The Dandadan anime series has been going strong and is currently one of the highest-rated ongoing anime. You might have noticed that there is no pure evil in the series, and it seems like the author has already answered this question before.
The Dandadan anime series revolves around aliens and ghosts (spirits), which are inherently seen as evil by most people in real life. However, this is not the case in Dandadan, written and illustrated by Yukinobu Tatsu.
Even from the start of the series, the first “villain” that our main cast encounters is Turbo Granny, a terrifying spirit who chases after the protagonists in a chaotic series of events. Initially portrayed as a malicious entity, her actions are later contextualized.
Turbo Granny wasn’t inherently evil to begin with; she was once a human who became a vengeful spirit after her death. Her tragic story reveals that she was wronged in her past life, leading to her transformation into the fearsome Turbo Granny. However, after being confronted by the protagonists, she eventually becomes more of a reluctant ally than a true villain.
The next major threat that our main cast encounters is Acrobatic Silky. Her backstory unveils her as a loving mother whose life was marred by tragedy. Her child was taken from her and likely sold for money. Circumstances beyond her control turned her into a spirit and she eventually haunted Aira Shiratori.
Despite her fearsome appearance, Acrobatic Silky’s love for her child remained intact, and she ultimately redeemed herself by saving Aira. Her sacrifice highlighted that she was not evil but rather a victim of her circumstances.
In the more recent episodes, the hired muscle, Mr. Mantis Shrimp, initially appears to be a heartless mercenary. However, his backstory reveals a heartbreaking truth: his actions stem from his desperate attempt to save his child, who suffers from a rare condition requiring daily blood transfusions.
Driven by desperation, he took up morally questionable work to afford the treatment his child needed to survive. This revelation painted him not as a villain but as a tragic figure caught in a cruel situation.
The Author’s Philosophy
From the looks of it, Dandadan’s author, Yukinobu Tatsu, has deliberately decided there will be no pure evil in the series. In a past interview (published on September 29, 2024) with Mantan Web, Tatsu emphasized that the supernatural beings in Dandadan, whether they’re aliens, ghosts, or yokai aren’t inherently evil. Instead, he views them as characters with complex backstories and struggles.
“Monsters, like yokai, are often rooted in tragic events or folklore. They didn’t choose to become what they are, and they carry their own burdens and conflicts. They aren’t simple villains.”
This philosophy is why many of the antagonistic entities in the series, such as Turbo Granny and the aliens, are given moments of resolution or redemption. By the end of each arc, there’s often a glimmer of hope or closure, not just for the human characters but for the “monsters” as well.
“I don’t want the story to end on a purely sad note. It’s entertainment at the end of the day, and I want readers to feel a sense of hope when they finish a chapter.”
Despite its chaotic battles and quirky humor, Tatsu has stated that hope is the series’ core theme. He wants readers to see light even in the darkest moments of the story.
“Without hope, the story would feel too heavy. It’s important to show that even the supernatural beings, no matter how dangerous or strange, have their own paths to redemption.”
These ideas are not new to the author. In fact, in an interview dating back to August 2021 (the series started in April 2021), Tatsu emphasized that he didn’t want to make the monsters purely evil. Each entity, even the terrifying ones, has its reasons for acting as they do.
“It’s easy to label something as ‘bad,’ but I wanted to explore why these entities behave the way they do. Most of the time, the real villains are people and their choices.”
If the author stays true to his words, readers can expect more tragic backstories and complex motivations for the aliens and monsters yet to appear in the series.
One prime example of this potential is the Serpo aliens, encountered earlier in the series. Known for their grotesque appearances and ruthless behavior, they initially seemed like straightforward antagonists.
However, given Tatsu’s approach to writing, it’s becoming increasingly likely that their backstory will be explored in future arcs. These aliens may not be inherently malicious but instead acting out of survival, past trauma, or perhaps even misunderstandings with humanity.
