The first three episodes of Dan Da Dan season 2 premiered theatrically on June 6. Season 2 will premiere on Crunchyroll, Netflix, and Hulu on Thursday, July 3.
Following the sickening cliffhanger that ended season 1 of Dan Da Dan, expectations are high for season 2. Based on the strength of the first three episodes, I’d say Okarun, Momo, and their fellow paranormal obsessives are poised to meet those expectations – and potentially exceed them if this momentum continues. We’ve been accustomed to a certain level of chaos in this anime so far, but the beginning of season 2 quite literally blows up the gang’s little bubble.
These episodes dig deeper into the newest addition to the crew, the highly energetic and quirky Jiji (Kaito Ishikawa). Momo and Okarun’s relationship is obviously the foundation of Dan Da Dan, but Jiji, like Aira before him, throws a twist into this coming-of-age story. For me, Jiji’s antics initially walked right up to the edge of annoying, but season 2 gives us a better sense of why he is the way he is – he’s not just wacky for wackiness’ sake, it turns out. Although his over-the-top and playful actions don’t appear genuine at times, some subtle interactions with other characters show that he cares about those around him.
Jiji’s story and his predicament are effectively highlighted. We knew coming in that this would be a very dangerous venture, considering all the firsthand experience Jiji had with his family and hired mediums. As we learn more about the history of the house they’re renting, we see the scope of how dire the circumstances are. It’s by far the biggest challenge the gang has faced so far: until now, most of Okarun and Momo’s troubles have been resolved within their small circle, but that seems very unlikely this time around, and it leads to a major disturbance by the end of the premiere episodes.
So far, though, this feels like less of the beginning of a new story for the second season and more of a second course to season one. It’s great that we’re finally seeing this storyline round out after being teased last season, but I’m still left with the sense that more could’ve been done to develop Jiji’s character during this early stretch. For an arc that centers around his trial, we haven’t really learned much more about him unlike the newly introduced creature. My hope is that we see a resolution as impactful as Aira’s, but I’m not sure if it’ll be up to par based on what I’ve seen so far. With that said, the grand scale of these supernatural events is refreshing, as is what they might mean for the series going forward.
Speaking of continuing the anime series, the team at Science Saru keeps up the quality work that they’ve been doling out over the years. Among other things, amazing character designs remain one of the best parts of Dan Da Dan. Whether it’s Okarun’s transformation or the scores of horrendous, otherworldly threats our heroes face, Science Saru does a great job of packing everything we need to know about a character into how they look. Take Jiji’s family’s creepy landlords, the Kitos, for example: Their uncomfortable smiles and questionable demeanor in these first few episodes of season 2 are enough to paint them as villains. Then there’s the new supernatural being that we caught a glimpse of at the end of the first season; what first comes off as a fairly unnerving sight gains new dimensions in season 2, with a peek at how this menacing creature came to be. These wild designs elevate the amount of chaotic energy Dan Da Dan puts out, and it’s better for it.
Of course, there’s some action to be had, too. Dan Da Dan’s inventive use of color continues in season 2, and it’s a great tool for enhancing the storytelling within the action. There’s one fight where every impact from a character is emphasized by flashes of darkness or negative space that’s particularly striking. It’s a simple concept that we’ve seen in other shonen series, where a number of quick flashes go off before a grand attack. Less is more in some of these cases, and Science Saru does a great job with nuances like this, and of those of a scene where the camera hones in on the eyes of a police officer and we watch his gaze shift from one character to another. This subtle action, in addition to an already uncomfortable atmosphere, really sells the scene. It’s these kinds of choices that make Dan Da Dan such a great watch.
