By Sayantan Gayen
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The following contains spoilers for Dandadan Season 1, Episode 4, "Kicking Turbo Granny's Ass," streaming now on Crunchyroll.
Every country has its own tales about ghouls and monsters, but Japan's spin on these spooky visitors is on another level. There are ghosts, also known as "yokai" in Japan, who are eccentric and those who are vengeful beyond imagination. As Dandadan steps into the realm of the spirits, Momo Ayase and Okarun (formerly "Ken Takakura") have an eye-opening moment as they learn what kind of spirits they are dealing with the hard way. Like the protagonists, the audience is in for a shock in the wildest way possible.
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Adapted from the manga by Yukinobu Tatsu by Science Saru, Dandadan Season 1, Episode 4, "Kicking Turbo Granny's Ass," brings the first arc to a close with a bang. The story now stands at a crossroads. There is a chill in the air as the episode opens inside a dark tunnel, ready to swallow Momo and Okarun whole. In a matter of minutes, the tale turns on its head once the action starts, and the characters' wackiness makes matters increasingly unpredictable. It is almost as if the anime was holding its breath just to let it all out in this episode. Suddenly, the stakes are higher than before, as the ghosts give chase through an entire city - all because two naive high schoolers provoked them. Chaos has never been this much fun.
Dandadan Episode 4 Is One Big Game of Tag That Never Lets Up
The Episode Is a Masterclass of Direction and Pacing
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It seems Okarun and Momo are not the only ones playing tag. Dandadan's episodes have also been playing the game in secret, trying to catch up with each other's absurdity and outrun their predecessors. Dandadan Episode 4 opens in the very tunnel where Okarun lost his family jewels to a depraved old ghost called the Turbo Granny. With a mixture of suspense and dread, the audience goes into the story only for the duo to break the suspense with their constant bickering. Momo and Okarun's banter feels like a breath of fresh air inside a stuffy tunnel, but it does not last long. What starts as jumpscares turn into a full-blown ghost attack, as the game of tag gets out of hand. Between the time the teenagers enter Turbo Granny's lair and utter chaos breaks out, the episode goes on a streak of madcap slapstick humor, fueled only by Momo and Okarun's desperation plus Turbo Granny's perversion.
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The real hijinks begin once the Earthbound Spirit Crab starts acting up. It is all fun and games with Granny until things take a turn for the worse, when the spirit inhabiting the tunnel goes ballistics, bringing along with it the many trapped souls of the departed. In her attempt to exorcise one ghost, Momo accidentally provokes another one whose wrath is nothing like anything they've experienced before. Although murmurs of such a powerful entity sharing the tunnel with Turbo Granny were always there, Episode 4 finally breaks it out of its shell for all to see. And even with all this tension and terror, Dandadan cannot stop being hilarious about the whole ordeal. Since spirits take the form of crabs to cross the Sanzu River, according to Buddhist mythology, the Earthbound Spirit takes the form of a giant freshwater crab to chase Momo and Okarun through the streets of Shono City. Even without context, a giant crab chasing anyone is equally dangerous and wild.
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Things look bleak for Momo and Okarun as the episode enters its final act. While one can call it action-packed because of all the destruction, Dandadan Episode 4 is really one continuous high-octane chase sequence rather than a traditionally edited action-packed anime episode. There are few (if any) cuts to the side characters observing the action from a safe distance, exposition dumps, flashbacks and whatever else could divert attention from Momo and Okarun. This directing choice does a great job of keeping the ever-escalating tension consistent, while giving the main duo all the attention they deserve. The flurry of fast-paced animation injects pace into Episode 4. There is hardly any moment that the episode stops to take a breather, refusing to call it a day until it is finally done with Turbo Granny's curse.
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Dandadan Episode 4 Is a Story About Vulnerable Souls, Living & Otherwise
The Episode’s Characterization Deepened Both Heroes and Antagonists
For a ghost with a dark legend, Turbo Granny fits well in the comedy troupe of Momo and Okarun. She may be crafty, but not in a million years did she anticipate the duo to outsmart her in the most egregious way possible. This only happens because of the chemistry between Momo and Okarun. There is a theme of co-dependency that develops over the course of the episode, the prime example of which is the relationship between the teenage duo.Okarun needs Momo's pyschic powers to keep his curse in check, just as the latter needs Okarun's newfound physical abilities to run away from the giant crab spirit for now. Whether they know it or not, they've come to rely on one other for emotional support. Although, superficially, it looks like a marriage of convenience, Episode 4 shows how much they have bonded as friends to say "see you later" rather than "goodbye."
