Dandadan How To Adapt A Flashback

[@JustTryGambling]

The crazy part is that all the symbolism we see - colors, light, scene composition - is all intentional by the directors. The guy is a huge film buff apparently and really has a knack for eliciting raw emotion through visuals and motion. I think this is one of the few anime that has truly made me feel so invested. The storytelling and pacing is just so good. I don’t have some noisy little tsundere yelling “baka” every two milliseconds to fill up dead air. They throw you into dead air face first and let you feel and process what you just watched. It’s insane.

[@JmanAnimates]

Exactly! You can feel the emotion through the colors, light and scene composition. Even the sound design and OST. It's beautiful!

[@CFlandre]

I've been saying in my circles for a long time that the anime industry needed more film directors and not "anime directors". I feel vindicated!

[@JmanAnimates]

@@CFlandre i hope we see more stuff like this.

[@lesleepdeprived7230]

It's the first time an anime has brought actual tears from my eyes They sure did a fantastic job

[@GreedyAudi]

@@lesleepdeprived7230NOOOO FRRR, Every time I see something related to this scene it gives me chills bruh 😭

[@Alien-_-ゝ]

I loved it when they showed her doing part time job, the scene was not focused on her, she was somewhere in background.. working.

[@JmanAnimates]

yeahhhh the composition for that shot is sooo creative

[@savoff477]

Nah like legit.. the details in this episode are so beauitfully real..

[@SugeryGold]

“Part time job” is an understatement. Everyone I’ve shown the episode to has this moment of like falling apart when the piano is playing and they realize she’s a prostitute and then they’re just speechless

[@fero_art]

In that scene, it took me a bit of time to find her out

[@JmanAnimates]

@@fero_art me too

[@keiidt]

Unfortunately the show failed to account for one thing - how am I supposed to see all the subtle details with all the tears in my eyes??

[@JmanAnimates]

hahaha sooo true

[@yocastanu]

Well said, now that you pointed this out, after rewatching it, I didn't understand why did I missed so many things. By the end of the ep, my whole face was really swollen and red. Hit me specially hard because I am a single mom.

[@tkdt549]

Just a slight misinterpretation of Aira's hug: Japanese folklore (as much as any other ones) place heavy emphasis on having "no regrets" to move on. While under normal circumstances anyone would've become a ghost/spirit, Silky had given all her life energy away to revive Aira, meaning she couldn't even maintain an astral form. So it's come to a crossroads; to the afterlife, or to the void (per Granny's explanation) and after witnessing Silky's story, Aira attempts to free her from all her regret to send her off "to a kinder world." It's both beautiful and culturally significant. Double whammy.

[@JmanAnimates]

ohh i see thanks for clearing that up

[@AlasKenn1]

I actually really appreciate the elements they left out of the manga. Science Saru refuses to focus on the men she's with, because it isn't their story, it's hers. They're a job in many ways like the others. This story is of a single mother finding any way to care for her daughter, a daughter she loves so dearly and loves her in return. They back off in the framing of her jobs because the jobs, just more means to an end, divorced from the focus. Meanwhile back home, the shots are angled low, looking up at her, implying their coming from Silky's daughter, watching their hero of a mom. And finally, even as the assault plays, we're 100% focused on Silky and her daughter, their victimization, her daughter's kidnapping, and inevitably Silky's death dash through the wet, dark, sketchy streets. Never once are the nameless men even given faces, cause it's still Silky's story. The framing is so pointed in it's purpose that this episode alone would rival the best of classic art house films in direction. I am forced to wonder if I would have ugly cried half as much if SciSaru wasn't so expert in their use of film language.

[@JmanAnimates]

Exactly! Visual storytelling communicates so much to the viewer that you feel so much more from the story. At times I felt like I was right there as the events were unfolding. Sometimes, less is more. As you said, the fact that we know nothing about the men who beat up Silky and took her daughter away only adds to the story.

[@painlesskun3959]

not a single frame wasted, everything is beautiful connected!

[@painlesskun3959]

@@JmanAnimates Such decisions ultimately affect the way a scene is processed. We are never separated from Acro or her daughter, there isn't a single frame/manga panel without them. And if it does, it will include them again. This is the beauty of Dandadan, where characters are written to such extravagant detail that they feel alive, and say a story for themselves. I highly recommend the manga, it can only do soo much in that Book medium, yet it could make you feel things that you thought a still image can't. Chap 58-59, we see [Spoiler ahead] Musical yokai (Literally "Otonoke" the title of Dandadan's opening) You can feel the eerie sense of calm yet distress through the panels, we also get an opera scene, the sheer volume of that double page spread made me freeze, it's echoing, it's loud, it has soo many elements. Then there's Vamola.... Lets just say, a manga could never make me cry like that again. The betrayal, the friendship, the reunion... The tragedy. Have a great day gentlemen and ladies, you are witnessing the creme da le creme of Storytelling.

[@JmanAnimates]

@@painlesskun3959 once season 1 is done i'm gonna read the manga from chapter 1

[@rupertofhentzau920]

The animation team transcended the original source material brilliantly.

[@JmanAnimates]

agreed

[@savoff477]

Right… im kind of tired of the contrarians that don’t like that the anime “sensored” it too much..

[@JmanAnimates]

@@savoff477 me too

[@hughmungus8701]

@@savoff477 It's not contrarian, it's a valid criticism. I've seen several people miss the fact that she jumped because of how stylized it is. It doesn't take anything away from the sequence to say that it could have communicated that detail just a little more explicitly, it's still beautifully done.

[@GriseWeisshark]

Exactly why I'm excited to how they'll do the backstories of the other characters. Definitely gonna hit harder than the manga.

