Debapriya Bhattacharya
Based on the manga series by Yukinobu Tatsu, ‘Dan Da Dan’ from Science Saru tells the story of Momo Ayase, a popular high schooler who is going through a recent breakup. She defends Ken Takakura, a socially awkward boy in school, from bullies one day, leading him to open up to her. They get into an argument when Momo dismisses Ken’s obsession with aliens and UFOs and shares her own beliefs in the supernatural and the occult. With a rivalry brewing, they set out to prove themselves right and the other person wrong, but both end up getting validated instead. Fighting with both extraterrestrial and supernatural beings, they develop unique supernatural abilities and learn to work together, supplementing each other’s weaknesses. If the Shounen anime has you hooked, here are some more similar to ‘Dan Da Dan’ that you may consider checking out.
10. FLCL (2000-2001)
Created by Kazuya Tsurumaki, ‘FLCL’ follows Naota Nandaba, a sixth grader living in an uneventful city. When his elder brother Tasuku leaves to play baseball in the U.S., Naota takes over his top bunk bed and gets close to his ex-girlfriend, Mamimi Samejima. While he feels that is all the excitement life has in store for him, he is proved wrong by the appearance of a Vespa-riding, energetic, pink-haired alien by the name of Haruko Haruhara. In their first encounter, Haruko hits Naota on the head, creating a portal from which giant robots often emerge. Soon, the kid finds himself in the middle of a battle between aliens and robots for dominion on Earth and beyond. With extraterrestrial beings terrorizing a teenager, the plot of ‘FLCL’ resembles that of ‘Dan Da Dan.’
9. Great Pretender (2020)
A Wut Studio production, ‘Great Pretender’ revolves around Makoto Edamura, a pickpocket and scam artist who makes his living by fooling tourists. One day, he finds the tables turned on him as a tourist manages not only to scam him but also to alert the police of his endeavors. Trying to make his escape, he runs into the person responsible and finds him to be a fellow French con man, Laurent Thierry. Makoto follows Lauren to Los Angeles, where they decide to participate in a challenge to determine who is the best scammer among them. As their target, they choose the biggest mafia boss on the West Coast. As Makato gets more involved with Laurent, he realizes he may be receiving more than what he had bargained for, similar to Momo and Ken in ‘Dan Da Dan.’
8. Fire Force (2019)
Originally titled ‘Enen no Shouboutai’ and based on Atsushi Ohkubo’s eponymous manga, ‘Fire Force’ is set in a world where humans are plagued with the Spontaneous Human Combustion phenomenon, which randomly transforms them into flaming, violent beings called Infernals. The second and third generations of Infernals are called Pyrokinetics, who have greater control of the flame and continue to remain in their human forms throughout. The Special Fire Force was created to keep the threat of Infernals in check, where Shinra Kusakabe, a young third-generation Pyrokinetic, joins to fulfill his dream of being a hero. However, he faces greater obstacles than he imagined in his way, and like the kids in ‘Dan Da Dan,’ he has to confront feuds within his team to keep it going.
7. Gintama (2006-2010)
Based on Hideaki Sorachi’s manga of the same name, ‘Gintama’ takes place in the city of Edo, home of the samurai in feudal Japan. When the empire surrenders to powerful aliens known as Amanto, the puppet government that they install bans all weapons in public. However, Gintoki Sakata maintains his stature as a Samurai despite the ban and carries a wooden sword with him. He opens a small business for odd jobs and, along with his associates, attempts to help people in strange and unforeseen ways. Their endeavors pit them against anything from local gangs to, much like ‘Dan Da Dan,’ alien royalty.
6. Mob Psycho 100 (2016-2022)
Bones adapted ‘Mob Psycho 100’ from the web manga series of the same name, created by One. It centers around Shigeo “Mob” Kageyama, an eighth-grader with psychic powers. He keeps his skills suppressed, realizing their potential danger, and only uses them to impress his crush. However, when she grows bored of the same trick, a disillusioned Mob joins con artist Arataka Reigen, who exploits his powers for money. With time, Mob gets progressively closer to losing control, which would result in a cataclysmic event and render him unrecognizable. Like the high schoolers in ‘Dan Da Dan,’ it becomes necessary for Mob to always be in control.
