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Warning: Contains spoilers for Dan Da Dan episode #4.Dan Da Danis the latest anime from theShonen Jumpbrand, and it’s easilyone of the bestShonen Jumpanime adaptations to date. Between the great action and writing and how it’s perfectly complemented by the gorgeous animation of Science Saru,Dan Da Danhas become an instant hit with fans and critics alike, and it’s already an easy contender for the best anime of 2024.
RegardingDan Da Dan’s writing, a big part of what makes it so good is how it handles its female protagonist. For years, anime in and out ofShonen Jumphave struggled with writing their female characters, with stories likeNaruto,Bleach,My Hero Academia, andJujutsu Kaisenbeing major offenders, but surprisingly,Dan Da Danhas done a perfect job of avoiding some of the biggest problemsShonen Jumpanime have with their female characters. That writing has madeDan Da Dana standout anime from its premiere, and it’s set to only get better with each passing episode.
Dan Da Dan Shows How Shonen Battle Anime Need To Write Their Female Heroes
Why Dan Da Dan’s Heroine Is So Great
Thanks to shonen anime having boys as their primary demographic, the male characters typically get the most attention and involvement in the plot while the female characters typically only play supporting roles at best. Fortunately, though,Dan Da Danavoids the issue of female protagonists inShonen Jumpanime not getting proper development by making Momo the main character from the very beginning, and that does a great job of establishing that she’s a major player as opposed to being stuck in a supporting role.
Dan Da Danestablishes Momo as a major player from its very first scene, and the rest of the story never fails to live up to that idea. Not only is Momo always driving the story with her comedy and assertive personality, but she always contributes to fights with her clever planning and overall power and is typically the one who has to end things.Dan Da Dannever fails to give Momo the kind of agency a main character in aShonen Jumpanime deserves, and she’s far better than the average female protagonist because of it.
Dan Da Dan Does A Great Job Of Making Its Heroes Stand As Equals
Momo & Okarun Are Coprotagonists
Another major point about Momo’s agency inDan Da Danis how she presents compared to Okarun. Both Momo and Okarun are the protagonists ofDan Da Dan, and while story arcs tend to center around Okarun’s problems more than they do Momo’s,Dan Da Danalways does a great job of portraying Momo and Okarun as equals by giving them equal involvement in the story, with their character development always happening in tandem so no one ever feels more developed than the other.
Dan Da Dan Uses Demon Slayer’s Greatest Trick To Prove The True Secret To A Successful Shonen Adaptation
Dan Da Dan is employing its stellar animation to expand and improve moments from the manga, something that made Demon Slayer a massive hit.
The way Momo and Okarun complement each other can be best seen inDan Da Danepisode #4. Okarun’s physical abilities were the main reason why he and Momo could stand up to and eventually defeat Turbo Granny, but not only was Momo the one guiding Okarun on how best to use his powers, but when Okarun ran out of power, Momo didn’t hesitate to take over and finish things, once and for all.Dan Da Dan’s fights are always decided by how well Momo and Okarun work together, and that’s somethingShonen Jumpanime rarely succeed at doing.
In many ways, Momo and Okarun’s dynamic is an inversion of the typical dynamicShonen Jumppairings have. Unlike many male protagonists, Okarun is meek and reserved and fights best when following Momo’s plans; similarly, Momo, as previously stated, is driven and assertive, and her support of Okarun is framed as less because she’s a girl and more because she’s his partner.Dan Da Danavoids the typical pitfalls ofShonen Jumpanime through how much it revitalizes the male and female dynamic through Momo and Okarun, and it makes the writing for both characters as great as possible.
Dan Da Dan’s Character Writing Helps Sell Its Romance Story
Dan Da Dandoes a great job of making Momo and Okarun’s dynamic far better than what’s typically seen in aShonen Jumpanime, which does a lot to sell the romance aspect of the story.Dan Da Danhas made it clear thatthe romance between Momo and Okarunwill be at the center of the story, but with Momo’s assertiveness and how active a part she has in the story,Dan Da Dan’s romance is set up to be far better than the averageShonen Jumpromance thanks to how much agency Momo has been given.
That idea can already be seen in the series, of course; Momo and Okarun always have great chemistry through their bickering and constant support, and that wouldn’t have worked as well if they were written more generically, especially not if Momo was more of a typicalShonen Jumpheroine.The great writing forDan Da Dan’s romance subplot is another part of how it breaks the mold ofShonen Jumpanime, and ifDan Da Dankeeps to that sort of writing, then Momo is sure to go down as one of the bestShonen Jumpheroines of all time.
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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.
