SPOILER AHEAD! You’ve been warned! 

A Fun Tie to Ultraman

On hand for the event were series director Fugu Yamashiro and English voice actors for Abby Trott (Momo), A.J. Beckles (Okarun), and Aleks Le (Jiji). A discussion was first held about the inspiration for the awesome new opening for Season 2 in which Yamashiro revealed that many of the “villain” silhouettes for Season 1’s opening were inspired by the classic Ultraman opening, and that those silhouettes were hidden in Season 2’s opening as well. 

Voice Acting on Display for Dandadan Anime Expo 2025

Trott, Beckles, and Le also demonstrated for the audience live voice work for a scene from the ending of Season 1 in which Momo, Okarun and Jiji are having a fun talk on the train. The voice actors really seemed to enjoy each other’s company. Yamashiro complimented the work of the English voice actors and noted how much reaction they generated from the clearly enthused audience. 

Science SARU’s Experimentation with Animatics and Color Theory

The real meat of the panel came when Yamashiro went through an animatic of the Season 2 opening, which transitions between black & white and color to show audiences the transitioning of Okurun’s emotions each time he looks at Momo. The animatic itself is pure Science SARU – a wild mix of different styles that’s not only suited to deliver a guideline for detail when necessary but also for quick, highly exaggerated motion. 

The most intriguing behind-the-scenes look from Yamashiro revolves around the fight between a transformed Okurun and a transformed Jiji, who is possessed by a malignant force named the Evil Eye. Okurun’s actions are highlighted in red and Jiji’s in purple. As a result, whoever has the upper hand in the fight has the most dominant color presence. The scene really stood as a testimony to the thoughtfulness Yamashiro displayed when thinking about color can amplify the emotions of a character as well as a viewer’s reaction to it. The transfixed silence and murmurs of admiration from the attentive crowd were apparent to say the least.

A Request for Support and Some Notes of Support

Near the end of the panel, some surprise and heartfelt video messages were shown from Japanese voice actors Shion Wakayama (Momo) and Mayumi Tanaka (Turbo Granny). Tanaka, in particular, displayed a bit of salty humor that definitely was in line with the character she voices.

Director Yamashiro also concluded his thoughts by expressing his wishes for the energetic audience to continue to support Dandadan so Science SARU can continue to create the anime after Season 2 concludes.  Judging by the audience’s reaction, I believe he will get his wishes fulfilled.

Season 2 of Dandadan is now streaming on Crunchyroll.

The post Dandadan Anime Expo 2025 Panel Delivers Stunning Behind-the-Scenes Look at Season 2 appeared first on Nerd Reactor.

The big activation features Easter eggs, fan-favorite characters, and interactive moments. Fans can come away with exclusive themed take-home memorabilia.

Check out the mockup below featuring a miniature city with photo ops and lounges.

Check out the details of the activities below:

Shibuya Crossing

Description: At the heart of the city, guests will find themselves at Shibuya Crossing, the sleek metropolis populated their favorite 2D cutout characters and shows just around the corner. The center will feature photo moments and video takeovers, highlighting each of the four shows and other Hulu Animayhem Anime content.

One Punch Man Photo Opportunity

Description: Pose with your favorite superheroes and stars including Saitama, Genos, Tornado, Garou, Silver Fang and Superalloy Black Luster to transport into the world of One Punch Man, but beware of the one punch!

Dan Da Dan Photo Opportunity

Description: Join Momo and Okarun as they run for their lives, leaping out of the screen with the layering of dimensional 2D cutouts. Guests are encouraged to ‘run’ with them and pose to capture a still photo, in an attempt to escape the enormous Earthbound Spirit Crab monster (Turbo Grannie’s true form).

BLEACH: Thousand-Year Blood War Photo Opportunity

Description: Stand side by side Orihime, Ichigo, Uryu and other characters from Bleach: The Thousand-Year Blood War. Guests will be able to pose with their favorite characters and wield iconic props from the show.

Naruto Shipudden Photo Opportunity

Description: Pose alongside your favorite ninjas from Naruto: Shipudden including Naruto, Itachi, Sasuke, Kakashi, and Sakura in the Valley of the End.

Take a Break at Hulu Animayhem City Lounge

Description: Every bustling city needs a place to escape the chaos and reset. Guests will be invited to take some time to “R and R” in the city lounge. Lounge space is provided in two areas of the City, offering cozy cafe seating, Hulu-branded pillows, and charging stations.

The post Dan Da Dan, Naruto, One Punch Man, Bleach Headed to Hulu Animayhem City at Anime Expo 2025 appeared first on Nerd Reactor.

In Demon Slayer, Nezuko is a unique demon and the younger sister of Tanjiro, who protects her from other hunters.

