Dandadan's anime adaptation has been everything fans have dreamed of and more. Studio Sciene SARU's highly stylized visuals mixed with the series' off-the-wall concepts and striking artwork are a perfect marriage, blending to create one of the year's best and most exciting series. In its seventh episode, titled, "To a Kinder World", the anime introduces another one of Dandadan's greatest strengths: its carefully crafted and emotionally charged backstories.

The series' outstanding character depth had only been hinted at in earlier episodes of the anime, through Turbo Granny's true reason for haunting the tunnel, and in the budding relationship between Momo and Okarun. But the tragic backstory of the recently introduced Acrobatic Silky marks the first moment in which the series really stretches its legs in of writing. And the Dandadan anime knocks it out of the park in its adaptation of the terrifying Yokai's incredibly heartbreaking origin.

Acrobatic Silky Provides Dandadan's First Tragic Backstory

Acrobatic Silky's Origin Is Explained In a Heartbreaking Sequence

The moment Acrobatic Silky burst into the frame and demanded Aira refer to her as 'mommy' in Episode #6, it was apparent that she would become more than just another "monster of the week". Following her defeat at the hands of Momo and Okarun, realizing that her precious stand-in daughter was dead, Acrobatic Silky decides to sacrifice her own aura in order to save Aira. What follows is one of the most poignant and visually stunning sequences that anime has had to offer in recent years.

Fans of Dandadan's original manga are well aware of the series' propensity for occasionally devastating its readers, but those experiencing its story through the anime may not have been ready for the abrupt tonal shift. Being forced to keep multiple jobs, including sex work, the human Acrobatic Silky saw her daughter as her main reason to keep going. The anime, in a montage of their time together, does an outstanding job of communicating the love between them, before tearing their quiet little life away in harrowing fashion.

Fortunately, Aira is able to send the Yokai into the afterlife with a heartfelt goodbye, capping off Dandadan's first, major emotional backstory. The anime has already proven itself capable of capturing the series' humor and over-the-top action, and has now expertly adapted its drama as well.

Dandadan's First Emotional Backstory is Lifted By Impressive Visuals and Sound

The Series' Impressive Animation Is Present Even In Quiet Moments

While Dandadan is making waves for its uniquely fresh and strange story, the series' impressive visuals are what seem to have truly grasped the attention of the anime watching community. From buttery smooth animation to its unique use of color, Science SARU has done nothing but impress on a weekly basis. Though Acrobatic Silky's backstory didn't offer any flashy action, the quiet, intimate direction of the flashback sequence only added to a tragic story the manga already so impressively told.

The somber piano keys courtesy of series composer Kensuke Ushio, who also lent his talents to anime like A Silent Voice, and Chainsaw Man, mixed seamlessly into Dandadan's saddest moment yet. Manga readers know that Acrobatic Silky's backstory isn't the only one the series has in store, and the anime adaptation will likely handle any future emotional moments with a similar level of quality. If Dandadan hadn't already convinced the masses to tune in, its seventh episode certainly should.