Dandadan‘s popularity is soaring high with each passing episode and the anime has undeniably become the highlight of this fall anime season. Yukinobu Tatsu’s million-selling oddball manga may have only just begun its anime adaptation, but it’s already making a major splash.
Each new episode of the anime raises the bar, with the latest episode leaving viewers questioning their previous disdain for the yokai creatures initially presented as villains. Not to mention, Episode 7 dealt with disturbing themes of graphic violence, prostitution, and even suicide, leaving a lasting impression on the audience. Dandadan‘s massive success might surprise fans unaware that the author faced significant struggles, drawing unexpected inspiration from a classic horror movie.
How a Horror Classic Sparked Dandadan‘s Breakthrough
With the release of Episode 7, Studio Science SARU delivers an unapologetically weird, stylish, and anarchic opener that marks it out as one of anime’s must-watch shows for the 2024 Fall season, keeping fans anticipating more.
Episode 7 dealt with disturbing themes of graphic violence, prostitution, and even suicide. From breakneck action to a melancholic tale of heartbreak, loss, and despair, leaving every viewer at the edge of their seats.
Yukinobu Tatsu is receiving a lot of applause for Acrobatic Silky’s heartbreaking backstory, which is sure to bring anyone to tears.
Following Episode 7, fans are praising Tatsu’s unique approach to yokai, but they might be surprised to discover that the mangaka drew inspiration from a classic horror film.
In his search for fresh story ideas, Tatsu stumbled upon a logline he had written years ago for the horror film Sadako vs. Kayako (The Ring vs. The Grudge). He revealed:
Around 2019, I was no longer able to draw manga. At that time, my editor told me, “Even if it’s just one page, I want you to draw whatever you want.” So I casually looked back at my notebook and found that I had written, “The movie ‘Sadako vs. Kayako’ is interesting.” That movie was a dream collaboration between Sadako and Kayako, wasn’t it?
Tatsu shared that horror wasn’t his forte, but he enjoyed the Sadako vs Kayako movie, which left a strong impression on him.
The 2016 movie Sadako vs. Kayako, the culmination of two titanic Japanese franchises, featured a showdown between Ringu’s ghostly apparition, Sadako, and Ju-On’s Kayako.
Despite the comic book-like chaos of Sadako and Kayako’s showdown, filmmaker Koji Shiraishi added enough genuine scares to make the film an unexpected crowd-pleaser. Tatsu shared his opinion on the classic horror movie, by adding:
I really enjoyed “Sadako vs Kayako” because it was so silly in a good way. I remembered that and thought I might be able to use it in my manga.
While the premise of spirits battling each other in Sadako vs. Kayako may seem absurd, it’s this very absurdity that makes Dandadan so entertaining.
Shihei encouraged Tatsu to “draw freely”, advice that transformed Tatsu’s fate and led to the creation of his latest global hit, Dandadan. Episode 7 dives deeper, leaving fans questioning the true villain of the series.
The Real-Life Legend Behind Dandadan‘s Acrobatic Silky
Dandadan has built up incredible hype over the past few months, becoming one of the most eagerly anticipated anime of the year. Though Acrobatic Silky’s backstory didn’t offer any flashy action, the quiet, intimate direction of the flashback sequence only added to a tragic story the manga already so impressively told.
Interestingly, Yukinobu Tatsu took inspiration for Acrobatic Silky from a Japanese urban legend, whose chilling origin story could haunt anyone forever, the Acrobatic Sara Sara.
The Acrobatic Sara Sara features a design similar to what would later appear in Dandadan, though its origin and story differ. The legend states that anyone who witnesses Sara Sara’s acrobatic performance will be cursed, bringing misfortune or even death.
The somber piano keys courtesy of series composer Kensuke Ushio, mixed seamlessly into Dandadan‘s saddest moment yet. Science Saru deserves praise for their work, but especially in this episode. There is never a dull moment because of the amazingly talented animators on board.
Dandadan is available to stream on Netflix and Crunchyroll
This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire
