Dan Da Dan fan art depicting Okarun and Momo Ayase as Black drew racist abuse and calls to remove Okarun’s English voice actor, AJ Beckles, after he used the art as his profile image. That is the incident Isaiah Colbert reported for Gizmodo on December 9, 2024—not a live account of social-media activity or a measure of how common racism is in anime fandom.
What happened with the Dan Da Dan fan art?
Artist Lynn6Thorex reimagined the series’ protagonists, Okarun and Momo Ayase, as Black. In his December 9, 2024, report, Colbert wrote that the artwork spread widely and that Beckles, who voices Okarun in the English-language version, showed support by making it his profile image. Fellow cast member Anairis Quiñones also adopted the artwork, according to the report.
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Dandadan, Vol. 19 | $9.59 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Dandadan, Vol. 1 | $8.99 | Buy on Amazon |
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Dandadan, Vol. 2 | $9.28 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
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Dandadan Manga Set Vol. 1-16 complete set paperback (16 Books) english & Juliet Music Bookmark | Buy on Amazon | |
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Dandadan, Vol. 3 | $9.59 | Buy on Amazon |
Gizmodo reported approximately 88,000 likes and 11,000 reposts at the time. Those are December 2024 snapshots, not verified current totals. Some users attacked the artist and Black anime fans, and some called for Beckles to be removed from his role because he used the image, Colbert reported.
Why did it become a culture-war controversy?
The art was a fan’s creative reimagining of fictional characters. The backlash described in Colbert’s account treated that reinterpretation—and an actor’s support for it—as a provocation. Colbert framed the anger as part of anti-diversity culture-war rhetoric, arguing that objections to characters being imagined as Black turn ordinary fan creativity into a dispute over who belongs in a fandom.
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That is Colbert’s interpretation of the episode, not the finding of a broader study. One reported incident cannot establish how prevalent racism is in anime communities, characterize all Dan Da Dan fans, or stand in for the experiences of Black fans generally.
What did AJ Beckles say?
Beckles addressed the response directly. As quoted in Colbert’s Gizmodo report, he wrote: “Honestly this is just another day in the life as a Black man for me so I’m okay.” He also asked people to avoid his comments on earlier posts for their mental health and to avoid triggers: “But for your own mental health and to avoid triggers please avoid my comments on previous posts for the time being.”
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Where does Dan Da Dan come from?
Dan Da Dan, also styled Dandadan, is a manga created by Yukinobu Tatsu. VIZ’s official page describes Momo and Okarun and lists English-language editions, including Vol. 1. The manga is a way to explore the series, not a necessary purchase to understand the controversy.
For anime home video, Aniplex’s catalog lists Japanese-market Blu-ray and DVD releases. Those listings do not establish English-region compatibility, language or subtitle options, or current availability where you live. The official Japanese anime site also lists streaming services for seasons one and two; those listings likewise do not establish availability in other territories. Check local listings and edition details before choosing a format.
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