[@Nestnestsoto]

15:15 That wasn’t money she saved for the dress. That was either 1. repayment to the loan sharks or 2. extortion money (sex workers in Japan don’t always have a pimp but are instead extorted by Yakuza or Bousouzoku into becoming a sex worker in the first place, then being forced to give a share of income) She took out 30,000 JPY, which is the equivalent of just a little less than 200 USD to buy the dress. Somehow the bad guys found out that she skimped. Lives ruined over $200

[@JmanAnimates]

thanks for the correction. That makes a lot of sense. It makes the story even darker for me.

[@GriseWeisshark]

Yeah that's probably why they took her child as collateral.

[@JmanAnimates]

@ exactly

[@biska131]

​@@GriseWeissharkAll that trouble for petty 200 bucks? Wtf. 😢

[@2006Whippet]

​@biska131 You need to look at it from the criminals perspective. If they let her get away with not giving them the money, she'll potentially do it again. Not only that, other women they "control" will feel like they can do it too. Now, the criminals that are directly in contact with the prostitutes are probably low level and have to pass the money to people higher than them in the organization. This means their own heads are also on the line and they aren't going to put a prostitute ahead of themselves.

[@itsyaboyb9839]

6:11 I absolutely LOVE how, after surprising her daughter with the costume, the episode director started a camera spin when the melody picked up. It felt like an old ballerina music box. Except we were the ballerina’s POV, just watching her world and their moments together spin, and spin, and spin past us and them 💔😭

[@JmanAnimates]

Exactly 👍 it’s such a lovely touch that pulls you into the story!

[@SkotKozB5]

Not sure if you say it in the last two minutes but I'd like to clarify a couple of things for people who haven't read the manga. It's heavily implied that Silky's daughter either died or was killed shortly after Silky herself died. And we get a panel showing Silky and her daughter together. This panel confirms two things. 1. That Silky's daughter is dead. 2. That Aira telling Silky she loves her let Silky forgive herself and she got to go to heaven with her daughter instead of being trapped in the void and forgotten.

[@JmanAnimates]

I didn't. Thanks for clearing this up.

[@bursegsardaukar]

Really? I thought the loan sharks took her to work for them as a slave or something to cover her mother’s debt.

[@JmanAnimates]

@@bursegsardaukar yup I checked. Read the manga and you'll see

[@pickericklamar]

​@@bursegsardaukaroh thank god they in heaven cuz i thought that too 😥

[@LostPeopleOfEarth158]

I'm glad to see this comment. The anime left the daughter's fate unknown and whether the Silky passed on or not. It's sad the daughter was killed but I am glad they got to be reunited. It would of been to sad otherwise.

[@normal-tomato-ashu]

18:35 Jman, in the anime, when Aira tells Acro Silky that she loves her, the way Acro Silky crumbles changes from crumbling like a gritty sand chunks, to a way that her ashes go upwars. I believe that this subtle change in her dissapearance connotes that she will not be forgotten, and will go to heaven. Not to mention the fact that Aira accomplished Acro Silky's desire which is to be called "mom".

[@JmanAnimates]

Woah I never thought about that. That's really good symbolism. yeah in the end her desire was met. Thanks for the insight!

[@thelegendaryklobb2879]

I agree. A motherless child hoping to see her mother again, and a grieving mother desperate to find her lost daughter. Both searches were hopeless from the start, but fate brought them together to fill in the role for each other and ease their pain. For a moment they were mother and daughter, their stories, pain and suffering became one. One of the most beautiful manga and anime moments

[@JmanAnimates]

@@thelegendaryklobb2879 🥹 🥹 😭

[@Ryodraco]

Further, Turbo specifies a stranger can't hope to change Silky's heart enough to give her peace, at which point Aira steps in. Silky had been watching Aira for ten years, so Aira was the only one there who was close enough to her to grant her the peace see needed to not go to the void.

[@JmanAnimates]

@ very true

[@denjideadbrain]

I thought at first Dandadan was just a godly animated romcon and got hit with this brick. I can't even begin to describe everything I felt during the episode, from realizing very early Silky was a sxxworker to then knowing the reason why she was to then knowing why she became a yokai... All with sudden detailing and using almost if not every aspect of film except for direct dialogue. It's beautiful and refreshing to see jewels like this that scream passion. I love it.

[@JmanAnimates]

your experience described my experience too besides the fact that I was expecting a battle shonen lol so I was tricking into watching a romcom hahaha

[@Alex_Machado]

It became an instant classic sad anime moment, right up there with Nina in FMA Perhaps even sadder because of the reality of the situation Got me crying like a literal child

[@JmanAnimates]

Agreed this will be an classic sad anime moment that we look back up. However as an FMA stan Nina is sadder for me

[@Luinta]

Yeah, got me and my partner sobbing by the end. Like, actual heavy breathing. This is art. This is what it looks like to connect with people on an utterly human level.

[@JmanAnimates]

@@Luinta yup it's art

[@ma.2089]

I wouldn’t say Nina is less realistic since scientific progress happens all the time on the backs of the tortured. Didn’t we learn that the body is 70% water cus of the Japanese experiments on humans in WW2? But yeah, I get what you mean. It needs to be up there with Nina from FMA for sure.

[@jollygirl94]

we learn her dad experiment her, 2nd her mum also turned out the same. And fortunately, unfortunately, she got mercy kill.

[@haileyloveheart893]

The Dandadan directors accounted for the viewers being culturally aware of Japan. The room we are first introduced to Silky's human life is actually a love hotel, which for those who don't know are brothels. Like in the West and in Japan's past it is common for their workers to belong to a gang and they have to pay off a debt built from years of providing for the girls. Because of this cultural norm it isn't necessary to verbally state those pieces of information

[@JmanAnimates]

I see. Yeah, I assumed it was a love hotel (don't couples/ people that wanna hook up go to love hotels too) after I realized she was a sex worker. However, I wasn't aware of the debt bit.

