A New Arc Begins
This week’s episode of DAN DA DAN presented the second installment of a new arc, following the defeat of Turbo Granny and a celebratory crab dinner. Last week’s episode was likely my favorite of the season from a slice-of-life and emotional perspective; it beautifully combined the universal feelings of teenage angst and yearning with the attempts of two people to connect both emotionally and physically. The music, voice acting, and direction were so impressive that I (and many others) found ourselves practically begging for Momo and Okarun to find each other and resolve the episode’s awkwardness, showcasing how effectively it communicated the emotions it aimed to convey.
Shifting Settings
This week’s episode takes a different approach, introducing a new combination of settings and events for DAN DA DAN. Now that we’ve moved past the initial conflicts with wayward aliens and Turbo Granny, the story shifts its focus back to its original location: the school. Personally, I enjoy schools as a setting for fantasy; the contrast between the mundane aspects like classrooms and uninvolved characters juxtaposed with special powers or, in this case, the occult creates a fascinating dynamic. Similar to last week, elements of the story devoid of fantastical elements shine in this familiar environment.
Action and Character Development
That said, Episode 6 included some action as well. The blend of settings featured a mix of school life, the proper introduction of a new character, and the onset of a more episodic pace within a broader goal: finding Okarun’s balls.
Spoilers Ahead for DAN DA DAN Episode 6: Beauty and a Beast
After an initial search for Okarun’s balls involving him, Momo, and Turbo Granny (who provided useful context for why people or yokai might have picked them up), we transition to the school. Here, we witness one of my favorite moments: Okarun (1) realizing his attraction to Momo and (2) confronting other students while manifesting Turbo Granny’s power. The first part was simply delightful. I appreciated the anime giving us insight into his thoughts and conflicting emotions as he grapples with his feelings for Momo and the instinct to protect their newfound friendship.
The voice acting in this scene was particularly impressive. Both the sub and the English dub actors (if you haven’t checked out the dub, I recommend it; the performances in both versions are outstanding) did an excellent job transitioning from Okarun’s normal voice to his ghostly, Turbo Granny-influenced tone, blending frustration and anger seamlessly. His transformations are always captivating, and this is the second time we’ve seen this power manifest from feelings of anger, making it feel even more personal. Additionally, Okarun’s awkward retreat after encountering Momo in the hallway post-confrontation was the highlight of the episode.
Introducing Aira Shiratori
Shortly before and after the opening, we meet Aira Shiratori, the resident “nice girl” with a fake personality in DAN DA DAN. I always appreciate such characters because their over-applied facades are easily recognizable to viewers but often remain hidden from the other characters, almost like we’re privy to a not-so-well-kept secret. Similar to the early stages of series like YuYu Hakusho and BLEACH, Aira’s introduction hints that others outside the core cast can awaken to spiritual powers, broadening the character roster and adding more traits to the mix. Her main character syndrome exposition was hilarious, especially knowing that what she believes to be a golden ball is actually just a… well, human one.
A Quick Phase 1 Fight
The second half of the episode features Aira attempting a half-baked exorcism on Momo, leading to a subsequent fight against a new spirit that ultimately targets Aira and, eventually, our main duo when they interfere. While this segment included action and exciting scenes showcasing both Momo and Okarun’s powers, Turbo Granny truly stole the show. Initially, I was unsure about her presence in cat form within DAN DA DAN, but she has proven to be a hilarious addition to the cast, stealing scenes with her dialogue and antics.
Regarding the fight itself, it was well-choreographed and featured the most acrobatic character we’ve seen on screen thus far. Like Turbo Granny, this yokai utilized warm colors, specifically a shade of magenta, contrasting the deep red we had become accustomed to. This fight revealed that, despite having better control over their powers than before, Momo and Okarun still appear relatively weak compared to a yokai that is lower on the hierarchy than Turbo Granny. It made me ponder how much of their victory against her was due to luck, her tendency to be provoked, and the opportunity to use seals and powers through Seiko. While this fight wasn’t as thrilling as the one in Episode 4, it was a solid start, and I expect more from it in the upcoming episodes.
Conclusion
Overall, this was an excellent episode. Episode 4 was packed with action but lacked focus on slice-of-life and romantic elements, while Episode 5 was the opposite. This episode successfully balanced both elements, and I hope this trend continues. Now that we’ve moved on from the initial saga of the series, I look forward to more widespread, smaller-scale confrontations like this one, allowing us to learn more about the aliens and ghosts of DAN DA DAN and further expand our cast of characters.