Prior to seeing DAN DA DAN: First Encounter—a special theatrical premiere event for Science SARU’s latest anime series, presented by North American distributor GKIDS—I knew absolutely nothing about either the show or its source material (a manga that is apparently quite popular in its native Japan). This canny bit of marketing therefore served its purpose magnificently; I am now thoroughly invested in this story… though not enough, perhaps, to religiously tune in as it airs—I mean, who has the time to keep up with television, amirite? I will, however, definitely be binging it as soon as it’s available in its entirety; this three-episode tease was simply too promising to ignore.
I won’t discuss the plot in detail; this is a work that benefits greatly from the element of surprise. Suffice it to say that the narrative is as economical as it is relentlessly paced. Characters and conflicts are introduced quickly and elegantly, with nuances developing and complications arising gradually and organically—frequently defying or outright subverting the audience’s initial impressions. Indeed, the genre is virtually unclassifiable, abruptly shifting between romcom, slapstick, action, sci-fi, and horror—often in the span of a single scene.
Whatever its tone may be at any given moment, DAN DA DAN is consistently funny (some instances of crude/perverse humor—including a particularly juvenile preoccupation with partial nudity, genitalia, and various bodily functions—notwithstanding). The running gag revolving around the female protagonist’s obsession with prolific tough-guy actor Ken Takakura, for example, was seemingly written to appeal to me specifically. Sadly, few of my fellow patrons appreciated (or understood) the joke—which made me feel like the loneliest cinephile in the whole world.
I have only two minor complaints about the experience, neither of which can be blamed on the show itself. First, the promotional interviews with the cast and crew should have followed the feature presentation, rather than preceding it; while the peek behind the scenes was perfectly enjoyable, it also sucked the energy out of the theater before the screening had even begun—the crowd’s impatience was positively palpable. And second, the house lights came back up approximately ten minutes too early—which is, unfortunately, par for the course at AMC’s inadequately staffed venues these days.
Otherwise, consider me a satisfied customer. Discovering DAN DA DAN on the big screen was a total blast; glad I made the spur-of-the-moment decision to purchase the ticket!
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