[@haileyloveheart893]

@@JmanAnimates In some countries brothels also accommodate for guests who want a private room. It's better in business sense.

[@JmanAnimates]

@@haileyloveheart893 i see.

[@ちょもらんま-m1t]

ラブホテルは売春宿ではありません。 カップルが普通に行く場所です。 現代の日本では売春宿と呼ばれる場所はありません。 彼女は恐らく個人的に売春をしていたのだと思います。 娘を連れ去った男たちを海外の視聴者たちはポン引きと言っていましたが、彼らは借金取りです。

[@JmanAnimates]

@@ちょもらんま-m1t yeah from watching Terrace house and abroad in Japan, I always thought love hotels were for couples and people that wanna hook up (casually date). I'm shocked and happy a Japanese person is watching my video, lol

[@lust4lyfe101]

My thoughts on silkys hair , possibly just spitting ideas is that probably when she was abused by men as a sex worker it is known that they pull women’s hair doing the things they do during that process which probably made me her feel not in control just like how when also her hair got pulled n shoved to the glass door which got her injured . Now in her yokai she has now takin back the control of her hair. It’s just a thought .

[@JmanAnimates]

ohhhhhh i see. That's a good analysis. I like that

[@likeDtree]

I came here to say this! I had nearly the same interpretation. When the men attacked Silky, they used her hair as a weapon against her, so as a spirit she turned her hair into her weapon so no one could ever use it against her again.

[@JmanAnimates]

@ beautiful way of putting it

[@Aka-Spade]

15:37 If you want to get technical, it's actually a single word. In Japanese, all that the mother says is "Tadaima", which is often translated as "I'm home", or "I'm back" in this context.

[@JmanAnimates]

true it is one word in Japanese. I'm aware of that. I know this from watching a tv show called 'terrace house'. when I was writing the script I never thought about that.

[@Salty_Tiger]

It's not that she can "afford" the dress. Whenever you give money to someone in Japan it's done in one of those envelopes. They have those envelopes at ATMs. The fact that she is taking money out of the envelope means that is money that she was meant to give the gangsters, so she shorted them in order to buy the dress.

[@JmanAnimates]

yeah someone else corrected me on that too. I didn't realize that at the time of recording. It makes more sense with that explanation

[@hetpanchal3207]

Crazy fact : The flashback sequence is 7 minutes long, which is the amount of time the brain remains active after death

[@JmanAnimates]

@@hetpanchal3207 damn

[@Vinsternator40]

Bro pointed out the tissues and the phone, but completely missed the two used condoms. DanDaDan backstories just get more and more heart wrenching through the series.

[@JmanAnimates]

hahaha I feel silly for that. I'm too innocent i guess. I'm excited for this 2nd half of season 1. Especially for the other male character that has yet to be introduced. ] His design looks cool

[@SignalWarden]

Just to add, when they show the money, that extra blulky keychain with a single key ... is a motel room key.

[@JmanAnimates]

@@SignalWarden i see

[@Whitefoxneko]

A motel? I thought that this would be one of those love hotels that they mention in a lot of anime 🤔

[@JmanAnimates]

@@Whitefoxneko I think it’s a love hotel but I’m not an expert

[@k0v4n0v4]

the music in these scenes or lack thereof is why anime adaptations are so exciting to me.

[@JmanAnimates]

@@k0v4n0v4 exactly

[@Megumi-dz1mm]

The manga's portrayal was dark, gritty, disturbing, and to the point. Tatsu only needed 10 panels to tell Silky's story. Idk if it was because of censorship or not, but the anime's subtle approach adds a certain beauty to the sequence that wasn't present in the manga. The sequence of Silky dancing atop the building is breathtaking and mesmerizing. I nearly forgot she was about to leap to her death. While you do see the background shift and hear the wind pick up as she plummets to her death, the subtle nature of it makes it so you really have to be paying attention to even understand what was happening. Even I initially missed the *thud* of her hitting the ground at the end of that sequence. Lol.

[@JmanAnimates]

Me too I only got the thud sound after watching it a few times. I think what Tastu did with 10 panels was incredible. He economically told a brilliant story. The anime amplifies this small story and like you said the made a dark, gritty and concise story into a beautiful work of art. I think that this is an ideal adaptation as it's true to the story but it adds an extra layer of detial to the original.

[@notborkboi]

Beautifully said about how the "mature" scenes were handled, when a story wants to go on a topic on a serious subject, it needs to be done well. That is what makes this series so good, it takes risks to show these serious scenes because this shit happens in real life despite how sci-fi this show can be. The author has done amazing on writing the show, and the animators have been lights out and practically flawless in their works

[@JmanAnimates]

Thanks and yeah, it's great how Yukinobu Tatsu blended with Sci-fi with such mature subjects.

[@Wolf_Blob]

DanDaDan is one of the few anime that didn't show a tragic *tragic* backstory that just tells us the character, they show us their *prospective!* Like yes, it's tragic and all, but when you want the audience to sympathize with an antagonist that has all the reason to be evil, but is good at heart; then this is the correct way.

[@JmanAnimates]

Exactly!

[@grammy_hnng]

dude the crescendo of the music as acro silky jumps followed by silence and a thud was the most SICKENING shit ive ever seen. genuinely made me recoil. jesus Christ and i thought the manga backstory was vile

[@JmanAnimates]

That moment gives me chills

[@xCallMeBamx]

When i read this moment in the manga it made me tear up but the anime made it so much more emotional 😢

[@JmanAnimates]

i'm glad manga readers are satisfied with this episode

[@rinco1532]

Man it wrecked me since i already knew what was going to happen... THE MUSIC MAN

[@JmanAnimates]

@ the music was incredible

[@Simon-dj8vt]

so you can actually see her leave the edge in what i would call impact frames in her dance right before the final jete. super brief but it is there

[@JmanAnimates]

BRO YOU ARE RIGHT! I checked it's there.

