Released by GKIDS under the title Dan Da Dan: First Encounter, the premiere will feature the first three episodes of the series, offering fans an early look at the anime. The event will also include an exclusive interview with key figures involved in the production, including Yukinobu Tatsu, the author of the original manga; Shihei Lin, the manga’s editor; Fuga Yamashiro, the series director; and voice actors Shion Wakayama and Natsuki Hanae, who portray the lead characters, Momo and Okarun.
Dan Da Dan follows the story of Momo, a high school girl from a family of spirit mediums, and her classmate Okarun, who is fascinated by the occult. The two students begin to bond after Momo rescues Okarun from a bullying incident. However, their budding friendship takes a turn when they argue over the existence of ghosts and aliens. Momo, who believes in ghosts but dismisses aliens, challenges Okarun, who believes in aliens but denies ghosts, to prove each other’s beliefs. This leads them to visit an abandoned hospital notorious for UFO sightings and a tunnel said to be haunted. In these eerie locations, they encounter paranormal phenomena that defy explanation. As they face these otherworldly forces, Momo awakens a hidden power, and Okarun acquires a curse, setting the stage for their battle against the supernatural — and the beginning of their fated love story.
Produced by Science SARU, the studio behind acclaimed works like DEVILMAN crybaby, Inu-Oh, and Scott Pilgrim Takes Off, Dan Da Dan marks the directorial debut of veteran animator Fuga Yamashiro, known for his work on Keep Your Hands Off Eizouken! and The Heike Story. The series’ soundtrack is composed by kensuke ushio, celebrated for his work on Chainsaw Man and DEVILMAN crybaby.
Dan Da Dan is a television adaptation of Yukinobu Tatsu’s manga, which is currently serialized in Shonen Jump Plus by Shueisha. Tatsu previously served as an assistant to Tatsuki Fujimoto on his globally successful series Chainsaw Man and Fire Punch, as well as Yuji Kaku on Hell’s Paradise: Jigokuraku.
The anime’s first episode debuted at this year’s Anime Expo in Los Angeles. Fans can look forward to the English dub of the premiere episode, set to debut at Anime NYC on August 24th.
