Dandadan episode 8 review: Fall 2024's benchmark-setting masterpiece pushes creative boundaries

Dandadan episode 8, titled I've Got This Funny Feeling, premiered on Friday, November 22, 2024, at 12:26 am JST. The episode begins on a lighthearted note with playful bantering between Momo and Aira, before shifting to a more dramatic and romantic tone as Momo and Okarun find themselves caught in a misunderstanding involving Aira.

As the episode progresses, the action intensifies when the Serpoians target Okarun, intending to take his "banana organ," while Momo comes across a dinosaur-like creature. The episode concludes on a tense note with Aira, now wielding her yokai powers, stepping into the battle to fight the aliens.

This Dandadan episode 8 review dives into the show's key elements, including production quality, animation, voice acting, story progression, and such, to assess how effectively Science SARU is adapting Yukinobu Tatsu's acclaimed manga into the anime format.

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Dandadan episode 8 review: A brilliant mix of comedy, action, and romance from Science Saru

Dandadan episode 8 review: A brief synopsis

Dandadan episode 8 adapts chapters 18 to 20 of the manga, opening with a lighthearted moment as Momo, Okarun, Seiko, Turbo Granny, and Aira share a meal. Despite their lingering differences, Aira and Momo have a conversation that clears up some misunderstandings.

Aira also begins developing feelings for Okarun. After she leaves, Turbo Granny humorously places one of Okarun’s retrieved kintama back.

Later at school, Okarun unexpectedly avoids Momo. Suspicious and concerned, Momo stumbles upon Okarun and Aira in an intimate situation during lunch break. A flashback reveals that Okarun, who had been secretly training during lunch to become stronger, tried to keep it from Momo.

Okarun regaining one of his kintama (Image via Science SARU)

However, during his training, Aira approached him and confessed her feelings. Their struggle led to the situation Momo witnessed. Despite Okarun's attempt to explain, Momo, angry and hurt, refuses to listen to him.

Afterward, while Momo and Okarun are lost in thought during class, they are unexpectedly transported to a separate dimension. Okarun and Aira team up to search for Momo, who encounters a dinosaur-like monster. Meanwhile, Okarun and Momo face three Serpoians and a mantis-shrimp alien.

The episode concludes on a cliffhanger as the Serpoians overpower Okarun and prepare to take his "banana organ," only for Aira to unleash her yokai powers and retaliate.

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Dandadan episode 8 review: Impeccable production delivers an enhanced anime experience

Dandadan episode 8 review: Narrative criticism

Dandadan episode 8 continues to impress, further solidifying the series as one of the most engaging Shonen animes in the genre. Science SARU’s exceptional production delivers a faithful but enhanced adaptation, capturing the essence of the original manga while elevating the experience in animation.

The episode strikes a perfect balance by blending humor, drama, romance, and action, all while maintaining the bizarre rom-com alien paranormal setup that has made Dandadan so unique.

The first half of the episode leans into a more lighthearted, dramatic, and romantic tone, with Aira’s growing feelings for Okarun causing a misunderstanding between him and Momo. These emotional buildups add depth to the storyline and enhance the character dynamics.

Momo sees Okarun and Aira together (Image via Science SARU)

The latter half brings the action back in full force, showcasing Dandadan’s signature paranormal and alien elements with perfect precision. Aira’s newfound yokai powers and her joining the fray further intensify the plot.

Humor is never lacking either, as the characters engage in goofy exchanges throughout that provide a lighthearted counterbalance to the more intense moments.

All of these elements come together to make Dandadan episode 8 a standout, offering a well-rounded, thrilling, and fun narrative that keeps fans eagerly anticipating what comes next.

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Dandadan episode 8 review: An overall criticism

Okarun and Aira bickering (Image via Science SARU)

Science SARU delivers yet another stellar entry with Dandadan episode 8, showcasing the studio's outstanding production quality under the skillful direction of Fūga Yamashiro and the expert scriptwriting of Hiroshi Seko. It masterfully adapts Aira’s integration into Momo and Okarun’s group as they face off against paranormal entities and aliens.

The animation particularly shines, with the lighthearted and dramatic moments executed with finesse, humor conveyed with precision, and action sequences crafted with exceptional detail and intensity.

Some standout moments include the breathtaking portrayal of the dinosaur-like creature/Nessie, during its confrontation with Momo and Aira’s activation of Aco-Silky’s yokai abilities. These scenes elevate the animation to new heights, vividly capturing the menace of Nessie’s attack and the intensity of Aira joining the fray.

Naoyuki Onda’s character designs and Yoshimichi Kameda’s supernatural designs continue to captivate, especially in the rendering of Nessie, the Serpoians, and the Mantis-shrimp alien. The voice acting, as always, brings the characters to life with authenticity and emotion, complementing the visuals.

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Final thoughts

Aira and Momo eating noodles (Image via Science SARU)

In summary, Dandadan episode 8 is yet another spectacular installment. Following the studio’s exceptional depiction of Acro-Silky’s tragic backstory in the previous episode, this episode continues the momentum with Aira’s exciting debut in the fray with her yokai powers.

Episode 8 highlights Science SARU’s dedication to excellence through its meticulous craftsmanship and engaging storytelling, further solidifying Dandadan’s place as one of Fall 2024’s standout animes.

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