[@Simon-dj8vt]

@@JmanAnimates glad i could point it out! 👍

[@domino3861]

Great vid, appreciate how you shout out the people who actually worked hard on the ep instead of just saying “Science Saru cooked!!”

[@JmanAnimates]

thanks a lot bro. Yeah I studied animation and I still do it as a hobby. So when I see masters at work the least I can do is shout them out. Animation is tough work.

[@kuronya3582]

Instead of straight up recreating flashback they decided to ADAPT it, anime never should be frame by frame copy of manga

[@JmanAnimates]

@@kuronya3582 exactly

[@Ryodraco]

Excellent analysis. Subbed. One neat thing I've noticed a couple of reactors who have experience with ballet note too is that the way the movements of the dancing and practice poses are done is very accurate to some real forms of ballet (and in particular Silky's dance on the rooftop is one meant to convey pure emotion rather than perfect movements), and that they must have had real ballet dancers advising them (or something equivalent) which goes to show just how much research and effort went into this episode.

[@JmanAnimates]

thanks. I wouldn't be surprised if the animators did what the old Disney animators used to do. They would hire actors and do sketches of them as research in this case maybe they got a ballet dancer in the studio to sketch from. they defo did their research whether it was film study or someone coming into the studio. which reactor did you watch btw? I'm interested in hearing their thoughts.

[@Ryodraco]

@@JmanAnimates Flexiejayanime is one, specifically "ballerina reacts to Dan da dan." I can't find the reference to the specific dance type now, that might be another video, but she still offers some good perspectives especially after the episode reaction itself.

[@JmanAnimates]

@@Ryodraco thanks for info. I'm gonna check it out.

[@masteromeat]

I think the hair symbolizes her sacrifice and regret as a mother. Beautiful hair is important to a prostitute and the tax collector pulling her hair was one of the main obstacles in the conflict (as well as probably a fatal injury)

[@JmanAnimates]

WOAHHH this is soo true. As someone who sold her body her hair would be super important.

[@thelegendaryklobb2879]

@@JmanAnimates Maybe it was lost in translation, but the "silky" her yokai name "acrobatic silky" is in reference to her hair. In japanese it's "sarasara", which is onomatopoeia for the sound of hair. Her smooth hair was something she was proud of, and that'll become relevant in upcoming episodes

[@JmanAnimates]

@ thanks for the information. Knowing the Japanese meanings always adds an extra layer of depth

[@Misouorz]

Even in her yokai form her hair is an important detail :0

[@dingusgoober]

The stark difference between the anime of Demon Slayer and Dandadan's version of "villain backstory right before the villain is defeated" is that Acro-Silky's backstory means something in the story, as it is a major character moment for Aira and it adds to her character development. Speaking strictly about Demon Slayer season 1 (I didn't watch past Mugen Train), none of the backstories had a real impact on me because it didn't seem to have any impact on characters that didn't die in the next 10 seconds. Also due to how grounded Dandadan's subject material is, it is much easier to let the audience connect the dots and use more indirect story telling.

[@bipedalanimeskull]

Demon Slayer also took that idea and ran its course with it... the trope was so overused that you become desensitized. Also, many demons in Demon Slayer comes off as "irredeemable" to me because of how unlikable they are as a demon, so their sad backstories as a human does nothing to me

[@JmanAnimates]

Exactly! I love that it added to Aira too. Also I agree a lot with your last sentence.

[@JmanAnimates]

I some what agree with this. When it's done well in Demon slayer, it hits hard. However, when it isn't it feels so contrived.

[@natalimoina]

This is objectively wrong and extremely poor reading comprehension

[@natalimoina]

​@@bipedalanimeskullThis isn't true. You spend too much time on Twitter.

[@tmantheawesome22]

The rule of 3 is HUGE in writing, well done noticing it

[@JmanAnimates]

Thanks 🙏 are they any books or key thinkers for this principle? Just curious

[@tmantheawesome22]

@JmanAnimates I've seen it all over the place, in writing tips KZbin videos, Masterclasses on writing at aspiring author events, and there are tons of papers online about why it's effective.

[@JmanAnimates]

@ ok thanks

[@SaturnnsStash]

Havent cried this hard in so long, what a great retrospective on all aspects of the story being told here

[@JmanAnimates]

thanks

[@fred2116]

The fact this story doesn’t not have any sort of conclusion is even more grueling.

[@JmanAnimates]

agreed. sometimes less is more

[@pfmugge6431]

16:30 I think the reason for silkys hair is, that ballet was the only thing left when her daughter had been kidnapped. She clung herself onto this last thing because ballet is the only thing she feels a connection to her daughter she practices so much with. Silky danced on last time in memory of her daughter and eventually threw herself off the building into a deep empty darkness. When she was reborn her memory as a ghost gradually faded away. She forgot she even had a daughter in the first place but balett still remained. Her broken troubled hair became long and beautiful again as in ballet its all about beauty. From then on her hair also kind of represents her mental state. All the while when it was long, smooth and silky she had this possessive and aggressive personality. Only when fighting Momo and Okarun her hair has been getting more and more destroyed just like the wall her ghostly remains built around herself. When she found out she had killed Aira, the child she so longed for, she snapped back into reality and gave her her aura. She didnt want another child of her to be taken away because of her actions. Then, some other dude here in the comments already said that, the way silky dissolved changed when aira accepted her as her mother. Silky has found peace again and was let into heavens doors probably.

[@JmanAnimates]

fantastic analysis! thanks for helping me understand that aspect more.

[@Luinta]

I am so glad that youtube shot this my way. You have a really good way of conveying the weight in this story. The artistic touches that I failed to notice at the time, like how the rule of 3 was used, just makes me appreciate this scene, and the anime as a whole, that much more. Thank you for shouting out the names of people who I absolutely need to follow in the future. And than you for going over this wonderful scene in such depth.

