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Warning: Contains spoilers for Dandadan episode #11.Dandadan is probably the anime of 2024 that’s done the best job of delivering one great episode after another. Every episode finds some way to top the one that came before it in either action or writing, and seeing every new thing the team of Science Saru brings to the series has made it one of the best anime to watch in 2024, by far.
Every episode of Dandadan has been great, and episode #11 is no exception. Episode #11 stands out from the rest of the series for being relatively light on action and having a bizarre plot, even by the show’s standards, but underneath it all, Dandadan episode #11 managed to be the most important episode in the anime yet, despite how weird an episode it was. A surprising amount of content goes into why that is, and it continues to show why Dandadan has been my favorite anime in 2024.
Dandadan Episode 11 Advances Its Romance Arc In The Weirdest Way Possible
How Dandadan Moves Its Romance Forward
Dandadan episode #11 was another episode focused on the ongoing romance arc between Momo and Okarun, this time with Okarun feeling insecure about things with the appearance of Momo’s childhood friend and first love, Jiji. As Okarun questioned his insecurities, he and Momo encountered a living mannequin named Taro who dragged them to the dump as he searched for Hana, the mannequin he was in love with. Watching Taro pour his heart out made Okarun reevaluate his relationship with Momo, and after 11 episodes, Okarun finally realized that he was in love with Momo thanks to Taro.
At this point in the story, there needed to be some inciting incident for Okarun to come to terms with his feelings, and with how absurd of an anime Dandadan tends to be, Dandadan having Okarun come to terms with his feelings for Momo thanks to a talking mannequin on a quest to find his lost love is as weird a method as could have been expected from the series. Dandadan always succeeds when it commits to being as weird as possible, and this is one of the best examples, to date.
Dandadan Continues To Avoid A Tired Romance Cliché
Dandadan Continues To Be A Subversive Masterpiece
What also makes the romantic elements of Dandadan episode #11 so great is how they continue to avoid the typical pitfalls of the love triangle cliche. Earlier in the series, a love triangle between Momo, Okarun, and Aira was quickly established, and while it had the usual problems of contriving conflict between the main couple by introducing an alternative love interest, Dandadan quickly avoided the typical pitfalls of a love triangle with how quickly it established Aira as a non-threat to Momo and Okarun’s relationship, among other factors.
Dandadan’s perfect handling of love triangles showed itself again with the introduction of Jiji. While Jiji initially came off as the conventionally attractive person a girl like Momo would like, nearly every scene with Jiji had him acting like a complete goofball, with even Momo wondering if she ever really liked him when she can only remember him being annoying. Dandadan episode #11 was quick to shoot down its second love triangle by both making Jiji a non-threat and establishing that Momo had no feelings for him, and overall, that was great to see.
What also helped make the love triangle wonderfully palatable was how much episode #11 reinforced Momo and Okarun’s relationship. In addition to how Momo went out of her way to spend time with Okarun over Jiji, one of Momo’s friends openly showed support for Momo and Okarun’s relationship when people were teasing Momo about her relationship with Jiji. Add in the way Taro’s story related to Okarun’s, and Dandadan shoots down its latest love triangle with how much it reinforces how important Momo and Okarun’s relationship is to the show.
Dandadan's Weirdest Episode Shows Why Its Romance Is So Good
Why Dandadan Still Has Some Of The Best Romance In Shōnen Anime
Dandadan episode #11 is undeniably a weird episode, even by the show’s standards, and that shows why the romance is so good. Most stories, anime or otherwise, would tone things down a bit for something as momentous as the protagonist accepting the love they have for another, but with Dandadan, Dandadan is confident enough in its writing to keep things as excitable as possible while advancing its romance arc, thus making it even more fun to watch play out. It’s another testament to how good Dandadan’s writing is, and that, of course, is always great to see.
What made things even better, of course, was that episode #11 wasn’t being weird for the sake of being weird. Taro’s actions helped Okarun realize his feelings for Momo because his determination to be with Hana made Okarun reflect on his commitment to Momo and why he was so upset by Jiji impeding on their relationship, meaning that Dandadan found a way to move its romance arc in a thoughtful way while still being committed to being as weird as possible. Few other anime would do something like that, and that’s why Dandadan has been so great to watch.
Dandadan's Approach To Romance Continues To Make It My Favorite Anime Of 2024
Why Dandadan Is 2024's Best Anime
Even before the anime premiered, Dandadan was being billed as the next big thing thanks to its gorgeous action and animation, but it’s far more than that. Not only did Dandadan make it clear from day one how important its romance would be, but it always advances it in meaningful and organic ways, all while never abandoning the action and comedy that most people are coming for, as well. Dandadan has some of the best balance of romance and action of any shōnen anime, and I’m always happy to watch that play out in both the anime and the manga.
The way Dandadan handles romance is especially great in light of how it’s usually handled in shōnen anime. Romance in shōnen anime has a tendency to be poorly written and the worst part of most shows, something I’ve had to sit through countless times over the years, so Dandadan ’s already great romance is made even better by how much of a breath of fresh air it is after decades of shōnen anime typically falling short. More so than the action, Dandadan’s romance is what’s been making it such a standout show, and episode #11 is the best example of why.
Dandadan releases new episodes Thursdays on Crunchyroll.
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.
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
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
Seasons 1
English (US) ·