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Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Spoiler-light review: The first episode of DAN DA DAN introduces its central hook through a lively disagreement: Momo Ayase believes in ghosts but not aliens, while her classmate Okarun believes in aliens but not ghosts. Their attempt to prove each other wrong gives the series a clear supernatural-comedy premise. Whether that mix works for you depends on your appetite for paranormal chaos, school comedy and sudden shifts in tone.
What happens in episode 1?
Momo Ayase comes from a family of spiritual mediums, but her beliefs do not extend to extraterrestrials. Okarun—whose given name is Ken Takakura—is an occult enthusiast who believes in aliens and rejects ghosts. After Momo helps him when classmates bully him, the two argue about which side of the paranormal is real.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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Dandadan, Vol. 1 | $8.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Dandadan, Vol. 2 | $9.28 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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Dandadan, Vol. 3 | $10.19 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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Dandadan, Vol. 4 | $8.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
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Dandadan, Vol. 5 | $8.53 | Buy on Amazon |
They turn the disagreement into an experiment. Momo goes to an abandoned hospital known as a UFO hotspot, while Okarun investigates a haunted tunnel. The official synopsis says they encounter extraordinary supernatural forces; Momo awakens hidden power and Okarun gains cursed power. That setup is the episode’s main draw: the characters are sent to test opposing beliefs, and the supernatural answer arrives from both directions.
This is a spoiler-light account of the premise rather than a beat-by-beat recap, so the encounter itself is best left for the episode.
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Is the premise likely to appeal to you?
The series starts from a useful comic contrast rather than treating “the occult” as one undifferentiated mystery. Momo and Okarun begin with incompatible convictions, and their challenge gives the story a reason to bring ghosts, aliens and youthful awkwardness into the same frame. If you enjoy genre stories that mix paranormal threats with comedy and character friction, that premise may be a good fit.
If you prefer horror that sustains dread, or a more grounded school story, the deliberately outsize supernatural setup may be less appealing. The premise alone cannot establish how effectively the episode balances horror, comedy, action and romantic tension; that depends on the viewing experience, not the synopsis.
Rank #2
How the anime fits the manga and its production
DAN DA DAN adapts Yukinobu Tatsu’s manga, serialized on Shueisha’s Shonen Jump+. Science SARU produced the anime, with Fuga Yamashiro directing. Aniplex credits Hiroshi Seko with series composition and scripts, Kensuke Ushio with music, Naoyuki Onda with character design, and Yoshimichi Kameda with alien and yokai design. These credits identify the creative team, but they are not by themselves evidence of how the episode’s animation, pacing or adaptation choices perform.
For readers curious about the source, the manga is the most direct companion to an episode-one review: it lets you compare how the same opening setup is presented on the page and on screen. ORICON reported on October 1, 2024 that the comic had surpassed 3.2 million copies in circulation at that time; that is a dated figure, not a current total.
Rank #3
When and where did episode 1 launch?
The Japanese broadcast began October 3, 2024 at 24:26 on MBS/TBS’s Super Animeism TURBO block, according to Aniplex. ORICON’s contemporaneous preview described sequential streaming beginning at 25:00 that day. These are historical Japanese launch details; they do not establish which services carry the series now or in a particular region.
For current viewing options, check a licensed service’s listing in your country rather than relying on the original launch schedule. Crunchyroll’s series listing identifies the show as a supernatural action-comedy adapted from the manga and lists Science SARU and Yamashiro as studio and director.
Quick Recap
Best Value
Rank #4
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