Scott Pilgrim Takes Off Fans Will Love This Popular New Anime

The biggest anime premiere of the Fall 2024 season, studio Science Saru’s Dandadan has already won over the hearts of countless fans with its conceptual uniqueness and stellar visual presentation. A clever shonen adventure that mixes supernatural with extraterrestrial, Dandadan is both a subversion of modern shonen conventions and a heartfelt love letter to the genre’s most exhilarating and impactful parts. Filled with memorable characters and mesmerizing oddities, the plot of Dandadan follows the granddaughter of a spirit medium, Momo, and her introverted alien-obsessed schoolmate, Okarun, as they find themselves butting heads with both yokai and extraterrestrials. And while there’s hardly anything Dandadan can be compared to – in anime or otherwise – one other Science Saru project shares an unexpected plethora of similarities with this zany paranormal adventure.

Created for Netflix by Bryan Lee O’Malley and BenDavid Grabinski and animated by Science Saru, Scott Pilgrim Takes Off is a subversive reimagining of the original graphic novels and the Scott Pilgrim vs. the World movie adaptation. A perfect blend of nostalgic comfort and mindful novelty, this version of Scott Pilgrim lets Ramona Flowers take center stage as she investigates her love interest’s mysterious disappearance and reexamines her complicated relationships with her evil exes. Released to explosive critical acclaim and overwhelmingly positive fan reception, Scott Pilgrim Takes Off stands out due to its ability to reshape the foundation of its source material while elevating all the elements that make this franchise so beloved – witty humor, absurd action, and surprisingly complex characterization. And if there’s an anime all fans of Scott Pilgrim Takes Off need to be on the lookout for this Fall season, it’s Dandadan.

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Dandadan Is A Must-Watch for Any Fan of Mixing Humor, Action, and Romance

Scott Pilgrim Takes Off and Dandadan Share Captivating Tonal Similarities

In all versions of Scott Pilgrim, one merit remains a constant – the franchise is unrivaled when it comes to blending together the best elements of seemingly incompatible genres. Yet, what makes Scott Pilgrim Takes Off even more special is how it smashes the expectations one might have of this genre-bending cult classic, daring to be innovative and different while holding onto the love it has for the original. Like Scott Pilgrim, Dandadan is an action-packed comedy adventure with a complex romantic subplot. However, it never struggles to balance its contradictory elements, always knowing when to heighten the excitement, lighten the mood with raunchy jokes, or tap into the audience’s feelings with profoundly heartfelt character moments.

The distinctiveness of Dandadan’s humor is something Scott Pilgrim Takes Off fans will definitely have a particular appreciation for. Just like Scott Pilgrim, Dandadan is unafraid to be indulgent and daring with its comedy and bases a lot of its humor on pop culture references – albeit featuring way more allusions to anime, manga, and Japanese folklore than its Western counterpart. The first yokai Okarun accidentally aggravates, Turbo Granny, is based on a real Japanese urban myth, while the second episode’s Flatwoods Monster hints at a West Virginian cryptid by the same name. Later on, the manga goes to consistently include nodes to popular series – from Neon Genesis Evangelion and tokusatsu classics popping up in the Space Globalists arc to characters’ special moves referencing Dragon Ball and Gurren Lagann.

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Scott Pilgrim certainly had his work cut out for him in fighting his way into Ramona’s heart, though some of the battles were tougher than others.

Albeit, no excellent series can reach such heights of recognition on unorthodox humor alone. Both Dandadan and Scott Pilgrim Takes Off understand the importance of narrative substance better than most. While the plots of these two series couldn’t be any more different, both titles masterfully tackle themes of reconciling with past regrets, facing the uncomfortable hardships of romance, and learning to see people for who they are beyond unyielding and harsh misconceptions. Thematic significance and characterization go hand-in-hand in both shows – in Scott Pilgrim Takes Off’s case, Ramona’s reframing of her unsuccessful romantic partners drives much of the heroine’s development. Dandadan uses both its human protagonists and the surprisingly nuanced and humane monsters they fight to drive home the importance of open-mindedness and compassion when it comes to finding common ground.

Fans of Scott Pilgrim Takes Off’s Visuals Have Extra Reasons to Check Out Dandadan

Science Saru Puts Its Best Work Forward in Both Series

When Scott Pilgrim Takes Off was first announced, many were pleasantly surprised to see Science Saru – a renowned anime studio mostly known for originals and works by influential director and the studio’s founder, Masaaki Yuasa – handling the series’ visuals. However, Scott Pilgrim Takes Off is far from the studio’s first collaboration with the international animation scene. Science Saru’s boundary-pushing focus was the cornerstone of the studio’s thesis from the beginning, their first project being an Adventure Time episode titled Food Chain. Since then, Science Saru has taken part in a number of international productions and collaborations, including Star Wars: Visions, and always delivered outstanding results. Unlike most animation studios in Japan, Science Saru also employs people of various cultural and national backgrounds, taking pride in its commitment to diversity and inclusivity.