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Banter is a sign of a healthy relationship, and Dandadan Episode 4 is full of it. But it is not just Momo making fun of Okarun or vice versa, as Turbo Granny also joins the fun. As her size changes from a mischievous cursed spirit to a chibi ghost, so does her personality. Her confidence dwindles the farther she strays away from the Earthbound Spirit, who gives chase not for the thrill but to take back Turbo Granny. The way the Earthbound Spirit pushes herself to catch the duo demonstrates a determination on her part, which is both exciting and frightening. It is more than just co-dependency for these two spirits. The stench of an unhealthy attachment is strong between them, and much of it has to do with their history. Ghosts are, at the end of the day, tragic beings who fail to cross over to the plane of the dead for one reason or another. While their aggression drives Dandadan Episode 4's wackiness, the truth about their past ends the arc with a melancholic tune.
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"Trample into their territory disrespectfully, and you can only blame yourself for your death." - Seiko Ayase.
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Dandadan has a few who's who of the voice acting industry in its cast, most of whom are almost unrecognizable here. The most obvious example is Mayumi Tanaka, the well-respected seiyuu (voice actor) of Monkey D. Luffy from One Piece - a beloved character she has played for over two decades now. Yet, when she gets into the shoes of Turbo Granny, not only does her voice change inflection, but she also says some outrageous things that not even Luffy has the vocabulary for. The same goes for Okarun's voice actor, Natsuki Hanae, famed for playing Tanjiro Kamado in Demon Slayer. He, along with Shion Wakayama (playing Momo Ayase), form quite a formidable couple where one would support the other's weirdness just perfectly. It goes without saying that the impressive cast is at their A-game in Episode 4, which required them to switch from comedic yelling to dramatic readings not even a minute apart. Making this more impressive is the fact that they already delivered their top performances the moment Dandadan began.
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Dandadan Episode 4’s Animation Is Some of Science Saru’s Trippiest Work Yet
The Episode’s Mix of Animation and Music Is Nothing Short of Spectacular
The only other thing as outlandish as Dandadan's humor is its animation. Perfected by Science Saru, famous for projects like Devilman Crybaby and Star Wars: Visions, the anime's visual esthetics have the kind of artistic expressions rarely seen in other anime these days. Not falling under the general pattern of continuously animated frames, Dandadan Episode 4 experiments with angles and zooms, as well as framerates. The snapshots of the duo running through the crowd as the background falls apart really heighten the sense of danger. Meanwhile, the changing perspectives add to the thrill. From wide shots of Momo and Okarun being chased by the giant crab spirit to tight point-of-view shots of them running away from it, the episode's action is in the hands of the animation.
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Unlike the black-and-white visuals of Episode 2, the primary color scheme for this episode is crimson, which cannot be a more symbolic representation of the dangers afoot. The crab spirit's eyes glow red wherever she looks, and in Momo and Okarun's case, they are like searchlights that seldom lose sight of them. The scene where Okarun goes full throttle for the second time through a crowd of possessed people while carrying Momo on his back is an animated marvel. Transpiring against the backdrop of Italian composer Gioachino Rossini's "March of the Swiss Soldier," the quick movements of Okarun and the blue psychic powers of Momo against the episode's red background create a visual symphony like no other.
Episode Number | Episode Title | CBR's Score |
---|---|---|
1 | That's How Love Starts, Ya Know! | 9/10 |
2 | That's a Space Alien, Ain't It?! | 8/10 |
3 | It's a Granny vs. Granny Clash! | 8/10 |
read more
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Behind the glamor of animation, action, and rowdy humor, Dandadan Episode 4 makes a profound statement right before it ends. The world of the living and that of the dead have boundaries that no one should cross. The spirits should not inflict their pain on humans, and the same goes for people who disrespect the sanctity of the dead. It evokes a thought of whether Turbo Granny's curse that makes a man lose his genitalia has anything to do with the tormented souls of young women in the tunnel, concluding the mystery of Okarun's curse on a deeper note than the anime warrants. Needless to say, Dandadan is on the right track.
Dandadan Episode 4 is streaming now on Crunchyroll.
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9
10
Dandadan Season 1, Episode 4: "Kicking Turbo Granny's Ass"
TV-MA
Animation
Action
Adventure
Comedy
Fantasy
- Release Date
- September 13, 2024
- Cast
- Natsuki Hanae , Shion Wakayama , Nana Mizuki , Ayane Sakura , Kaito Ishikawa , Mayumi Tanaka , Kazuya Nakai , Kaori Maeda , Miyu Tomita , Ryûnosuke Watanuki , Hikaru Tanaka , Seitaro Taniguchi , Satomi Kobashi , Mayuko Kazama , Ryuuzaburou Ootomo
- Main Genre
- Animation
- Seasons
- 1
- Character(s)
- Ken Okarun Takakura , Momo Ayase , Seiko , Aira Shiratori , Jin Jiji Enjōji , Turbo Granny , Serpoians , Miko , Muko , Momo's Boyfriend , Male Student A , Male Student B , Elementary School Boy , Flatwoods Monster
Pros
- A fast-paced episode with plenty of action.
- High stakes situation makes the episode thrilling.
- Momo and Okarun remain a fun duo.
- The tragedy surrounding the antagonists gives the story depth.
Cons
- The episode sacrifices comedy for action.
- Anime
- Dandadan
- anime
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