“When I audition for stuff, I never know what’s going to hit,” Trott tells Nerd Reactor. “Demon Slayer, I had heard of like a couple weeks before I got the audition, and I was thinking, ‘Oh, that anime. They’re making an anime of this manga. This premise sounds really cool. I’ll probably watch it.’ And then a couple weeks later, I got the audition. So I knew what that was, but I did not know how popular it would become. And I think COVID also drove the popularity of Demon Slayer and a lot of other anime because people were stuck at home watching anime.”

This year is a big year for Dandadan and Demon Slayer. The theatrical release of Dan Da Dan: Evil Eye, which contains the first three episodes of the second season, is set to release in theaters starting in May. Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Infinity Castle will release in Japanese theaters on July 18, 2025.

The Demon Slayer manga was released in 2016, and it has become a huge property with the anime series, films and merchandise. Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Movie: Mugen Train grossed over $507 million worldwide at the box office.

“And with Dandadan, too, I didn’t know that it already had kind of a cult following,” Trott said. “I just received the audition. I got two clips to watch to do two scenes. And I remember I watched the scenes, and I felt like this show was special. It was just the way, especially Wakayama-san’s performance, the way it resonated with me. It felt like something extra.”

In Dandadan, Momo and Okarun are two teenagers who receive powers as they deal with ghost and alien threats.

“I just had a good feeling about it, and I thought I would like the show, but I didn’t know that it was going to be like an incredibly popular show,” Trott said about Dandadan. “So that was one that I remember. I auditioned and I thought, ‘Man, I can think of like several actors who I would love to hear as Momo in this dub. I don’t know if I’m going to book this one, but it sure looks cool.’ So I hope I can be a part of it at some stage, you know, and then I booked Momo, and I was so excited just because it’s such a fun premise. I’m into sci-fi stuff. I love ghost stories and all of that. Together with this kind of romance with Okarun, it’s just such a unique show.”

Abby started as an actor in Japan. Her main job there was a children’s show where she taught kids English as she traveled all around Japan.

“I ended up later moving back to the United States to pursue voiceover specifically,” Trott explained. “And my first voiceover – my real first gig, I would say, in the United States came when I won a contest that was hosted by Bang Zoom! They’re a studio that dubs a lot of anime. They record other things as well. And they did this contest on YouTube called Perfect Idol. And I entered this contest. And not a lot of people know it. It’s really cute. They’re short. I think five-minute episodes.

“Yui Horie, the singer, is kind of the star in Japanese, and she voices this android, Miss Monochrome, who has a pet Roomba. And so that’s the role that I got to do. And I had so much fun doing that show. I loved everything about it. I loved every aspect of doing voiceover. And dubbing anime was really interesting. I was a theater major. When you think about acting, dubbing anime is not the first thing that comes to mind. But I’ve always been an anime fan since my early teens. So it was just a really cool thing to get to do. And I’m still doing it.”

Photo credit:

• Photographer: Lindsey Ruth Photography @lindsphoto
• Hair: Mika Fowler @mikahairstylist
• Makeup: Anton Khachaturian @antonmakeup
• Stylist: Alex Clough @alexcloughstyle

The post Abby Trott Talks Voicing Dandadan’s Momo & Demon Slayer’s Nezuko, Plus Her Start in Voiceovers (Interview) appeared first on Nerd Reactor.

Plot, characters, and themes

Dan Da Dan follows Momo, a high school girl from a family of spirit mediums, and her classmate Okarun, a shy occult enthusiast, who find themselves in a playful debate about the existence of the paranormal. Momo firmly believes in ghosts but dismisses the existence of aliens. At the same time, Okarun is convinced that aliens are real but doubts the existence of ghosts. They explore locations tied to both beliefs to prove each other wrong, only to encounter forces far beyond their expectations.

These supernatural events trigger significant changes in both characters. Momo unlocks a hidden power within herself, and Okarun gains a strange curse that transforms him into a monster. Their partnership turns into an exciting mix of action, comedy, and horror. The characters’ entertaining reactions to each other and their strange situations keep the tone of the show light. The first three episodes effectively introduce the world of Dan Da Dan, where ghosts, aliens, and other unexplained phenomena intertwine.

One of the show’s key strengths lies in the relationship between Momo and Okarun. Momo is loud, bold, and self-assured, while Okarun is quiet, shy, and passionate about his beliefs. Their interactions are reminiscent of My Sassy Girl, with Momo’s bold personality dominating their exchanges. However, the supernatural element elevates their partnership, adding layers of unpredictability as they confront terrifying entities together. Their chemistry is one of the show’s driving forces, grounding even the wildest moments in character-driven humor.

