Follow us on Google News
Get the latest updates directly in your Google News feed
A lot of anime come and go, but legends never die. Why is it that some anime are always remembered and popular, even when their times are far gone? It is because they have done something unique, something right. That is why they outlast other anime with generic plots.
Certain tropes become identifiers or markers of popular anime. Among the recently popular anime, there is the trope of characters engaging in absurd and seemingly ridiculous behaviors for kicks. As compared to the stoic, cold, and rational ‘perfect’ protagonist, this is a breath of fresh air for the audience.
This strategy has roots in series likeKonoSubaandJujutsu Kaisen;it has arguably reached its saturation point inDandadan.
A Borrowed Strategy
The narrative device, while entertaining at first, now risks becoming a crutch, diminishing the creative depth expected from newer entries in the genre. The idea was first executed by the lackadaisical host of main characters in Konosuba.
KonoSubacrafted an ensemble of eccentric characters, each with their own quirks that often led to hilariously illogical situations. It is not supposed to make sense; it is all for fun. Be it Aqua’s reckless decisions or Kazuma’s attempts at leadership, the flaws of these characters are made comedic in a nonsensical take.
InDandadan, the trope is taken to extremes. Even when the characters are engaged in life-threatening and possibly world-ending scenarios, the raucous banter continues. The entire cast is filled with characters that would be oddballs by their lonesome.
Dandadan’s Attention to Detail on Momo’s Clothes Proves Why She Wasn’t Like Almost Every Other Female Anime Character
The fierce yet weirdly idealistic romantic that is Momo, the socially awkward geek who disappears in a crowd, Okarun, the crazy Jiji, creepy Kinta, and perfectly imperfect and somewhat neurotic Aira all have clearly defined markers for comic relief.
With characters regularly engaging in bizarre and nonsensical behavior, the series leans heavily on the chaos caused by its cast’s quirks. While this often generates laughter, it sometimes feels like it overpowers the plot underneath, like Okarun’s gentle nature orMomo’s smarts.
A Comedy of Horrors
UnlikeKonoSubaandJujutsu Kaisen, which indulge in this trope lightly and the character traits serve as tools to further the plot or deepen the characters, inDandadan, there is a risk of turning the absurd images, banter, and emotional expressions into the focal point.
This approach can diverge and distract the audience from themajor underlying plotlinesand from the overall narrative depth, making the characters’ growth weaker due to their antics.
While the unpredictability ofDandadanis part of its charm, it risks alienating fans who crave for more detailed outlook into the serious parts of the storytelling. Overuse of character-driven absurdity can lead to diminishing the impact of discoveries. The focus is not comedy or the occult but thetale of Momo and Okarunfalling in love.
‘Pretty much sums up my definition of a man’: Dandadan Is Setting up a New Era of Shonen Hero, ‘Sigma’ Crowd Don’t Let The Door Hit You
The characters’ eccentricities may overshadow their emotional and relational development. For instance, Jiji’s eccentricity has marked him to be the standard comic relief character, and the impact of an emotional development-oriented story focused on him will feel strange and detached.Dandadanrisks turning its carefully crafted personalities into caricatures.
Chandra Shekhar
Anime Writer
Articles Published :856
Chandra Shekhar is an Anime Writer at FandomWire with over 800 published articles under his belt. A law student by training but a storyteller at heart, he blends his sharp analysis with a deep love for all things anime. From the old-school Yu Yu Hakusho to the eldritch horrors of Lord of the Mysteries, his knowledge spans decades and genres. When he’s not writing, he’s likely buried in webnovels, silently hoping his favorite ones get the anime adaptation they deserve.
