of Dandadan’s story.
That’s the best series of Dandadan arcs that exist today and maybe in the future there will be more interesting storylines.
