How Does Dandadan Address Toxic Masculinity?

Posted by By our-little-miss-is-home December 22, 2024 16 Views 12 Min Read
How Does Dandadan Address Toxic Masculinity?



Summary

  • All Serpo Aliens in Dandadan are male, reflecting toxic masculinity traits.
  • Dandadan’s yokai highlights women’s grief caused by men’s violence.
  • Male protagonists in Dandadan practice healthy masculinity and emotional intelligence, offering hope for Generation Z.

This feature contains spoilers from Dandadan season 1.

Dandadan’s combination of sci-fi, horror, and camp humor makes the anime feel like an LSD trip. But the coarse jokes about private parts, colorful UAPs, and over-the-top action sequences disguise a very thoughtful story. Through its characterizations of ETs and cursed spirits, Dandadan examines potent themes regarding toxic masculinity.

Dandadan creator Yukinobu Tatsu depicts male violence against women with disturbing alien abductions. He shows sympathy toward his yokai, who have suffered at the hands of violent men. Lastly, Tatsu uses his male protagonists to explore how the next generation can redefine what it means to be a man, creating a healthier future.

Split image of Count Saint Germain and the Womb Realm Mandala in Dandadan

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All Serpo Aliens Are Male

They Cause Distress by Disrespecting Bodily Autonomy

The Serpoians are Dandadan’s primary antagonists in season 1. These extraterrestrials initially appear in episode 1, “That’s How Love Starts, Ya Know!” While investigating an abandoned hospital on a dare, Momo Ayase gets abducted by three Serpoians in hideous male human disguises. (Frankly, they look more like Russian nesting dolls than humans. But that’s beside the point.)

Momo wakes half-naked, strapped down to an odd pod-like chair inside a steel blue operating room. The head Serpo introduces his species, indicating they are “friendly” and mean no harm. However, Momo observes that the Serpos’ actions contradict their words. After all, what “friendly” species would rip someone’s clothes off and restrain them against their will?

Unfortunately, the Serpoians’ plans for Momo are violent. The Serpoians are all male and reproduce by cloning; thus, their evolution has paused. They calmly explain to Momo that they will rape her before extracting her reproductive organs for further research. As Momo continuously refuses, the Serpos attempt to manipulate her brainwaves to trigger arousal.

Fortunately, with a pinch of luck and a ton of will, the newly cursed Okarun and a psychically activated Momo take down the Serpos and escape. However, the encounter leaves a gross aftertaste for viewers. The entitlement the Serpoians feel toward Momo’s body is disgusting. And the rhetoric they use to gaslight victims and justify their actions is even worse.

The Serpos pursue Momo and company repeatedly throughout the season. When they discover Okarun possesses Turbo Granny’s powers, they attempt to extract his “banana” (a crude term Dandadan uses for genitals) as well. In this instance, they employ the help of a mercenary from another planet (Mr. Mantis Shrimp), who they often demean and abuse into compliance.

It makes sense that the Serpoians are male. The aliens’ behavior represents masculinity’s most unhealthy traits: disrespect of boundaries, domination of others through violence, and exploitation of classes deemed ‘less than.’

dandadan-6-turbo-granny

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Dandadan’s Yokai Reflects Women’s Grief

UAPs and alien abductions are overwhelming enough. However, Momo and Okarun must also confront ghosts and spirits. Season 1’s first arcs introduce two powerful and disturbing yokai: a speed-running demonic grandmother (Turbo Granny) and a demented ballet-dancing spirit obsessed with motherhood (Acro Silky).

These paranormal encounters take on a different tone than their sci-fi counterparts. Dandadan’s yokai have tragic backstories stemming from immense trauma. Furthermore, this trauma is exclusively at the expense of violent men.

Turbo Granny Avenges the Murders of Teenage Girls

At first glance, Turbo Granny seems downright despicable. She propositions Okarun for fellatio, steals the young man’s genitals, bends the rules to her benefit (ex, her tag contest with Momo and Okarun), and bullies everyone in sight until she gets what she wants. One would assume Turbo Granny is nothing more than a demented old bat.

