Dandadan Producer Explains the Show’s Chaotic Charm

Key Takeaways

• Dandadan’s eclectic blend of sci-fi/supernatural appeals to audiences worldwide, transcending language barriers.
• Creepy Nuts’ involvement in the anime was born of a desire to capture the chaotic charm of the story.
• Dandadan’s success lies in the chemistry between voice actors Wakayama and Hanae, whose performances work to keep up with the constantly shifting tone.

Science Saru’s long-anticipated adaptation of Yukinobu Tatsu’s Dandadan is still in the thick of its first season, and it has hardly eased up on the gas since exploding onto the scene in October. The longer the anime has gone on, the more its production has piqued the audience’s curiosity, prompting a lot of spotlight on Science Saru, the cast, and its director, Fuga Yamashiro.

We were fortunate enough to have the chance to correspond with Hiroshi Kamei, a producer on Dandadan, as well as such hits as Fire Force, Heavenly Delusion, Undead Unluck, and more. He provided some insight into the anime’s appeal overseas, the winning chemistry of the series’ two leads, and the production’s philosophy on tackling such a tonally dextrous work of fiction.

The Occult Sensation Taking the World By Storm

Kamei Discusses the International Appeal of Dandadan

Q: Dandadan was undoubtedly one of the most anticipated anime adaptations of 2024. What is it about the eclectic blend of sci-fi/supernatural that you think connects with audiences worldwide?

A: Dan Da Dan is deeply rooted in elements of Japanese culture, but it’s a work that can be enjoyed across languages and cultures, even by those unfamiliar with that background. I hope to share its chaotic charm, filled with a variety of elements, with audiences worldwide.

To Kamei’s point, the premise seems to have a universal appeal. As “rooted in elements of Japanese culture” as he describes, that obsession with the occult seen within the characters is easily understood from an outsider’s perspective. It’s a fascination with the unknown that transcends language.

Dandadan’s Viral Opening and the Involvement of Creepy Nuts

Q: The anime’s opening title sequence has garnered over 20 million views on YouTube, where Abel Gongora’s directing/storyboarding is positively mesmerizing… How did the band Creepy Nuts come to be a part of this enthralling sequence?

A: Thankfully, many artists expressed interest in collaborating with Dan Da Dan. For the opening, we wanted to highlight the chaotic charm of the series, which led us to approach Creepy Nuts for the role.

Kamei’s answer is particularly enlightening because, if chaos was the aim, Science Saru certainly picked the right band for the job. It was just at the start of 2024 alone that Creepy Nuts previously went viral with another anime opening. “Bling-Bang-Bang-Born”, the opening theme to the second season of A-1 Pictures’ Mashle, became an instant meme, garnering over 105 million views on YouTube as of the time of writing.

How Science Saru Balanced Dandadan’s Myriad Components

Kamei on the Chemistry Between Okarun and Momo

Q: The chemistry between Okarun and Ayase is so central to the story. When casting for the anime, what qualities were essential to finding the right voices? Additionally, what is it about Natsuki Hanae and Shion Wakayama together that works so well?

A: By aligning our perspectives as a director, original author, and producer, we were able to select voice actors that fit the characters perfectly. For this series, a wide range of performances was required, including
serious moments, comedic scenes, battle cries
, and sharp-tongued comedic exchanges. Both Wakayama-san and Hanae-san delivered outstanding performances. Perhaps it was the blend of Wakayama-san’s natural style and Hanae-san’s technical precision that made their chemistry particularly remarkable.

There are so many factors that contribute to Dandadan’s success, but hearing Kamei discuss it above, one of the most crucial seems to be the versatility of its actors. For a series with so much tonal elasticity, it demands performers who can keep up, and consistently, their performances have been as unrelenting and captivating as the visuals.

How Dandadan Finds a Balance Between Chaos and Calm

Q: In behind-the-scenes interviews, director Yamashiro, as well as voice actors Hanae and Wakayama, have spoken about Dandadan ’s unique pacing, and how it bounces back and forth between chaos and calm. In adapting the story to animation, what disciplines were essential to capturing that tonal dichotomy without breaking the flow of such a quirky story?

A: In Dan Da Dan, this duality frequently occurs, and the ability to naturally shift between these dual aspects is a key part of what makes the series unique. Wakayama-san and Hanae-san have brought this duality to life without compromising the integrity of the characters, while also showcasing their two-sided charm. Thanks to their exceptional acting skills, I feel the appeal of Dan Da Dan has been brought out even more vividly.

Similar to the previous question, Kamei is highly complimentary of the Wakayama-san and Hanae-san and what their performances contribute to the storytelling. Having sat with these performances for the past two months, it would be hard to imagine many parts of this story hitting the same without their voices breathing life into the scenes.

What We Took Away From Kamei’s Responses

Dandadan’s chaotic charm is at once a natural effect of its universally appealing premise and simultaneously the fruits of much labor in both animation and vocal performances. It is a story whose tone can switch on a dime, and every facet of its storytelling needs to be flexible enough to keep up, something the anime has yet to struggle with in execution.

Dandadan is available to stream on Crunchyroll and Netflix.