Anime had a big year in 2024, with shows likeSolo LevelingandDelicious in Dungeoncapturing the attention of the industry with impressive debuts. For new titles, however,Dandadanled the way, stealing the title ofNetflix’s most-watched anime, despite premiering during the fall anime season. Studio Science Saru was able to capture the magic ofDandadan’s source material, while offering an impressive visual style throughout the series' 12-episode run.
It’s obvious the studio and those who worked on the series put their all into it,and were able to achieve a quality that’s rare for a weekly TV anime. As a result,Dandadanwas named as a nominee for several of Crunchyroll’s Anime Awards. To the surprise of just about everyone, considering the quality of the debut outing, it was announced thatDandadanwould return for a second seasononly months after the conclusion of its first, and there’s reason to believe it will be even better this time around.
Dandadan’s First Season Was a Spectacle
The New Hit Anime Never Stopped Impressing Throughout Its First Season
From the momentDandadan’s first episode opens, the series makes it very clear to the audience that they’re in for ahigh-energy, anything-goes experience. There’s an alien invasion, a possession, and the start of some romance all impressively packed into a 23-minute runtime. The remainder of the season isn’t all that different, as run-ins with the next monster of the week help to keep viewers engaged, while devastatingly gorgeous moments likeepisode #7, “To a Kinder World”, flex bothDandadan’s writing and visual mastery.
To many, the only blemish on an otherwise perfect season of the latest hit anime was its ending. Episode #12, “Let’s Go to the Cursed House”, ends with not one, but two major cliffhangers, as Momo is about to be attacked by a group of perverted old men while Okarun and Jiji discover a creepy hidden room in the titular cursed home. It was abrupt andleft many fans feeling somewhat unsatisfied, until shortly after its conclusion, the follow-up season was revealed to only be around the corner.
The Evil Eye Arc Is When Dandadan Rounds Into Form
The Upcoming Season Covers the Rise of a Formula Dandadan Still Follows
Set to premiere on August 15, 2025, the upcoming season will cover the remainder ofDandadan’s Evil Eye arc, which began following Jiji’s arrival in the first season. While fans might have been wowed by the first season’s action and pacing, readers of theDandadanmanga by Yukinobu Tatsu are likely to agree that the anime community hasn’t seen anything yet. The climactic showdown of the arc showcases the series' first large-scale, incredibly destructive battle, and it is visually stunning.
Beyond the events of the story, however, the Evil Eye arc also marksthe rise of a formula thatDandadan’s source material has utilized ever since. A new character is introduced, their supernatural dilemma slowly reveals itself, and the established cast deals with the dilemma, while the overarching storyline of Okarun’s missing reproductive organs steadily makes some progress. This structure began to reveal itself with Aira’s introduction, albeit in a more condensed package.
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Season One covered the series' introductory chapters, which prioritized freaky, random supernatural events over any sort of established structure.The Evil Eye arc is whereDandadanrounds into form, and really begins to let the audience familiarize themselves with the series' larger narrative and what it’s setting out to do. On top of that, it also packs quite the emotional punch, introducing a fan-favorite cast member while offering some of the best action the series has ever seen.
How Much of the Manga Will Dandadan Season Two Cover?
Anime Fans May Be Treated to the Evil Eye Arc and More
Given that the Evil Eye arc began in the final episodes of Season One,the remaining portion of the arc will be adapted in its entirety. The section contains one ofDandadan’s most complex battles, so it’s likely that it will take several episodes to cover all the action, but the anime will have ample time remaining after the arc’s conclusion. Thanks tothe first promotional teaser for Season Two, which included illustrations of several characters, it’s also been confirmed that the beginning of the next major section will be adapted as well.
At the bottom of the teaser, underneath Okarun and out of focus from all the Evil Eye arc imagery, is a Kaiju creature standing menacingly. This seems to signal thatthe upcoming season will also cover the introduction of Vamola, though how far it will venture into her time in the series remains to be seen. It’s likely the season will treat her arc in a similar fashion to how Season One introduced Jiji, setting up what’s to come before the final episode reaches its ending.
Dandadan Will Have Tough Competition For Anime of the Year
2025 Is Gearing Up to Be Another Great Year For Anime
IfDandadan’s second season is able to match the quality of its first, there’s little reason not to assume it will once again be a front-runner for anime of the year in 2025.However, it won’t be without stiff competition.The Apothecary Diariesis continuing its meteoric rise in popularity, whileSolo Levelingspent the winter anime season breaking just about every record it possibly could.Kaiju no. 8is also returning for its second season in July, while the long-awaitedOne Punch ManSeason Three is planned for a 2025 release.
Dandadanwill have a tough time beating out the competition, though if its second season can live up to the manga and rival the quality of its first season, there’s reason to suspect it will surpass fans' expectations. The anime community has quite a few titles to look forward to this summer, and 2024’s most popular series is likely to be leading the pack.The first three episodes will premiere in US theaters on June 6, and fans won’t want to miss it.
Dandadan
Cast
Two high school students, embroiled in a wager to prove the existence of ghosts or aliens, encounter daunting paranormal threats, acquire superpowers, and possibly discover love. The series blends supernatural elements with personal dynamics as the protagonists navigate their newfound abilities and unexpected challenges.