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Science Saru’s visual style is instantaneously recognizable, defined by the studio’s outstanding use of stylized, abstract visuals, fluid and highly dynamic motion, and vivid colors. Be it a slice-of-life comedy, historical fantasy, or an action-packed battle shonen, Science Saru always pushes the boundaries of creative presentation when it comes to animating their shows. The studio’s exceptional visual identity shines at full display in Scott Pilgrim Takes Off. Remaining faithful to the comics’ iconic style, the show breathes life into every aspect of the story – from the high-octane, surreal action sequences to reality-bending visual gags to somber moments of character reflection – through its spirited animation and delectable cinematography. And while the animation of Scott Pilgrim Takes Off is outstanding, Dandadan might be the studio’s most visually impressive work to date.

Science Saru’s artistic signature and Dandadan’s zaniness were a match made in heaven. Every frame of the anime proves just how intimately the studio understands the best ways to inspirit this eccentric supernatural adventure. Yukinobu Tatsu’s original manga is a detail-oriented visual masterpiece that can deliver anything from incredibly fluid and gripping action to uproarious visual comedy to instances of blood-chilling horror. The adaptation, while sacrificing some of the detailedness of the source material, makes up for it by capturing the story’s multifaceted essence in every scene.

Brisk and explosive, the fight sequences in Dandadan overflow with vigor, the audience feeling the impact of every kick Momo delivers and the disturbing anguish of Okarun’s transformation into Turbo Granny. And while such an unconventionally captivating visual presentation can be appreciated by any fan of quality animation, it would resonate extra with those already fond of Science Saru’s artistry from Scott Pilgrim Takes Off.

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Dandadan Is Still Unlike Anything That Came Before It

Dandadan’s Appeal Is Unique to the Series’ Distinctive Identity

The similarities between Scott Pilgrim Takes Off and Dandadan are difficult to miss regardless of whether they stem from the shows’ shared creators or tonal likeness. Yet, Dandadan’s biggest strengths lie in what sets it apart from both stylistically similar Western animations and fellow exemplars of the shonen genre. A blend of action-packed spectacle and tender slice-of-life romance, Dandadan boldly sets itself apart from the modern dark shonen trends while maintaining a level of gravity and thematic maturity despite its idiosyncratic, often unserious tone.

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Diverse, multifaceted, and endlessly lovable, the cast of Dandadan is filled to the brim with riveting characters.

At the heart of Dandadan, just like in Scott Pilgrim Takes Off, lies a story about love. Albeit, Dandadan’s romantic plot lacks much of Scott Pilgrim’s introspectiveness and adult cynicism, portraying instead a hopeful tale of first love that gradually blooms between Momo and Okarun. Rather than evil exes and deep-rooted romantic insecurities, the heroes of Dandadan face hurdles in the form of comical misunderstandings, endearing pining, and an occasional alien or paranormal threat that must be dealt with before focusing too much on feelings. Yet, romantic love is not the only form of affection that permeates Dandadan’s emotional narrative – themes of found family and friendship are just as important in this surprisingly heartfelt story.

With the anime adaptation currently wrapping up its first arc, Dandadan has already established itself as one of the best anime premieres of 2024. Science Saru’s consistently impressive animation, paired with Tatsu’s engrossing over-the-top storytelling, created a series that has all the chances of going down in history as a modern anime classic. Yet, for all of its indulgent bizarreness, Dandadan’s appeal can easily exceed the established anime community. Any fan of outstanding animation – or quality storytelling in general – can appreciate Dandadan’s commitment to expanding the boundaries of creativity.

Dandadan

Release Date

September 13, 2024

Cast

Natsuki Hanae , Shion Wakayama , Nana Mizuki , Ayane Sakura , Kaito Ishikawa , Mayumi Tanaka , Kazuya Nakai , Kaori Maeda , Miyu Tomita , Ryûnosuke Watanuki , Hikaru Tanaka , Seitaro Taniguchi , Satomi Kobashi , Mayuko Kazama , Ryuuzaburou Ootomo

Seasons

1

Character(s)

Ken Okarun Takakura , Momo Ayase , Seiko , Aira Shiratori , Jin Jiji Enjōji , Turbo Granny , Serpoians , Miko , Muko , Momo’s Boyfriend , Male Student A , Male Student B , Elementary School Boy , Flatwoods Monster

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Scott Pilgrim embarks on a thrilling new adventure, facing off against formidable foes from his past and present. As he navigates the challenges of life, love, and friendship, Scott must harness his unique skills and courage to overcome obstacles and protect those he cares about.

Release Date

November 17, 2023

Cast

Michael Cera , Mary Elizabeth Winstead , Satya Bhabha , Kieran Culkin , Anna Kendrick , Brie Larson , Alison Pill , Aubrey Plaza , Brandon Routh , Jason Schwartzman

Seasons

1

Story By

Bryan Lee O’Malley

Writers

Bryan Lee O’Malley , BenDavid Grabinski

Franchise(s)

Scott Pilgrim

Directors

Abel Góngora

Showrunner

Bryan Lee O’Malley , BenDavid Grabinski

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