Voice acting and animation

Visually, Dan Da Dan is a treat, thanks to Science SARU’s exceptional animation. The fluid, dynamic movement, and quirky style complement the chaotic and unpredictable nature of the story, which reminds me a lot of FLCL. Action scenes are fast-paced and visually stunning, while the comedic moments and character expressions are brought to life with great attention to detail.

Voice acting is another highlight, with Shion Wakayama (Momo), Natsuki Hanae (Okarun), and Nana Mizuki (Seiko) delivering stellar performances. Their energy matches the series’ over-the-top, fast-paced nature. Kensuke Ushio’s music, particularly the opening theme by Creepy Nuts, “Otonoke,” also adds to the fun.

In terms of influences, Dan Da Dan draws from various sources. As I previously said, Momo and Okarun’s dynamic recalls the relationship in My Sassy Girl. At the same time, the frenetic animation style takes inspiration from over-the-top animation like FLCL or Kyousougiga. The combination of aliens and ghosts gives the show a The X-Files-like vibe. However, Dan Da Dan is unique because it leans heavily into these influences to create its chaotic and quirky sensibilities.

Overall thoughts

The early episodes are delightful, largely thanks to the chemistry between Momo and Okarun. Also, Seiko’s eccentric yet caring personality adds another layer of fun. However, the mix of ghosts and aliens occasionally feels disjointed, as if these two elements are pushing against each other rather than working in harmony. Still, the character-driven comedy and high-energy storytelling keep the show engaging, even when the plot feels a little scattered.

Looking ahead, there’s plenty of potential for Dan Da Dan to explore its intriguing supernatural world further. Introducing new characters like Seiko, Aira, and Jiji adds excitement and promises wild adventures. Suppose the show can maintain its balance of humor, action, and paranormal encounters. In that case, it has the potential to become a fun new series to watch on Crunchyroll.

Check out the first episode of Dan Da Dan on Crunchyroll on October 3rd at 9:00 a.m. PT.

The post Dan Da Dan Review: Aliens and Ghosts Collide in This Eccentric Anime Series appeared first on Nerd Reactor.

On the third evening of Anime Expo 2024, long lines formed both inside and outside of the JW Marriott. Anime fans excitedly waited to get their chance to participate in the highly anticipated world premiere of the Dan Da Dan series from the renowned animation studio Science Saru. Based on the manga by Yukinobu Tatsu titled “Dandadan,” the series is about a girl named Momo Ayase who believes in ghosts but not aliens and a boy she calls “Okurun” who believes in aliens but not ghosts until a fateful day proves otherwise for both of them.

Director Fuga Yamashiro, producers Kohei Sakita and Hiroshi Kamei, and voice actors Natsuki Hanae (Demon Slayer) and Shion Wakayama (Zom 100) were in person to talk about their experiences in making the anime series.

Yamashiro led the audience through the process of animating a pivotal action scene from the storyboard process to its final version. The artistry and hard work that was required to craft such a dynamic, colorful sequence was incredible to behold. Being that it was his first time in the United States, Yamashiro was incredibly encouraged by the audience’s very loud but very positive responses.

After some additional thoughts from the voice actors and producers, the screening of Episode 1 commenced. Without providing spoilers, I will say that it contained much of the studio’s signature fluid and wildly eccentric mash-up of styles that have defined past works. This includes “The Night is Short, Walk on Girl” and “Star Wars: Visions (Akakiri & T0-B1).” But more notably, the episode also contained subject material that felt more hilariously risque than those past efforts.

Momo and Okurun’s Personalities

The wildly supernatural narrative of the story, as well as the clashing, distinctive personalities of Momo and “Okurun” will, without a doubt, keep viewers engaged in future adventures to follow. Momo is strong-willed and not someone who wishes to conform to social or familial traditions. “Okurun,” while being meek and incredibly nerdy, is someone who can be expected to do the right thing no matter what the situation is. The characters seem to be magnetic to Yokai and aliens… and possibly to each other but were completely fun to follow.

Dan Da Dan Feels Like It Will Be an Inevitable Anime Hit

Judging by the raucous laughter of the entertained audience around me, Dan Da Dan strongly feels like it will be an inevitable anime hit. That is if the succeeding episodes follow in Episode 1’s quality. Not only is the animation from Science Saru dynamic yet thoughtful, but it was easy to feel that the people who made the series had a lot of enjoyment crafting the series frame by frame. It also feels uniquely weird enough to distinguish itself from other anime series by not having a similar set of rules. We are all along for the ride to discover whether other adventures will reveal more.

As a long-time follower of Science Saru, I have to say Dan Da Dan is the most exciting project they’ve embarked on in recent years. This an an anime series that I’m looking forward to continuing when the first three episodes are released in North American theaters.

Dan Da Dan will be in theaters as Dan Da Dan: First Encounter on September 14, 2024. The rest of the series will be released on Crunchyroll, Netflix, and Hulu sometime this October.

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