[@JmanAnimates]

thanks a bunch for this comment and the feedback.

[@SlimeKingV2]

I was crying because of this episode

[@JmanAnimates]

I almost cried

[@closefacsimile]

You're right about the rule of three. It's existed in some form as far back as ancient Greece If not further, and is a cornerstone of storytelling and comedy

[@JmanAnimates]

thanks for confirming that. I need to read up on it so I sound less stupid next time lol

[@closefacsimile]

@JmanAnimates No way, man! I didn't mean that. The fact that you picked it up on your own means you're good at analysis. Rock on

[@JmanAnimates]

@@closefacsimile thanks bro!

[@lazylistmaker]

Re: Silky's hair: In Japanese folklore long hair was traditionally associated with beauty, femininity, and wealth. Therefor long, disheveled hair on a monster is a perversion of what is seen as delicate femininity. Additionally, women's hair is usually left loose when the body is dressed after death. In terms of pop culture influence of this depiction, there was a famous yurei from the Yotsuya Kaidan named Oiwa who was said to have been poisoned by her husband. The poison disfigured her face and caused her long, beautiful hair to fall out in clumps. This was depicted on stage by actors in outrageous wigs, and may be a major factor in how many female Japanese ghosts are depicted now. The most well-known inheritor of this look is probably Sadako from Ringu.

[@JmanAnimates]

woahhh thanks for the insight. I didn't know any of this stuff.

[@lazylistmaker]

​@@JmanAnimates Dandadan is full of all kinds of crazy traditional lore as well as urban legends, which is one of the things that makes it so cool (Acro-Silky, for example, was apparently a creepypasta created on 2chan that sort of breached containment like Slenderman). I don't know if this is substantiated but I believe the traditional of vengeful female ghost-yokai (yurei) can be traced to women's lower societal status in the past. There are many stories from works like the Yotsuya Kaidan, Tale of Genji, etc, where a dead or ill woman is given the power to revenge herself on a living man -- especially one of a higher social caste -- in a way she was unable to in life. Kayako of the Grudge series -- a woman murdered by her husband and who, like Sadako, is actually name-dropped in the show's OP -- is a modern example.

[@hyteclowlife]

@@JmanAnimates You're going to love learning more about it as Dandadan's story progresses. Yukinobu Tatsu pulls from an incredibly diverse set of mythologies and pop culture, both from the East and West. You can safely assume that almost any challenge the gang face in the future is a reference to some real-world yokai, alien, or cryptid, or a tribute to another anime, TV show, or film. And the crazy thing is that he makes it all work together.

[@Midahwashere]

when i saw this scene on my fyp on a short- i didnt even notice this was dandadan because it feels so much different than the manga or the usual animes vibe- i was flabbergasted

[@JmanAnimates]

Agree the tone is so different to the usual vibe of the show.

[@B5MarchingBaritone10]

Her arms arms and eye are bleeding more in the anime, which I think they did that so they people who didn't notice (or don't want to think about) her suicide, would think she just bled out. Especially since she's bloody as a ghost. It helps telegraph her death without showing a suicide (which is good cuz there are multiple studies on showing suicide methods can lead people to harming themselves.)

[@JmanAnimates]

yeah this is a good point. Her losing blood did cross my mind.

[@No1WasHere7]

That's what I thought happened until I watched the video.

[@Endlock_]

Im surprised this video doesnt even have a thousand views yet, this is such a quality video

[@JmanAnimates]

thank you!

[@joshuamartinez-go2hr]

8k and only going up 🫡

[@alexanderdario]

I loved this Animation Studio since I've seen "Keep your hands of Eizouken!" And I was sure they'll give us a great adaptation.. But they keep blowing my mind! And I can't avoid crying every time I hear the music of the flashback

[@JmanAnimates]

the music for the flashback in incredible. I loved their work on Scott Pilgrim that show looked beautiful

[@Abby_wa]

We've had "Chainsawman pacing" and now we have "Dandadan tone."

[@JmanAnimates]

Hahahah yup

[@ghosty_waaa]

i watched this episode with my mom, and i was alredy on the verge of tears from the flashback, but when she hugged silky i just broke down. I felt embarrased but i couldnt help it, it reminded me when my mom used to cradle me when helping me get ready to school... my mom is my whole world, i cant think i would as strong as i am today without her

[@JmanAnimates]

damn that's rough buddy. Yeah this was a super tear jerker. You are lucky my mum only watched Avatar the last airbender and scobby doo me when I was younger lol

[@kayceeleslie]

Loved this episode so much I subscribed to Shonen Jump and read all existing 175 chapters in a weekend. It’s really good. I’m excited to see the adaptation

[@JmanAnimates]

woahhh, the dedication is real. I'm happy you enjoyed the episode so much

[@Scarnehu]

As soon as i saw the "money on the dresser" i IMMEDIATELY clocked the prostitution. Maybe that's because I've has friends who've done sex work.

[@JmanAnimates]

I see. That makes sense. Since you've talked to your friends it would be easy to pick up on the visual cues immediately

[@thalia5382]

16:33 on the hair, I think it's because in Japanese folklore, female vengeful spirits (Onryo) are often depicted with long black hair

[@JmanAnimates]

i see. thanks for clearing that up

[@Amuro1X]

7:55 that's the shower room with the John in it 😅 the visual design is important, but so is the audio design as you can clearly hear the water running. Also, if the love hotel vibes weren't clear enough, the fact she is getting up out of a bed naked and then going home is pretty telling.

[@JmanAnimates]

that's the shower? damn my bad. I guess she finds hope in cleaning herself off HAHAHA. In term of the naked thing. What you said is true but I my brain didn't immediately go to sex work as some people like to hook up in hotels, especially in japan.

