Dandadan episode 1: Protagonists Okarun and Momo start their adventure by meeting aliens and ghosts

Dandadan episode 1 was expected to primarily focus on introducing viewers to dual protagonists Okarun and Momo Ayase, which did indeed end up being the episode’s focus. Officially released on Thursday, October 3, 2024, the episode all but exclusively focused on the pair, highlighting their meeting and memorable first bet with each other.

Even beyond serving as a highlight of the Fall 2024 season, Dandadan episode 1 is still very highly anticipated as fans view it as the next smash hit shonen anime. While it may still be too early to tell on that front, the series premiere at least does a great job of setting up that path with an excellent introduction.

Dandadan episode 1 introduces viewers to Okarun, Momo Ayase, Turbo Granny, and more

Dandadan episode 1 first introduces fans to Momo Ayase (Image via Science SARU)

Dandadan episode 1 began with a focus on Momo Ayase being broken up with by her boyfriend, who did so by kicking her in the stomach and leaving her doubled over in pain. She explained to her friends that she was with him despite his ways because he looked like Ken Takakura, a Japanese actor and singer born Goichi Oda.

As she sadly strolled through the halls, she intervened as a boy was being bullied inside another classroom. After ensuring he’d be left alone, she left, prompting him to chase after her while saying he knows she’s into the sci-fi supernatural as he is too. However, she showed no interest as he began geeking out, eventually chewing him out for not being able to take a hint and leave her alone.

Dandadan episode 1 saw her apologize for this shortly thereafter, saying it was too much on her part. She then struck up a conversation with him about believing in ghosts, which he immediately snickered at and said weren’t real. This prompted Momo to say her grandmother is a true spirit medium. This started a “contest” between the two of them about which were real or more likely to be real.

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Her friends saw this and commented on how they didn’t hate the idea of the two of them being together. Momo and the boy then made a bet to see which was real, each heading to a different hotspot for their respective phenomenon. Momo’s contact for the boy revealed his name as Occult-kun, or “Okarun,” which comes from the word occult. She went to Nagi Hospital, said to be a sanctuary for UFOs and UAPs and a hotspot for abductions.

Dandadan episode 1 then revealed that she sent him to a spiritual hotspot, which was an abandoned tunnel. He then asked Momo if she’d ever seen a ghost after she ridiculed him for never having seen a UFO or UAP. She then said she had faith despite not seeing one since her grandmother raised her by herself, and she loves her an incredible amount likewise.

She then explained how her family was “weird,” and that she had to do a ritual all the way to school every day, which led to her getting made fun of, even by the boy she liked. This caused her to stop the ritual and not speak with her grandma until recently. However, she one day realized that she hated the fact that the boy she liked made fun of her grandma, not her grandma herself.

Okarun and Momo quickly bond in Dandadan episode 1 despite starting off on an awkward foot (Image via Science SARU)

Dandadan episode 1 saw Momo express gratitude and faith in her grandmother for raising her, before asking Okarun why he believed in aliens. He then said he didn’t have a specific reason as Momo said he speaks much more bluntly on the phone. He said it’s easy to talk to her likewise before seeing footsteps appear underneath his own feet. This led to the Turbo Granny appearing before him, prompting him to run out of the tunnel despite Momo saying otherwise.

The call then dropped, prompting Momo to try and race over. However, she was confronted by three aliens who then abducted her before she could escape. She awoke in their ship, where they revealed themselves as Serpoians from the planet Serpo. They expressed interest in harvesting her reproductive organs to give their all-male race, which primarily reproduces via cloning and genetic diversity.

Dandadan episode 1 saw her reject this, saying her chastity was being saved for the Ken Takakura she had yet to meet. Her phone then rang, interrupting the Serpoians as they went to answer it. This prompted the Turbo Granny to exit the phone, which was actually revealed to be Okarun’s possessed body. Momo requested his help, as he did hers simultaneously.

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The Serpoians then revealed their true, frog-like forms as they prepared to fight. Turbo Granny fully took over Okarun’s body and began fighting, where he revealed he always wanted to meet aliens because he thought they’d be his friends since he had none in reality. He then expressed gratitude for Momo reaching out to him likewise, saying he’d even become a monster for her sake to protect her.

Dandadan episode 1 then saw Momo remember her grandmother’s words about releasing her chi, doing so, and activating spiritual powers as a result. While thanking her grandmother, she began fighting the aliens, sending one flying out of their ship, which was revealed to be a fake moon. She then used her powers to restrain Turbo Granny and give Okarun his sanity back. The two then escaped the ship after it crash-landed on Earth.

Okarun then went to confront Turbo Granny while apologizing to Momo for getting her involved, saying he didn’t want to burden her further. Okarun then said a Ken Takakura line, which caught Momo’s attention and made her heart race. She then asked for his real name as she told herself to calm down, which he revealed to be Ken Takakura coincidentally. The episode ended with Momo stunned into silence at this information.

In summation

Dandadan episode 1 marks the start of Momo and Okarun's supernatural adventures (Image via Science SARU)

Dandadan episode 1 primarily focuses on introducing its dual protagonists and setting up their relationship while also establishing what the primary conflict in the series will be. For starters, it seems that Okarun will be primarily focused on ridding himself of Turbo Granny’s curse and reclaiming what the curse has taken from him.

Episode 1 also makes it clear that both aliens and ghosts will be a major part of the antagonistic forces of the series, which is a welcome deviation from the typical one-or-the-other norm. Likewise, fans can expect the central pair of Momo and Okarun to continue battling forces of each supernatural variety when the series returns with episode 2 and beyond.