However, Turbo Granny’s motivations become clear in season 1, episode 4, “Kicking Turbo Granny’s Ass.” After exorcising the gouache spirit, Granny Seiko explains to Momo and Okarun how men violated, murdered, and chopped women their age to bits inside the same tunnel Turbo Granny resided in. Seiko theorizes that Turbo Granny appeared at sites like these to console the spirits of young women who struggle to move on.

With this new information, Turbo Granny’s brazenness is understandable. Every dong she steals is an act of righteous vengeance as if she’s saying, ‘Yeah? You want to mess with my girls? Let’s give you a taste of your own medicine!’

Acro Silky Mourns Her Kidnapped Daughter

Acro Silky’s backstory is even more heartbreaking. As Momo transfers the unruly-haired spirit’s aura to Aira, the young medium relives the yokai’s life. Acro Silky was a devoted single mother who tirelessly worked to make ends meet. She devoted all her spare time to transforming her daughter’s life into a magical fairy tale with a shoestring budget.

Then, one dark and stormy evening, traffickers broke into Acro Silky’s meager apartment and kidnapped her daughter, who she never found again. After becoming homeless, a kindergarten-aged Aira mistakenly called Acro Silky her mother, thus birthing the yokai’s obsession with the teenage queen bee.

After witnessing Acro Silky’s life firsthand, it seems impossible to blame her for her daughter’s abduction. Yet, like any loving parent, all Acro Silky can think is that she could have done more. Aira senses this remorse, leading to an embrace that finally allows Acro Silky to pass on to the afterlife.

dandadan-8-turbo-aira

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Dandadan’s Male Protagonists Practice Healthy Masculinity

Plus, a New Male Yokai Displays Emotional Intelligence

Dandadan dedicates plenty of time to showcasing the violence toxic men exhibit, especially toward women and marginalized people. But is there any hope for redemption in Generation Z? Dandadan’s teenage male protagonists, while flawed, demonstrate the potential to grow into healthy, dependable men.

Jiji, a vain yet silly jock who likes to peacock, gets over his pride during his reunion with Momo. The boastful teen teased Momo in their elementary school days, causing Momo to feel shame about herself and her grandmother. However, during his first night at the Ayases, Jiji owns up to his actions. He apologizes to Momo and admits he was wrong. Sure, his apology sits at the bare minimum of human decency. But Jiji’s atonement stands out in a world where powerful men, even world leaders, double down on their bad behavior.

Okarun appears to be a tougher nut to crack. One of his most significant personal obstacles is his resistance to vulnerability. He isn’t stoic, but his two lines of communication are either panic or passive aggression. Okarun’s insecurities leak into everything he does, and then he makes his failings everyone’s problem. Even when Momo tries to help Okarun by telling him how he pushes others away, he responds by calling her a “bitch.” (Not cool, Okarun.)

However, behind Okarun’s insecurities lies an honorable human being who rejects sexism and the mistreatment of women. In season 1, episode 6, “A Dangerous Woman Arrives,” he transforms into his Turbo Granny form and defends Momo’s reputation while disputing a classmate’s salacious rumor. Furthermore, in season 1, episode 10, “Have You Ever Seen a Cattle Mutilation,” he selflessly offers his genitals to Mr. Mantis Shrimp so the alien can sell them to support his ailing son. (It’s an impractical offer, but the thought counts.)

Season 1, episode 11, “First Love,” introduces a new yokai who may push Okarun to finally express his feelings for Momo. After the duo chases a possessed sprinting lab dummy to a junkyard, they witness a bizarre yet heartwarming sight. The passionate male lab dummy wears his heart on his sleeve, expressing his love for his outdated female dummy partner. During this impassioned speech, Okarun reflects on his relationship with Momo. Perhaps he’ll finally understand that showing emotion is a mighty and masculine act.

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