[@NoVideolnput]

Jman very good video, I love the subtlety and nuance of the anime regarding Silky's story. It's tragic and beautiful and bittersweet. No words needed, it's all laid bare and shown to us as viewers. It respects our intelligence as viewers and allows us to understand the sorrow of the situation versus telling us how to feel. Also, when Silky disintegrates, there are specks of bright blue light amongst the ashes of Silky's body. I like to think those specks of light represent Silky being able to move on successfully.

[@JmanAnimates]

🙏 thanks. Also I agree with the last sentence

[@zenjii1]

Great indepth review... i loved this episode. I was in tears when i read this story in the manga and i thought the anime would be a complete repeat of the manga but i was very surprised to see that the creators of the anime gave us something else... so i was still stunned by this episode even though i knew what was going to happen to Silky and her daughter...

[@JmanAnimates]

It’s always great as a manga reader when the anime goes above and beyond. I’m glad you enjoyed it. Also thanks 🙏

[@painlesskun3959]

not a single frame wasted, everything is beautiful connected! We gotta give props to tatsu too, He used the already limited medium of still drawings and made a masterpiece of a story ALL ON PAPER (Yes he is a traditional artist, not that any way is superior, it just gives me chills to think there's a physical original copy of all that.) The art is detailed to last pixel, sometimes even scanners have difficulty picking up the details. However he is Not only good at the art being beautiful, he also understands and thinks of the characters a lot, How'd they place? What'd they think? How will a situation place itself in their heads? All this already sets him apart from the 2D approach most story-tellers take. The anime, with the time and team, elevated an already master piece of a manga to a cinema masterpiece. To better phrase it, "It's creme da le creme of story-telling". Anime format has a lot of help, Sound, Camera movement, Character movement, Voice, lighting, Color, etc. And so it is important to use all of those elements correctly, I believe. And The Manga does an extreme job according to the medium too. In no way is any of them inferior. Impact frames are cool, but in Dandadan we aren't given a chance to appreciate the very miniature impact frames (they have a lot of hidden references in them), which is what I love. I have typed enough, but i loved your video, it's shocking to see you have only 3.1k subs, your editing and narration style is great, Wishing you luck!

[@JmanAnimates]

Thanks for this thorough comment. I smiled while reading it on the train. Yes Tatsu is a master storyteller. Manga is a limited medium and that’s the beauty of it. One guy, a duo or a small group of dedicated individuals can make a story that reaches millions. It’s incredible. As you said the anime has a bigger team so they can elevate that small vision into something bigger if everything meshes well. Thanks for the compliment I’m happy people are enjoying my videos.

[@painlesskun3959]

​@@JmanAnimates I made a long and thorough comment (7-8 paras i guess) going above the fanservice and sexual assault in dandadan but due to connectivity issues it got DELETED before being uploaded XD You can still find similar discussions so it's alright! Me and My girlfriend love Dandadan and love talking about it! So thanks for this detailed video! I am glad I could make you smile! I wish I wasn't sleepy yesterday while making that comment. Your video went beautifully, it's a goodwill for the community to receive such thoughtout videos! Have a good day!

[@christopherzajonskowski7123]

After seeing this episode and especially the reaction of people all over the world to it, what actually interests me the most is how DanDaDan will change the industry perception of Science SARU and their future. I'm a fan of the studio since forever, loving it for their 'artsy' approach and of course that goes hand in hand that Science SARU mainly adapting works that call for that artsy touch - which are usually stories up my alley already. But it's hard to predict if the studio might change after the massive success that is DanDaDan - the industry knows both extremes - they can surely stick to their roots like a KyoAni and keep producing rare, but distinct titles like in the past - they also could easily get swept away and end up in endless troubles like Shaft though. It's weird thinking about far before the point you could tell anyways - but since DanDaDan was an absolute success in my book after even watching the trailers, that's really all my mind focusses on to be honest. That, and maybe the question how long this series is planned to be running, since it feels like there is quite a bit of source material already there if the adaptation sticks to the current pacing.

[@JmanAnimates]

For me, I felt like Scott Pilgram put them on the map. The hype wasn't as big as Dandadan but tons of people were talking about them. Scott Pilgrim was beautiful! But yeah I get watch you mean because the whole community is paying attention to them now. Regarding the release schedule, I wonder if season 2 will be double the length due to season 1's big reception. I have no idea how good the sales or the streaming are, but I'm sure they are good.

[@WhiteKnuckleRide512]

Yo, I know it didn’t perform that well, but it would be really cool to keep seeing reaction vids from you. I never really watched reaction content until this show because I thought they were all kind of cheap and mindless, but seeing the first impressions on a show I like from someone who’s clearly actually super passionate about animation and storytelling was pretty fun. As good as the discussion vids are at talking about what was funny or cool about an episode, it doesn’t quite hit the same as actually seeing someone enjoy it. Either way, glad this vid brought me to your channel, looking forward to more of your stuff

[@Chaosqueenngami]

I'm an anime only Dandadan enjoyer, so I didn't know that silky died from falling. I thought that she was attacked again in the street and was having a near death experience. I perfer my initial interpretation because silky seemed like such a determined woman in both life and death that her deleting herself instead of trying to do whatever it takes to get her child back didn't occur to me.

[@JmanAnimates]

originally, I came to the same conclusion till I rewatched it.

[@liamlatz1259]

I thought she just kept running until she collapsed from her Injuries. Like you said I also though she wouldn’t give up.

[@JmanAnimates]

@@liamlatz1259 it seems like a lot of us anime onlys were unclear about that section of the flashback.

[@danielonyt716]

$uicid@ is a sensitive topic in Japan which is why they toned it down a lot in the anime​@@JmanAnimates

[@imhavingagoodtv7948]

3:33 hits crazy

[@imhavingagoodtv7948]

Literally the best flashback in Anime I have seen so far

[@JmanAnimates]

awesome

[@JmanAnimates]

hahahaha KOL is hilarious

[@giratin7801]

I love the pacing of the b roll/a roll, too many channels use too much b roll and I feel like this has a great balance

[@JmanAnimates]

thanks bro!

