Dandadan Episode 7 Has Broken a Shonen Curse That Has Plagued One Piece for Ages

Since its anime debut, Dandadan has already managed to carve out a niche for itself within a crowded anime landscape. However, the recent episode 7 has shown its peak form. This episode has further shifted gears in a remarkable way, sparking a powerful emotional response that resonates deeply with fans. In doing so, Science SARU has achieved what many animation studios in the Shonen landscape often struggle to accomplish.

Many Shonen series, like One Piece, often struggle to maintain emotional depth amid action-heavy storylines; struggling to adapt the original manga properly. But Dandadan Episode 7 has struck a balance between these two elements in a way that makes the scenes even more impactful than the source material.

The Creative Brilliance in Dandadan‘s Episode 7

Instead of the continuation of the battle from the previous episode, Dandadan‘s episode 7 starts with a brief, eerie look into Acrobatic Silky’s memory. For around 25 seconds, we see Silky running through a town in panic, with her arm stretching forward as if she was looking for something important. Then, the scene seamlessly transitioned into the present scenario.

This short scene alone has set the mood for the entire episode. The depth of emotion voice actress Kikuko Inoue has conveyed through Silky in mere sounds and frantic movements offers a rare glimpse into Silky’s past and an immediate connection to her current motivations. This unique approach of direction by Science SARU has allowed viewers to empathize with Silky, making the episode’s emotional arc that much more potent.

Acrobatic Silky’s human past has also been perfectly adapted in the anime version of Dandadan. Her backstory in the manga took about 11 pages, almost half of a chapter. However, the anime extended the backstory by further adding meaningful additional scenes, taking almost 10 minutes of screen time in this episode. The moments of her past, particularly the ballet scene with her daughter; with her frantic memory and search for something lost, mirror the same sense of emotional yearning. Fans and critics alike have praised the clever direction of this episode.

Dandadan Episode 7 also sheds light on the budding romance between Momo and Okarun amidst the chaos. The balance between romance and a dangerous yokai battle is not something often seen in Shonen anime, where the romantic elements are usually pushed aside in favor of combat and heroics. On the other hand, Science SARU didn’t compromise on other aspects such as action sequence, voice acting, or background music, either. Everything was masterfully coordinated and well-paced.

Redefining Shonen Storytelling in Anime: What Episode 7 of Dandadan Means for the Genre

While the anime adaptation of the recent episode of Dandadan wasn’t completely faithful to the source material, it highlighted how proper direction can elevate an episode and simultaneously maintain its pacing perfectly. This episode serves as a blueprint for other series to integrate emotional storytelling and empathy into the Shonen formula, without sacrificing the excitement and thrill that the genre is known for.

Other series, such as One Piece, also have several emotionally impactful episodes in its collection, however, they barely capture the intensity of the manga on the same level. One Piece also often relies on extensive backstory and flashbacks to provide emotional weight. However, the poor execution of this approach can sometimes disrupt the pacing, making the transitions feel jarring. 

Dandadan, on the other hand, seamlessly incorporated Silky’s backstory and emotional motivations into the present action, showing that a Shonen anime can sustain an emotional narrative without halting the story. In doing so, the episode has become even more memorable and captivating than the manga.

Dandadan is currently available to watch on Crunchyroll.