Essential Insights into Dandadan
- Dandadan creatively intertwines Japanese mythology with urban legends, merging elements of spirits, aliens, and yokai in unexpected ways.
- Turbo Granny is rooted in Japan’s cryptid tales, showcasing the intriguing origins of yokai within the series.
- The series cleverly references American alien lore through characters like Serpos, while also delving into notorious Japanese urban legends, including the Slit-Mouthed Woman.
NOTE: This article contains spoilers for the Dandadan anime and manga as of the publication date.
Anime has long been steeped in Japanese folklore, with titles such as Inuyasha, Natsume’s Book of Friends, and Mushishi bringing to life various mythological beings known as yokai. However, Dandadan reinvents this narrative by exploring urban legends across Japan, allowing for a fresh interpretation and creation of yokai, distinct from traditional tales. This series seamlessly fuses myth with modernity, inviting viewers to encounter unusual spirits like Turbo Granny and nodding to global legends such as the Loch Ness Monster.
The narrative kicks off as the main characters debate the existence of supernatural entities—aliens or spirits—which culminates in a revelatory moment at the end of the first episode. This pivotal discovery not only launches the storyline but also blurs the lines between our preconceived notions of Japanese mythology and local folklore, a recurring theme that resonates throughout Dandadan.
Turbo Granny
Origins from Hyogo Prefecture
Turbo Granny serves as the initial yokai introduced in the series, captivating fans with her unique backstory. In the anime, she is located within an abandoned tunnel in Shono City. Momo Ayase challenges Okarun to enter her lair as part of their wager on whether aliens or spirits are real. When Okarun cannot evade Turbo Granny, she takes control of him, bestowing him with newfound powers that he struggles to manage.
The character’s roots trace back to cryptid tales from Hyogo Prefecture, where Turbo Granny (ターボばあちゃん) is said to haunt highways, targeting reckless drivers. Myths surrounding her are varied; some suggest she causes accidents, while others say she warns drivers of impending danger. Turbo Granny even gains different names based on local speed limits, leading to the identification of characters like 100kph Granny in the manga.
Acrobatic Silky
Japan’s Equivalent of Slenderman
One of the more heart-wrenching tales featured in Dandadan is that of Acrobatic Silky. In the manga, she is depicted as an elongated figure dressed in a striking red gown and wide-brimmed hat, fixating on Aira Shiratori, whom she mistakenly believes to be her lost child. Her tragic past reveals a narrative filled with struggle, including working multiple jobs to support her daughter until being overcome by debt, which ultimately led to her demise after a confrontation with her creditors.
Her ghostly form first emerged in a 2008 online story posted on a forum, becoming a modern cryptid associated with locations stretching from Fukushima to Hiroshima. Witnesses report sightings of her leaping from buildings, only to vanish before impact, often describing her eerie hollow eye sockets and scars.
Serpos
Echoes of American Alien Lore
In Dandadan, the Serpos are a peculiar extraterrestrial species that identify themselves as yokai after their encounter with Ayase. These alien beings hail from Planet Serpo in the Zeta Reticuli system, characterized by their all-male population, rendering natural reproduction impossible. Consequently, they opt for cloning in their search for human reproductive organs, camouflaging themselves as ordinary Japanese businessmen to blend in unnoticed.
Despite lacking a traditional folklore counterpart, the name “Serpo”is a direct nod to the purported alien homeworld where theories suggest Grays, or humanoid aliens, originate. The controversial Project Serpo, founded by Victor Martinez, aims to disseminate information regarding UFOs and claims to detail a secret exchange of U.S. military personnel to this planet between 1965 and 1978, as highlighted on their official website.
Slit-Mouthed Woman
The Legend of Reiko Kashima
Reiko Kashima, the Slit-Mouthed Woman, emerges as a formidable presence in the Dandadan narrative, harboring vengeance toward Ayase for past encounters. Defined by her height, strength, and a menacing, narrow mouth lined with sharp teeth, Reiko is rooted in one of Japan’s most notorious urban legends, recognized across numerous horror films.
Though little background is provided in the manga regarding her character, the folklore origins align with the 1970s myth of 口裂け女 (Kuchisake Onna). According to popular belief, she poses a haunting inquiry to her victims about her beauty. A negative answer results in immediate death, while a positive reply leads to her revealing her wicked smile, followed by another question; the cycle continues with fatal consequences for those who answer incorrectly.
With only a few episodes of the anime and a few years of manga serialization, Dandadan is already brimming with urban legends and references to creepypasta. This exploration has only scratched the surface, as the series hints at a broader array of folkloric and cryptid creatures yet to be unveiled, inviting one to wonder about the new entities awaiting discovery.
Dandadan can be streamed on Netflix and Crunchyroll, with episodes releasing every Thursday.
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