GKIDS has officially acquired the North American theatrical, videogram, and digital transactional rights to the long-awaited Dan Da Dan anime, based on Yukinobu Tatsu’s popular manga series of the same name.
This marks the first time that GKIDS’ first engagement with a first-run series. The Dan Da Dan anime hails from Science SARU, the Japanese animation studio behind DEVILMAN crybaby, Scott Pilgrim Takes Off, and the upcoming film The Colors Within. At the moment, the award-winning distributor has yet to announce the U.S. release date for Dan Da Dan.
“After years of championing feature animation and the occasional classic series, GKIDS is thrilled to join in the release of our first-ever new animated series,” GKIDS’ President David Jesteadt said in a statement. “We could not think of better partners than MBS and the artist geniuses at Science SARU, who we have had the fortune of working with on many films before. DAN DA DAN has been an office-favorite manga since its beginning, and we look forward to helping fans discover this vital new series later this fall.”
What is the Dan Da Dan anime about?
The series centers around two high school students, Momo and Okarun. Momo believes in ghosts since she comes from a family of spirit mediums. Meanwhile, Okarun loves all things occult, including UFOs. Directed by Fuga Yamashiro, the anime is described as an electrifying, action-packed love letter to sci-fi and horror with the heart of a ruthlessly funny teen rom-com. The voice cast includes Shion Wakayama (Lycoris Recoil), Natsuki Hanae (Demon Slayer), Mayumi Tanaka (One Piece), and Kazuya Nakai (One Piece). It will feature original music from Chainsaw Man’s Kensuke Ushio.
“It follows Momo, a high school girl from a family of spirit mediums, and her classmate Okarun, an occult freak. The two of them start talking after Momo rescues Okarun from getting bullied. However, an argument ensues between them – Momo believes in ghosts but denies aliens, and Okarun believes in aliens but denies ghosts,” reads the synopsis.
“To make the mutual deniers believe in each other, Momo goes to an abandoned hospital known for its UFO sightings, and Okarun goes to a tunnel that is said to be haunted. In each place, they encounter overwhelming paranormal activity that transcends comprehension. Amid these predicaments, Momo awakens her hidden power and Okarun gains the power of a curse to challenge the paranormal forces! Their fateful love begins as well!?”
