Friendship shines in trippy, violent supernatural anime.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
Any Positive Content?
Violence & Scariness
a lot
Both ghosts and aliens are exceptionally disturbing to look at; they're nightmarish and psychedelic. Characters are beaten bloody with bats; a character goes up in flames. In a particularly disturbing scene, aliens forcibly spread a teen girl's legs and threaten to rape her using a scary metal device. A character's penis is stolen. There are explosions and alien/ghost attacks.
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Hints of romance between the two main characters. A ghost character called Turbo Granny's main goal is to steal penises; her catchphrase is "gonna gobble that weenie." Alien characters, on the other hand, want to steal characters' "bananas." A character is shown in her bra and panties; breasts are exaggerated.
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People aren't always what they seem; they may have hidden depths. Friendship is valuable and should be treasured. Sticking by a friend is always worth it.
Positive Role Models
some
Both Momo and Okarun start off thinking only of themselves, but begin to help each other over time. Momo's grandma is an unlikely role model who does her best to watch over her.
Diverse Representations
some
Both Okarun and Momo are Japanese teens. Momo is brave and fiesty, and always up to the challenge, whatever it may be. Okarun is referred to as an "otaku," someone with an extreme special interest; in his case, it's aliens and the occult. Momo is raised by her grandmother, a non-traditional older woman.
Parents need to know that Dan Da Dan is a supernatural anime about unlikely teen friends Momo Ayase (voiced by Shion Wakayama), who believes in ghosts, and Ken "Okarun" Takakura (Natsuki Hanae), who believes in aliens and the occult. Turns out they're right: Aliens and ghosts are real, and they're a serious threat to the teens' lives. Violence is frequent, intense, and nightmarish, and the supernatural creatures are often highly disturbing. A character's penis is stolen by a creepy ghost who wants to "gobble that weenie." Sci-fi violence includes explosions and weapons, and aliens forcibly spread Momo's legs and threaten to rape her using a sharp metal object. There are hints of romance between the two main characters, and a character is shown in her bra and panties (her breasts are exaggerated). Occasional language includes "moron," "lame," "pissed," "crap," and "scumbag." Momo's grandma is always seen with a cigarette in her mouth. Alongside the story's trippier aspects are clear themes of friendship and perseverance. The first three episodes were released theatrically under the title Dan Da Dan: First Encounter.
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What's the Story?
Teenage Momo Ayase (voiced by Shion Wakayama) believes in ghosts and was raised by her spiritual grandmother. When she stands up for Ken "Okarun" Takakura (Natsuki Hanae), a geek who believes in aliens and the occult, an unlikely friendship begins. Turns out, they're both right, and their adventures as a team begin.
This wacky, sometimes disturbing series packs lots of concepts into its supernatural adventures. In Dan Da Dan, viewers quickly get educated about location-based ghosts, yokai, spiritualism, and Skinwalker Ranch. The character design of both the ghosts and aliens is incredible; that is to say, they're ominous and horrifying, but you also can't look away. But the best part of this anime is the growing friendship between Momo and Okarun; they look past each other's beliefs to find connection in a charming, funny way.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about friendship. Do you have friends with different beliefs than your own? How does that work?
Okarun is bullied for being an "otaku," a person with an extreme special interest (his is aliens). Is there ever a good reason to bully someone?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
suggesting a diversity update.
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
By Polly Conway
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
