As the Fall of 2024 anime season is here, new anime are coming out rapidly, including highly anticipated titles adapted from the popular Shōnen Jump magazine. Known for its recurring themes, these anime typically follows the familiar trope of a protagonist embarking on an adventure to pursue their dreams, forming deep friendships, fierce rivalries, and gaining extraordinary powers along the way. While these traits have become the hallmark of the genre, they can sometimes make new anime feel formulaic, as each series tends to follow a similar blueprint.

However, one of Shōnen Jump's latest anime, Dan Da Dan, stands out from the crowd with a trait that is rarely seen in other popular titles like One Piece, My Hero Academia, or Jujutsu Kaisen. What sets Dan Da Dan apart is its bold decision to place a romantic bond between its two main characters at the center of the story—a theme almost unheard of in the genre's traditional framework. In a genre where the focus on romance is typically secondary (if present at all), the decision to make it a core theme is both surprising and refreshing.

Dan Da Dan’s Romance Element Will Be the Key to Its Success

Dan Da Dan Will Shatter the Stereotypes of How Shōnen Anime Are Perceived

The pilot episode of Dan Da Dan has already demonstrated how effectively this unique element can be woven into the story, hinting that the romantic bond will be a driving force in the narrative. This bold move positions Dan Da Dan to potentially redefine the shōnen genre, showing that it can evolve beyond its classic tropes while still delivering the high-energy action and adventure fans love.

From the beginning, Dan Da Dan subtly introduces its love theme, with Momo Ayase longing for a boyfriend who resembles her favorite actor, Ken Takakura. After a breakup, a dejected Momo crosses paths with a peculiar occult fan. By the end of the first episode, it's revealed that this alien fanatic shares the same name as Momo's idol, Ken Takakura. This coincidence sparks a budding romantic tension between them, suggesting that Momo may have unknowingly fallen for the alien-obsessed Ken.

Now, as Momo embarks on a bizarre mission to help retrieve Ken's "family jewels", stolen by the malevolent Turbo Granny ghost, it becomes clear that their relationship will deepen, with the romance becoming a key driving force in the series. Takakura exclaims that he won't let any harm come to Momo as she didn't make fun of his interest and his belief and even stood up for him, who had been bullied most of his liefe. At this moment, Ken briefly gains control over Turbo Granny's curse, demonstrating the strength of their unique bond.

What makes Dan Da Dan so captivating is how naturally it weaves this relationship into the story, skillfully setting up Momo and Ken's intertwined fates. Despite their differing worldviews, they are united by a shared desire to protect each other. All these factors from the very first episode of Dan Da Dan are a testament that this anime will stand out for its romantic connection between its central characters. If, for some reason, the romantic aspect of Dan Da Dan doesn't ensure its success, the first episode has proven that it has many other elements that make it great.

Dan Da Dan’s Stellar Animation and Mature, Dark Humor Will Keep Viewers Hooked Week After Week

Unlike Other Shonen Anime, Dan Da Dan Appeals to a Broader Audience Beyond Just Youth

One common criticism of the shōnen genre is that many series seem primarily tailored for younger audiences, typically early teens, which can limit their appeal across different age groups. However, Dan Da Dan breaks this mold by being rated for mature audiences while still embracing the essence of a classic shōnen anime. From the very first episode, it becomes clear that one of the series' standout qualities is its unique blend of dark humor—a feature that sets it apart from many of its peers.

Even darker shōnen series like Jujutsu Kaisen, known for not shying away from killing off characters, tend to lack the twisted humor that Dan Da Dan delivers. The absurdity kicks off early on, with the malevolent Turbo Granny stealing Ken Takakura’s private parts, and a band of Ultraman-inspired aliens who want to reproduce using human females. This moment signals that dark humor, along with the brutal realities that shōnen series often shy away from depicting, will be a recurring element in the narrative.

Despite its wild premise, Dan Da Dan balances its dark humor with other themes like romance. Therefore, with a stellar adaptation by Science Saru, Dan Da Dan is poised to be a major success for several reasons, by demonstrating that a shōnen series can still thrive while incorporating mature elements like dark humor, brutal realities, and romance, potentially reshaping the genre’s boundaries and broadening its appeal to a more diverse audience.