Dandadan
Dandadan — Quick Overview
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Dandadan (ダンダダン) is a high-octane supernatural urban fantasy manga written and illustrated by TATSU Yukinobu and published by MANGA Plus, Shueisha. The story thrusts high schoolers Momo Ayase and Ken "Okarun" Takakura into ferocious clashes against malevolent spirits and extraterrestrial invaders after a reckless dare triggers real occult curses and extraterrestrial abductions.
| Author / Story : TATSU Yukinobu | Format & Status : Manga · Ongoing |
| Artist / Art : TATSU Yukinobu | Original Publisher : MANGA Plus, Shueisha |
Series Specifications (Year, Genres, Origin...)View all details ↓
| Release Year : 2021 | Demographic : Shounen |
| Country of Origin : Japan (Manga) | Reading Style : Right to Left |
| Primary Genres : Action, Comedy, Drama, Ecchi, Horror, Mature, Mystery, Romance, School Life, Sci-fi, Supernatural | |
| Core System / Theme : Spirit Medium Psychokinesis, Yokai Curse Possession, Extraterrestrial Tech, Cryptid Warfare | |
Other Names & Verified AliasesView all
Full Synopsis & Narrative BreakdownRead story
High schooler Momo Ayase hails from a lineage of spiritual mediums, firmly convinced that ghosts walk the earth while flatly dismissing extraterrestrials as fiction. Her reclusive classmate Ken "Okarun" Takakura believes the exact opposite, obsessing over UFO abductions while refusing to credit paranormal specters. To settle the debate, each visits an infamous hotspot: Momo investigates an abandoned hospital known for alien sightings, while Okarun enters a haunted tunnel associated with the urban myth Turbo Granny.
Both premises prove terrifyingly genuine. The Serpo aliens abduct Momo to harvest reproductive organs, activating her latent psychokinetic spiritual powers. Simultaneously, Turbo Granny curses Okarun, stripping his anatomy and binding her monstrous spirit within his body. Escaping through combined telekinetic repulsion and cursed kinetic acceleration, the two form an uneasy partnership supervised by Momo's grandmother, the modern spirit medium Seiko Ayase.
To reclaim Okarun's missing spirit orbs and neutralize hostile invaders, Momo and Okarun navigate escalating battlefronts against Serpo geneticists, Acrobatic Silky, Nessie-class cryptids, and the territorial Evil Eye spirit. Their fight for survival evolves across high-speed physical warfare and evolving romantic intimacy, proving that neither scientific calculation nor spiritual tradition can confront the bizarre alone.
What to Expect
Dandadan distinguishes itself through relentless narrative velocity, combining fluid choreography with grotesque body horror and deadpan comedy. Tactical confrontations demand creative synergy between Momo's aura-grasping psychokinesis and Okarun's high-speed cursed transformations. Pacing shifts rapidly from domestic banter to multi-stage planetary invasions, maintaining grounded emotional vulnerabilities beneath manic visual spectacles across major arcs like the Cursed House, Space Globalists, and Danmanra campaigns.
Who Will Enjoy This
Ideal for readers seeking high-energy battle shounen with razor-sharp comedic timing, genuine character chemistry, and relentless pacing. If you appreciate the unconventional supernatural violence and kinetic dynamism seen in modern action serials, this series provides exceptional depth.
Readers following Dandadan should explore Chainsaw Man, written by Tatsuki Fujimoto, whom Yukinobu Tatsu assisted for years; both titles feature unapologetic dark fantasy irreverence, striking creature designs, and raw urban combat. Readers seeking expansive world-building, eccentric ensemble casts, and long-term narrative momentum will also appreciate Eiichiro Oda's One Piece, which shares a relentless commitment to creative visual escalation and character-driven stakes.
Key Early Characters (Momo, Okarun, Turbo Granny, Seiko)View cast
| Character | Role & Nature | Initial Ability | Drive & Motivation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Momo Ayase | High school protagonist from a line of spiritual mediums | Psychokinetic grasp of spiritual auras and objects | Protect loved ones and restore Okarun's physical normality |
| Ken "Okarun" Takakura | Occult-obsessed classmate cursed by an urban legend spirit | High-speed demonic transformation via Turbo Granny curse | Retrieve stolen spirit anatomy and support Momo in battle |
| Turbo Granny | Vengeful speed yokai bound inside a maneki-neko talisman | Kinetic velocity transfer and spiritual curse infliction | Reclaim independent bodily power while aiding under duress |
| Seiko Ayase (Santa Dodoria) | Momo's grandmother and veteran spiritual exorcist | Barrier creation, sacred purifications, and localized warding | Defend the Kamikoshi territory and train the younger generation |
Frequently Asked Questions3 Answers
What is the core conflict and power dynamic in Dandadan?
Spiritual yokai and extraterrestrial invaders collide through Momo's psychokinesis and Okarun's cursed demonic speed. While Serpo aliens seek genetic material to solve their species' reproductive collapse, rogue spirits terrorize mortal territories, forcing spiritual mediums and cursed humans into high-speed defense alliances.
Where does the Dandadan anime leave off in the manga?
Start reading at Chapter 34 after Season 1 produced by Science SARU. Season 1 concluded by adapting through Chapter 33 at the Cursed House entry. For viewers completing Season 2, the narrative advances through Chapter 71, making Chapter 72 the exact point to pick up the canon manga.
What is the current 2026 serialization schedule for Dandadan?
Dandadan updates weekly on Tuesdays via Shueisha's digital Shonen Jump+ platform in Japan and MANGA Plus internationally. The ongoing manga continues its regular serialization cycle, delivering uncompressed digital panel art and simultaneous English chapter translations for current story arcs.