Exploring Dandadan Season 1 Review: What’s Just Beginning

Last updated on November 18th, 2025 at 10:59 am

Alright, look I wasn’t hoping for much when I clicked on Dandadan. Another supernatural anime? Sure, why not. But here’s the thing: After binging all 12 episodes in, I’m embarrassed to admit, just one weekend, I understand why everyone is talking about it.

It’s not your average ghost-meets-alien tale. It’s strange, it’s daring and yet somehow it earned a 100% critics’ score on Rotten Tomatoes. So when I settled in to dissect this Dandadan Season 1 review, I wanted to discern what actually connected and what still has time to bake for coming seasons.

What Actually Worked: The Standout Moments

Here’s aspect I found most surprising the animation quality. Science SARU didn’t just adapt the manga, they came up with these different color themes for each kind of supernatural being it’s something so simple, but it entirely changes how you encounter every scene. When Turbo Granny suddenly stands before you vs aliens appearing, you feel the change in atmosphere instantaneously.

First 4 episodes reeled me in with the Turbo Granny arc. It felt fresh to see Okarun get possessed while Momo realizes she has psychic powers. But Episode 7? That’s where things got real. The Acrobatic Silky story line hurt I was not prepared for a show about ghosts, aliens and parenting to make me get misty-eyed over issues like loss and motherhood.

What I enjoyed about venturing into Dandadan Season 1 was this balancing act between chaos and real emotion. One moment, you’re on board for absurd fight scenes; the next, it’s managing some serious heavy lifting about grief and connection.

The Characters That You Watch For

The chemistry between Momo and Okarun here is legit. Their relationship begins under mutual skepticism (he’s an alien believer; she, a ghost believer), but by the end of their season, you’re as much rooting for them together as simply with one another.

Okarun goes from a harassed, terrified little boy to someone who is really taking care of his friends. That growth felt earned, not rushed. And Momo? She isn’t just strong psychically she’s the emotional anchor of the entire series.

Then there is Aira, who begins as an adversary and ends up fully crewed, with supernatural powers of her own. The show’s character building is intelligent. Nobody’s one-dimensional.

What’s Next (And Why It Matters)

Here’s where it gets interesting. Manga readers it’s repeated me this, Season 1 covers that is supposed to be considered “the weakest part of the history”. If that little bit I just saw is the weak spot, I’m really anxious to see this thing keep growing.

Season 2 arrives in July 2025, and a third season has already been announced. Not only is that good, it’s an indication to you that Science SARU believes in this property over the long run.

There were hiccups on the production side. There are a few (episodes 8-10 suffered some quality drops mostly because of schedule problems, so I’ve read and observed during my second watch). But honestly? That they held such high standards under those conditions for most of the season is pretty solid.

The Real Talk: What Failed

Well, let’s talk about the elephant in the room. The season finale midarced, and it felt like screeching to a halt. That cliffhanger with possible sexual assault drew a lot of criticism, and I get it. It just felt like the timing was off and viewers didn’t really get their goodbyes.

There is explicit sexual content throughout the series that, obviously, won’t work for everyone. The 16+ rating is not without reason the series was meant for older audiences that can cope with such issues.

The tonal shifts can be jarring as well. One minute, you’ll be laughing at something; the next moment, you’re watching horror or deep emotional moments. The first time I saw this, it was disorienting. The second one, I enjoyed the surround-sound chaos behind it.

Should You Actually Watch It?

If you’re poking around Dandadan Season 1 and wondering if you should watch it, here’s my thought: yes, with a caveat of understanding what is had.

You can find it on Netflix, Crunchyroll, Hulu and Prime Video, so accessibility is not a problem. The 12 episodes fly by, and while you might gnash your teeth at the ending, it’s worth it for the journey.

The difference from other supernatural anime is how it mixes them. The UFO accessories/old yokai Japan look is fresh, as is the romantic comedy aspect and, well, it looks good enough to stand alone.

This series has a lot of good stuff in it for content creators and fans. Episode dissections, character breakdowns, cartoons technique deconstruction there’s more than a thin veneer of order running through this chaos.

The Bottom Line

Checking out Dandadan Season 1, on the other hand, revealed to me an anime that has been willing to risk. It’s not perfect the production challenges reveal themselves, the content warnings are warranted and that finale decision was debatable. But this is something truly special.

Its artistic merit and emotional depth make it shine in a sea of often interchangeable anime. When a series can make you laugh, think and feel all in an episode, it’s doing something right.

Is Season 2 fulfilled with its incremental promise that the story is only getting better? I’m cautiously optimistic. But if this is the (admittedly tiny) tip of the iceberg, then when July 2025 does arrive, I’ll be a viewer for sure.

Just, you know, maybe just remember the content warnings if you pass it along to someone else. This one is not going to be for everyone, but if you’re into it, this could be a wild ride worth taking.

Read:

Lego Horizon Adventures Review: A Game Changer for Electric Commuting