[@abhiyaan7265]

I'll admit, I cried watching that episode. DanDaDan is actually peak fiction and will no doubt go down as the GOAT.

[@JmanAnimates]

yup. It's now certified in this new era of anime

[@jamari9106]

Manga readers know that this is just the first one 😢

[@JmanAnimates]

i can't wait

[@thuhuong8838]

@@JmanAnimatesi will never looked at an umbrella and boots the same

[@yehtetlin8793]

Im sure even the manga readers (who know the whole story) shock how the adaption bump up the feeling in this ep. So Im hoping the more the better.

[@JmanAnimates]

@@thuhuong8838 :(

[@JmanAnimates]

@@yehtetlin8793 from what i've read from the comment section and twitter most of them seem happy with it too.

[@dylandang7365]

It’s so refreshing to watch a flashback without a entire character monologuing the entire time Show don’t tell does wonders

[@JmanAnimates]

Yup!!!!

[@areyrii]

I'm so glad other people are talking about this I haven't been able to stop thinking about it since I watched it

[@JmanAnimates]

Me toooo!!!

[@robertmasengale9366]

Montage coupled with soft, loving piano means something is going to attempt to make you cry... and it will try hard.

[@JmanAnimates]

very true

[@sweetheartwhispers401]

My sister doesn't like anime much but when I watched this, she just stared... And said it's beautiful.. this seriously was one of the best episodes of an anime I've watched recently... I'm not ashamed to say as a 24 year old I cried

[@JmanAnimates]

I'm glad your sister was able to enjoy this episode with you.

[@triggerq6]

Bro just found this video from my fyp, I'm going to subscribe since I've been craving for videos like these and I'm currently trying to write a manga so these types of criticism's on manga and anime is really good for me to adapt on! btw I really like the way of how you deliver criticism and you have a really crisp voice too! 👍keep making these types of content Ik ur editing will get better :D

[@JmanAnimates]

thanks a ton. I hope I can continue to create content that helps you with your creative journey. As someone that has a background in art this is the best bit of praise I could get from someone. Thank you.

[@GreenwhiteblueGWU]

Even with the tamed down backstory in the anime.. Science Saru did a fantastic job portraying the pain between Silky and Aria..

[@JmanAnimates]

yup

[@Serconley]

The a small detail I think I just noticed. The little girl maybe the product of a foreigner. My head canon. The girl just looks a little off from the mother. I still like the manga ending better. Chapter 16 ending.

[@JmanAnimates]

Woah, that's a good theory tbh.

[@Sauxeaholic]

Once I saw money being thrown in the counter I knew EXACTLY what type of work she was doing and immediately felt bad for her

[@JmanAnimates]

Clever man. I felt sorry for her too

[@ChimeraLotietheBunny]

This made me cry so much and adapted so well in the manga

[@JmanAnimates]

I’m glad you enjoyed it as a manga reader

[@Twistwim]

I thought it was super interesting that they decided to use that kind of timer because it’s often use as a quick, easy, portable timer, kind of for like “on the go” sort of thing because it’s very reminiscent of a birth-control timer. That is most likely what it is because if it were something like a timer to let the guests know their time was up, then why did they leave before it rang? If it was a timer to tell her that her job was done or something like her shift was over, that would make sense too, but I think it’s quite interesting that it read as zeros. maybe it’s a birth control timer and the end of her shift timer, letting her know that she can go home and still reminding her that she has to take contraceptive..

[@JmanAnimates]

I think it was for the end of her shift

[@SttudDioPierrot]

In terms of that "Rule of 3" you mentioned, we also got 3 shots of Acro Silky's Timer. This wasn't in the manga but The first 2 times we see it, is during her Escort Work. The Final Time we see it, is when she's using it while Cooking Dinner. This could imply that she gave up being an escort to focus on her daughter. This also leaves the ending a lot more open-ended, in terms of why her daughter was taken away from her.

[@JmanAnimates]

Yeahhhh that is so true. I didn't think of that. Good observation studio!

[@MiKi-sx3tt]

You convince me to watch this. I love Dandadan. I read the manga and haven't seen the anime. Sometimes when an anime is so popular, it compensate the story or visual to appeal to the masses. And I kinda afraid for story that I love. But you convinced me this anime worth to watch.

[@JmanAnimates]

Wow, I'm shocked and happy that my video has convinced you to watch the anime. I'm sure you will enjoy it.

[@SpooIsHere]

"To the Kinder World" is fucking tear jerker.. Flashbacks only ran for 1 episode but it made you attached..

[@JmanAnimates]

@@SpooIsHere yeah

[@kryjchek]

This episode was difficult to watch more than once. It didn’t just hurt the heart; it hurt my soul.

[@JmanAnimates]

damn. I watched it multiple times for this video and it hit really hard that next week

[@HTETyt]

This episode is a literal gut punch for me. Seriously. I was holding in the tears so much that once I released it and crying uncontrollably, my stomach physically hurts. It's a rare case for me to have this intense emotional reaction. Usually when I experience these things, I just be sad or depressed for a little while and then move on But this episode... just... hurts... And then it punched me in the face with the outro song + the start of the next episode. I kinda wish they just let the outro be silent. No animations, no sound, no "on next episode..." dialogue. nothing. just credits scrolling and then end the episode there. Just for the audience to process a bit, wipe their tears and recover. But nope. Im just suddenly brought back to chaos of this show immediately.

