The primary official trailer for the Dandadan anime has solely been out for a number of days, however anime followers have already taken to beginning a tried and true dialogue. Extra particularly, they’ve posited whether or not or not the collection can be “the subsequent Chainsaw Man”.
At first look, it’s a good dialogue to have. In any case, each supply a wildly irreverent tackle the standard Shonen framework by exaggerated perversion, wild spins on world-ending threats, and fewer than noble protagonists. Heck, Dandadan‘s creator Yukinobu Tatsu was even an assistant to Tatsuki Fujimoto in the course of the creation and publication of the primary a part of Chainsaw Man, so absolutely his breakthrough work takes heavy inspiration from the collection he labored on up to now.
All of those are truthful assumptions to make, a minimum of on paper. And but, when it comes right down to it, Dandadan won’t ever be the subsequent Chainsaw Man; primarily as a result of it doesn’t need or must be that.
Because it first began its run in 2021, Dandadan has stood out due to the truth that it isn’t like most different collection on the market. It revels in flaunting its personal particular mix of zany comedy whereas exploring the huge world of cryptids and the supernatural, and doesn’t thoughts leaving some readers behind in favor of guaranteeing it doesn’t sacrifice it awkward allure.
The place different exhibits would possibly give attention to introducing a central villain or core premise, Yukinobu’s manga would reasonably dig into how wild it will be to combat a laser-blasting Loch Ness monster inside a pocket dimension of a college. Whereas its contemporaries intention to make deep and immersive energy methods, it as a substitute focuses on the spectacle and madness of spectral beings and extraterrestrials duking it out for the destiny of an unsuspecting populace.
Are the broad strokes of the Shonen style nonetheless plain to see? Undeniably. But it surely nonetheless presents it in a method that hasn’t been seen in a superb lengthy whereas; even when one considers the madness that’s Chainsaw Man.
Not solely that, however it does so with out delving into the darker themes and tone introduced by Fujimoto’s hit collection. For each scene the place Chainsaw Man topics its characters to repeated tragedies and deaths, Dandadan offers a extra hopeful message of with the ability to overcome most something by working collectively. Even probably the most cursed poltergeist, or probably the most minuscule insurgent in a battle with a galactic menace, can discover redemption and help as long as they attain for the fingers provided to them.
Once more, this isn’t precisely an idea that’s overseas to the Shonen style. However as a result of so many collection have veered into darkish and dismal themes lately, it stands out all of the extra and helps Yukinobu’s work stand as one of many extra optimistic works manga followers can dig into.
Suffice to say, Dandadan is its personal entity and needs to be seen as such. And even previous that, it’s price contemplating: Why does Dandadan must be the subsequent Chainsaw Man when the Chainsaw Man collection continues to be very a lot current and ongoing?
It’s all nicely and good to hope a collection will turn out to be a brand new must-watch anime, and that it’ll hit the identical benchmark of high quality. But it surely’s unusual to see exhibits so readily tossed apart earlier than they’ve formally ended, handed over for the most recent present or challenge as a substitute.
Even when it could be a bit earlier than Chainsaw Man Season Two sees the sunshine of day, it was solely just a little over a yr in the past that the primary season blew anime followers away and the collection is nowhere close to being absolutely tailored. Not solely that, however the manga is chugging alongside too, with Half 2 now transferring into the buildup towards its climax after months of setup. It’s greater than doubtless mentioned climax can be simply as explosive as Half 1’s was, and that it’ll solely give the anime extra nice materials to work with for years to come back.
To already be searching for the “subsequent Chainsaw Man” feels untimely, but in addition ignores the truth that there doesn’t must be one uncontested greatest present in anime that blows the roof off the medium, Shonen or in any other case. There’s room for a couple of superb collection for followers to get pleasure from, and the broader sphere of anime will solely be made all of the stronger if there are a greater diversity of nice exhibits to select from.
So don’t hassle making an attempt to determine if Dandadan would be the subsequent Chainsaw Man. Benefit from the present for what it’s as soon as it airs, and enjoy the truth that we might be on the verge of a brand new golden age of anime the place we’re spoiled with quite a few nice variations.