Dandadan finale's reference to Slam Dunk sends fans back to their childhood

Modified Dec 20, 2024 15:30 GMT

Dandadan finale's reference to Slam Dunk sends fans back to their childhood (Image via Science SARU and Toei Animation)

Dandadan episode 12, released on December 19, 2024, closed the series on a cliffhanger, building hype for the upcoming sequel that was announced moments after the finale premiere. Like the previous episode, the finale episode also had some references. The main one was Jiji and Okarun singing the theme of an old classic.

While Momo talked about going to Jiji's home, Okarun started screaming Slam Dunk's ending theme song. This prompted Jiji to sing the series' opening theme song, and they both danced around Momo while singing the songs. This reference made many appreciate the moment, as it was a big nostalgia hit for those who had the opportunity to watch the anime in their childhood.

Disclaimer: Any opinion expressed in this article solely belongs to the author.

What is the Slam Dunk reference in Dandadan episode 12?

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Dandadan episode 12 began with the protagonist group requesting Seiko keep the mannequin's wife with her. After many requests, Seiko finally agreed and reminded Momo that she would stay at Jiji's house tomorrow. As expected, Okarun worried about why she would stay alone at Jiji's.

So, while Momo and Jiji were talking, Okarun changed the topic by randomly singing the ending theme song of the 1990s basketball anime Slam Dunk. The song is titled Anata Dake Mitsumete'ru (performed by Japanese singer Ooguro Maki). The lines Okarun sang belonged to the chorus:

"I'm Looking at only you since the day I met you, all the way to right now."

Funnily enough, Jiji joined the fun and started singing the opening theme song of Slam Dunk, titled Kimi ga Suki da to Sakebitai (performed by the Japanese band BAAD). Jiji's lines were also from the theme song's chorus:

"I want to shout out that I love you. Let's try to change tommorow."

"I was so happy to hear it"— Fans react to the Slam Dunk reference

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Fans were ecstatic about the Slam Dunk reference, which was a nostalgia hit for those who watched the series as children. Some fans linked the ending and opening theme songs to Okarun and Jiji's position in Momo's life. They said while Jiji (who sang the opening song) was Momo's first love, Okarun would be Momo's true and last love since he sang the ending theme song.

"I was so happy to hear it," a fan said.

"Jiji sings the opening, (momo first love) and okarun sings the ending (last love?)," another fan noted.

Funnily enough, this reference had one fan thinking how the protagonist group was filled with people who were anime fans (given how Okarun and Jiji started singing anime theme songs out of nowhere). Meanwhile, after this reference, one fan was reminded to finish the Slam Dunk anime.

"I love how this perfectly encapsulates what nerds they are," another fan said.

"Reminded me to finish slam dunk," another one said.

Final thoughts

Okarun singing the Slam Dunk ending theme song (Image via Yukinobu Tatsu/Shueisha)

The Slam Dunk reference wasn't an anime-original reference, as the theme song lines were also in the source's manga panels. Yukinobu Tatsu, Dandadan's author, might also be a fan of the basketball anime, given how he paid homage to the series in such a random way.

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Edited by Shreya Das