DanDaDan Season 2

There's really only one question when it comes to DanDaDan season 2 - does it live up to the first? Happily I can very much say "hell yes" and you really should go and watch it. Not much to this reviewing lark as it turns out...

Bit for the sake of tradition, let's have a look at what DanDaDan season 2 gets right, what it really gets right and how it's absolutely the king of anime right now.

The previous season ended on a cliffhanger, our Scooby team of misfits visiting Jiji's family home near a volcano, Momo trapped in the ht springs by a bunch of weirdos. This takes us through the Kito family/Legendary Snake arc, and it's a bizarrely abstract adventure that takes several episodes to work through. In this time we learn a lot about the local area, Jiji is possessed by a demon named Evil Eye and basically all hell breaks loose. It's a breakneck adventure pretty much all the way through, but as good as this opening arc is, it's not my favourite part of season 2 overall.

Are you ready to DanDaDan?!

For me it's not the insane fights that make the show, it's the chemistry between the cast. The skillful writing makes Momo's part-time job in a maid cafe every bit as enthralling as an all out fight, with help from the incredibly talented eye of Fūga Yamashiro (Keep your hands off Eizoken!) who effortlessly switches between bizarre angles, animation styles and even colourways to create mesmerising television. Each of the characters is imbued with so much personality that it's a pleasure just watching their facial expressions, never more so than when Momo and Okarun's awkward romance blossoms, inch by inch. 

There are some wonderful moments here too, very reminiscent of bashful youthful awakening - something as simple as holding hands is animated so perfectly, every awkward motion, trying to subtly entice the other with yearning gestures, even if it's just outstretched fingers hanging by the Okarun's side, seized upon nervously by Momo as their affection just radiates off the screen. It's subtle and endearing and wonderful. All the things and all the feelings expressed by simple contact. 

Exorcism Mosh!

But of course it wouldn't be DanDaDan if it wasn't also insane, and boy does season 2 deliver here as well. Traditional exorcism? Cue a raging rock concert so loud it literally wakes the dead, the power chords forcing the characters into extreme moshing (even Seiko is praying in time to the beat!). Need to do some training? Cue a ghostly battle of musical maestro's trying to kill Okarun and Airi to classical music. Epic final battle? We're going to need a giant mecha Buddha!

These are just some of the delightful and frankly weird surprises you'll encounter in DanDaDan, but they're far from the only ones. 

Everybody gets development and screentime, and there's no tiered list of characters either - every one is an A-player you'll want to spend time with. Jiji gets the most time to spread his wings, fighting Evil Eye (which is inventively dealt with by Okarun) and there are even some moments of genuine emotion, though thankfully there's nothing quite as soul-shattering as the Silky feature this time, though Evil Eye comes damn close. There's a beating heart behind all the ghouls and DanDaDan never forgets it. Turbo Granny remains the show's most endearing cheerleader, her feline facial expressions often delivering the coup-de-grace for any comedic setup.

So yes, rest assured DanDaDan is not only form but getting better all the time. It's youthful energy remains undiminished, the threats larger and dafter than ever. An anime that will define this generation.