5. Noragami (2014)
Based on the creation of manga artist duo Adachitoka, ‘Noragami’ centers around self-proclaimed “Delivery God” Yato, a minor deity who dreams of having a large following. However, without any shrine to his name, he attracts followers by scribbling his telephone number in odd places and helping people in exchange for five yen apiece. Fed up with his ways, his weapon partner leaves him. Just when all seems lost, Yato is saved from a car accident by middle-schooler Hiyori Iki. In the process, Hikori gets hit by the car herself, and her soul becomes loose and is able to move out of her body. When she asks Yato to fix her, he informs her that he needs a partner to be able to do that. Reluctantly, she agrees to help the deity with his search. Similar to ‘Dan Da Dan,’ ‘Noragami’ depicts a teen getting involved with the supernatural.
4. Jujutsu Kaisen (2020-2023)
Produced by MAPPA based on the manga by Gege Akutami, ‘Jujutsu Kaisen’ follows Yuuji Itadori, a high school student who divides his free time between the Occult Club and visiting his grandfather in the hospital. The idyllic life undergoes a massive shift when Yuuji discovers a cursed item and swallows it. It turns out the item is a finger belonging to the demon Sukuna Ryoumen, the King of Curses. Discovering new powers, he enrolls at the Tokyo Prefectural Jujutsu High School and prepares to become a Jujutsu sorcerer. The series combines high school drama with the occult, similar to ‘Dan Da Dan.’
3. Undead Unluck (2023-2024)
From the mind of Yoshifumi Tozuka, ‘Undead Unluck’ tells the story of Fuuko Izumo, who is cursed with “unluck” and brings calamity to the life of anyone she touches. Devastated that she will never find love, she sees no reason to keep on living. However, Fuuko’s curse attracts the attention of Undead, an immortal being with regenerative powers who is desperate to end his life as well. Using her “unluck,” he finally sees a way to make it happen. However, before fulfilling their wishes, the pair is forced to team up to stop a secret organization that seeks to eliminate those with special abilities. Two youngsters using their superpowers to protect others from greater threats brings to mind the plot of ‘Dan Da Dan.’
2. Chainsaw Man (2022)
Adapted by MAPPA from Tatsuki Fujimoto’s eponymous manga series, ‘Chainsaw Man’ revolves around Denji, a teenager with the chainsaw devil Pochita as his pet. Together, they slay devils for money, which ultimately ends up with the Yakuza as a payback for Denji’s father’s overwhelming debt. When the yakuza betrays and kills Denji, an old contract allows Pochita to merge with him and turn him into a hybrid with the ability to transform his body parts into chainsaws. As a result, Denji becomes a risk to public safety and is taken in by elite devil hunter Makima from the Public Safety Bureau. Under her supervision, Denji continues fighting the good fight in the hope of one day leading a comfortable life with a woman by his side. Similar to ‘Dan Da Dan,’ the narrative balances teenage fantasy with supernatural fights.
1. Zom100: Bucket List of the Dead (2023)
Originally titled ‘Zom 100: Zombie ni Naru made ni Shitai 100 no Koto,’ based on the manga series by Haro Aso and Kotaro Takata, ‘Zom100: Bucket List of the Dead’ follows Akira Tendou, a talented college rugby player who is stuck in a dead-end job after graduation. Three years at the exploitative company robs him of his lively spirit, and a sudden zombie apocalypse ultimately saves him. Free from the corporate shackles, Akira creates a bucket list of a hundred things and attempts to finish it before being eventually turned into the undead. The series overlaps with ‘Dan Da Dan’ in both tone and plotlines, with humans stuck in a rut in both shows being thrilled to find themselves in the face of mortal danger from supernatural beings.
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