Dan Da Danhas already gone viral after a mere two weeks from its premiere, and not just because of the sheer quality of this new anime from Science Saru, but also for having one of the best openings in recent years, on the notes of “Otonoke” by Creepy Nuts. For the generation that grew up trying to watch anime episodes divided into three parts and with dubious subtitles, the fact that now there are worldwide simul releases on one or more streaming services is astonishing. TheDan Da Dananime adaptation is a prime example of this occurrence, quickly becominga major topic online even before its premiere.
Part ofDan Da Dan’s quick popularity gain was thanks to the early release of its opening theme “Otonoke” by Creepy Nuts,the same musical duo responsible for the viral song “Bling Bang Bang Born”fromMashleseason 2. Another factor that fueled Dan Da Dan’s quick fame was its animation, a product of the studio Science Saru.The opening sequence showcases a fluid and mesmerizing animation, with colorful flashing images, and the quick but polished fragment of the main characters dancing to the song. All was directed by the studio’s veteran Spanish animator Abel Góngora.
One Of Anime’s Most Controversial Trends Is Misleading Fans, & It Needs To Stop
Anime Studios are front-loading their first episodes with amazing animation, leaving the rest of the series lackluster.
Science Saru’s Iconic Fluid Style Is Mostly a Product of Góngora’s Work
A Spanish Animator Is Responsible For Dan Da Dan’s Mesmerizing Opening
Science Saru was founded in 2013 by a modest but extremely talented team of five people, including Góngora. Its animation style is characterized bythe use of digital tools that help streamline the process, instead of drawing frame by framelike most of the other anime studios. The studio’s unmistakably fluid, blobby animation can be appreciated in works likeDevilman Crybaby,Japan Sinks 2020, and themovieRide Your Wave.
Abel Góngora’s career in Science Saru quickly escalated, starting as an animator, and then becoming an animation director, until finally, in the most recent years, he has performed direction roles. Besides directing Dan Da Dan’s opening sequence, Góngora hadalready directedKeep Your Hands Off Eizouken!’s intro, which was widely praised and also became really popular online. He also directedNetflix’s anime adaptation of theScott Pilgrimnovel series, with an intro that depicts Góngora’s inclination to bright flat colors and bold movement in animation.
Western Staff Is Becoming More Common With Each New Anime Production
There Is No Denying Anime Is Global
Globalization and the normalization of remote work have come to stay, and the anime industry isn’t exempt from this new dynamic. It’s not exactly uncommon to seeAmerican or European animators working for the big anime studios, either working from their own countries or having moved to Japan.Though general animation is where the most westerners have thrived, other non-Japanese staff have shone in areas like design (Thomas Romain), direction (Henry Thurlow, Abel Góngora), and music composition (Kevin Penkin,Evan Call).
It is not only that these talented individuals have found their way to anime production, but also that, in most recent years, some well-established anime studios like MAPPA and Kyoto Animationhave opened remote positions for anyone with the qualifications to apply, putting the dream of working in anime production at the reach of more people. For now, it’s too soon to tell if the worldwide integration will have noticeable effects on how anime is perceived, like the lines between Western and Eastern animation blurring, but it is a revolutionary occurrence regardless.
Anime Openings’ Musical Choices Are Becoming Bolder and More Daring
More Anime Are Going Viral Due To Their Songs
As a likely consequence of anime’s globalization,the songs that are being chosen for the series’ opening themes are drifting from the classic j-pop and j-rock that used to be the norm.It’s not that anime series have never opted for genres of Western influence, or songs by Western artists altogether, but it was seldom the most popular series selecting them. Maybe it wasn’t sought to appeal to a global audience, or maybe Japanese society wasn’t very accepting of these genres, but it’s true thatmost anime music used to have the same feelto it.
Dan Da Dan’s opening “Otonoke” by Creepy Nuts is just the crown jewel of this new trend. The major shift might have begun withJujutsu Kaisen’s “SPECIALZ” by King Nu, the opening theme for the incomparable Shibuya Incident arc, but the song that perfected the trend was definitely “Bling-Bang-Bang-Born”,Mashle: Magic and Muscle’s season 2 opening.The hip-hop trap-inspired song went viral, and it also peaked at number 8 on the Billboard Global 200 charts, and still charts ten months later, which is no small feat.
The main trendsetters for the globalization of anime are definitely the streaming services. With the most recent releases, like theRanma 1/2remake, Netflix has gone as far as releasing the dubbed episodes at the same time as the original ones, so that now waiting for the dub is no longer necessary. This only makes anime even more accessible to new audiences, and the speed at which social media spreads trends incites it even more.
Saying thatDan Da Danonly became popular thanks to its opening sequence would be a mistake, though.The series had already been hyped since its announcement, due to the manga already being pretty popular. The story is unique, and it offers a fun balance between classic shonen elements and thetypical high-school romance. Its fun and catchy opening is only the cherry on top of an outstanding series that might kickstart a new generation of anime.
Dandadan
Cast
Two high school students, embroiled in a wager to prove the existence of ghosts or aliens, encounter daunting paranormal threats, acquire superpowers, and possibly discover love. The series blends supernatural elements with personal dynamics as the protagonists navigate their newfound abilities and unexpected challenges.
