Hello! I came here after reading your Dandadan review. While I finished the anime with a satisfied feeling, I understand your mixed opinion. It certainly isn't the most coherent story. I personally enjoyed it for the same reason I'm really enjoying Bunny Girl Senpai (am in the process of watching season 1 rn) — that it breaks away from the stale, static shyness of protagonists' romantic relationship. I was legit shocked at how easily Sakuta flirted with girls and even asked one out right in the beginning of the story! And she actually agreed! I had to reality-check myself that I am still watching a mainstream product of Japanese media, of the country where men marry waifus and holograms.
The way I see it, Dandadan takes the teenage cringe, puts its ties to relationships and romance at the core, and uses its tie to absurdity of reality and teenage fantasy as an outlet to convey the story. After all, the main thread of the narrative is the relationship of its two protagonists.
Not that I'm some Dandadan fan whiteknighting its glory or smth lol, I just really liked this beautiful thematic link of awkward teenage romance thrusted into nonsensical shenanigans. However, that is how you get a side effect of odd pacing and jumbled plot progression. It's understandably not everyone's cup of tea. And it's not like the romance was great either (at least, yet).
And while I had a blast watching it, I think it shows a sad state of affairs in the anime industry that it's the highest rated new title of Fall '24 season.
Good taste, by the way! Always glad to see people enjoying Shinchiro Watanabe's work outside of Cowboy Bebop. Also, I'm not much of a light novel person, and I thought Oregairu was going to be the only one to hook me for a long while, but my current impression on Seishun Buta combined with your review makes me consider adding it to the backlog.
I understand how you feel. I used to wonder the same thing about Re: Zero. The novel has been going on about 10 years, I think? Yet there are still like 4 more arcs to be covered, and those parts will also take some time to get adapted into anime... I hope it will take less for both of these series to be completed, while we are still interested :,) I'm going to check star strings yori, was it in manga or novel form?
i've literally been thinking about starting made in abyss these past couple of days, lol. i've heard wonderful things about the world building and the soundtrack. also thank you so much, i love your taste as well!
give mob psycho a chance, its a fantastic show, in some aspects similar to dandadan, but less messy. the story feels more consistent. is one of the animes that have made me laugh the most (reigen god).
Thank you for taking the time to reply, i agree with you, in my case i do am a bit demanding when it comes to fantasy, feel like the space its a bit saturated right now and im not the biggest fan of "isekai" feel type of shows, i enjoy a few of them but usually i dont tend to think highly of them. This one is not technically an isekai but feels like one. Also i tend to give priority to the screenplay and character development rather than animation, score and other also important aspects. Madhouse did a great job developing frieren, they tend to deliver quality work consistently. i guess it was just a show that didnt worked for me, ive falled for preconceived expectations other times, dont think it was the case this time though.
Would like to keep reading your views on other shows as well, so i hope you keep reviewing, i used to watch a lot of anime back in the day, not so much lately. maybe 1 show every 1-2 months. have switched a bit to movies and tv series i guess. None of my friends have watched frieren currently so i needed to air my thoughts about it with someone, and hear their personal thoughts as well, so thank you for being there, have a nice day :)
Hello i just read your review from dandadan, mostly agree to it, would like to read your thoughts on sousou no frieren as i see you have it marked as a personal favorite. Personally it was a show that didnt worked for me, found it to be very simplistic in its attempt to seem profound. it wasnt bad, if they continue to produce it, ill watch it. i'm just having trouble to understand the level of praise its having from most people right now. Greetings.
Great Dandadan review, I agree with everything you mentioned. Maybe you should have given some appreciation to the OST. I think that delivered as well.
Great adaptation by Science SARU but the source itself isn't great.
All Comments (12) Comments
The way I see it, Dandadan takes the teenage cringe, puts its ties to relationships and romance at the core, and uses its tie to absurdity of reality and teenage fantasy as an outlet to convey the story. After all, the main thread of the narrative is the relationship of its two protagonists.
Not that I'm some Dandadan fan whiteknighting its glory or smth lol, I just really liked this beautiful thematic link of awkward teenage romance thrusted into nonsensical shenanigans. However, that is how you get a side effect of odd pacing and jumbled plot progression. It's understandably not everyone's cup of tea. And it's not like the romance was great either (at least, yet).
And while I had a blast watching it, I think it shows a sad state of affairs in the anime industry that it's the highest rated new title of Fall '24 season.
Good taste, by the way! Always glad to see people enjoying Shinchiro Watanabe's work outside of Cowboy Bebop. Also, I'm not much of a light novel person, and I thought Oregairu was going to be the only one to hook me for a long while, but my current impression on Seishun Buta combined with your review makes me consider adding it to the backlog.
Would like to keep reading your views on other shows as well, so i hope you keep reviewing, i used to watch a lot of anime back in the day, not so much lately. maybe 1 show every 1-2 months. have switched a bit to movies and tv series i guess. None of my friends have watched frieren currently so i needed to air my thoughts about it with someone, and hear their personal thoughts as well, so thank you for being there, have a nice day :)
Great adaptation by Science SARU but the source itself isn't great.