[@JmanAnimates]

@@HTETyt I agree with you on the outro

[@nicolefajardo3658]

I honestly cant wait for future backstories to be adapted if theyre going to be this high quality! I can already imagine the many gut punches that are gonna be delivered in the coming seasons~

[@JmanAnimates]

as an anime-only (i read the chapters for silky because the anime peaked my curious) I'm happy to know more backstories are coming up.

[@a.t.trujillo9970]

I really like silkies backstory because it perfectly tells us her story without that many words like when I was watching it I got so much from it and there wasn't even that many words

[@JmanAnimates]

Exactly

[@iisle]

This video was amazing, i was honestly shocked to see that you only had 2.4k subscribers, this is amazing video quality, keep it up man. 🙏💯

[@JmanAnimates]

thanks a bunch, it makes a lot. I hope I can continue to make content that all of you enjoy

[@alexprus7953]

17:45 bro that took me out 🤣 wasn't expecting that

[@JmanAnimates]

hahahahahaha

[@afromarco005]

The anime is amazing their art direction is very good

[@JmanAnimates]

yup

[@TindraSan]

I wouldn't be surprised if the artistic censorship of the jumping scene was more likely imposed by some Japanese Government Thingy, or even the production team itself just found it wise to do of their own accord considering Japan has a particularly high sui/ rate and alot of their media throughout history has a tendency to romanticize the act. I honestly appreciate them being more delicate with the subject, and studies has shown that explicitly showing an act of sui/ desensitizes audiences to said act and is thus more likely to drive /cidal ppl to off themselves.

[@JmanAnimates]

yup! I feel the same. That's why I mentioned outside forces wouldn't like them showing it so they had to come up with creative solutions.

[@LifeCompanionDogs8083]

watching the anime. holy crap this whole 7 episodes so far have been phenomenal. I cried like a baby at a couple parts.

[@JmanAnimates]

yup it's been amazing

[@Aquabzs]

As someone once said, Dandadan is *every* genre

[@JmanAnimates]

yup

[@dreimann]

To add an additional layer to the lighting you mentioned, it was no mistake that the director chose a red light for the brothel scenes. This episode has a 9.8 user rating on IMDB; just amazing!

[@JmanAnimates]

yup

[@Skylandertime1]

I actually love Kensuke Ushio so much because he has done the background music on multiple familiar anime such as A Silent Voice, Devilman Crybaby, and even Chainsaw Man! His works are beautiful, and I was surprised (not really) to find out that he worked on my current fixation: DanDaDan!

[@JmanAnimates]

I didn't know that. thanks for the info. It's great that these days the anime fandom is so knowledgeable on the production of these shows. I started watching anime and conversing with other fans online 16 years ago. People didn't even know the names of the big mangakas. Now knowing Yutaka Nakamura and even in the one-piece fandom directors like Megumi Ishitani is commonly known.

[@--Soukoku--]

This guy has the perfect narrator voice wtf

[@JmanAnimates]

Thanks 🙏

[@MasterSpliffer]

Thinking about it now, her becoming a yokai is so tragic. She tried to off herself to forget about the pain of losing her daughter, and was forced to become the embodiment of her trauma. After all of that she wasn’t even allowed to move on

[@JmanAnimates]

Yup very sad

[@arthurpprado]

I think the symbolism in Sikly's hair is more of a desire for control. She is constantly wrapping and tangling her hair in her surroundings, whehter it is to restrain people or to cover a larger area around her. In her dying words, she tells Aira that she wishes she had done more for her child, and more properly at that, as a clear sign of her regret over her powerlessness over her financial situation, despite how much she sacrificed to provide her a happy life. Since now, Aira's transformation has been unveiled, I believe this is a theme that extends to her as well. Aira tries to keep the people at school under her thumb, whether it is by gaslighting them or even attacking them when she thinks they're a threat. She goes on and on about being the chosen one and wants people to acknowledge her for that. As such, Aira also gets the Silky hair when she uses her powers

[@JmanAnimates]

Woahh great analysis. I like the Aira parallel

[@diegofmdutra]

Very beautiful ep, my eyes watering so much! 🥺 Agree with you, best ep of the year! 👏🏻

[@JmanAnimates]

I’m glad you agree

[@LorenzoC36]

the word you're looking for is creative direction but moreso MONEY and TIME. Provided a decent plot, animators with money and time can make words that surpass the source material (which probably was on a deadline and budget in itself, but there you go). We can't have nice things cuz we always want new things, at most times free too.

[@JmanAnimates]

indeed

[@drystdalepotane1913]

She has a long silky hair because she uses it to grab her prey just like how her hair was grab by the guy in the flashback. *but its just my dum theory though*

[@JmanAnimates]

I like this theory

[@chestnutters9504]

That scene was fucking heartbreaking. Total shift in the first core of the season

[@JmanAnimates]

yup

[@DaRealCalavision]

these are the videos i pay the internet for!!

[@JmanAnimates]

Thanks bro

[@ciudadanobahiense1337]

DanDaDan its the first manga that made me read all 178 chapters (for now) in 1 day.

[@JmanAnimates]

@@ciudadanobahiense1337 damn lol

[@btwttwatches2631]

great breakdown man brought a tear to my eye

[@JmanAnimates]

Haha thanks bro 🙏

[@eli3silver]

I think the sexualization of the characters has a point in this anime. Theres been a lot of explicit sexual violence sure but also some that are hinted at. I think the first episode is in explicit uncomfortable way. We're so used to seeing young girls in shonen giving "fan service" or disrobing or getting groped only for the MC (usually male) to see them or save them. What makes in so uncomfortable is that it's that all of that (the disrobing, the position) but dialed to max in a what's a essentially a R*pe scene. As for stuff that's hinted at, the earliest i can think of is the episode of the crab yokai fight. Where it was revealed at the end the yokai was a culmination of young women and girl spirits who were SA'ed and killed. With the main character being a young girl and considering this is also a romance anime, there's a key emphasis on the typical teen horniness and dangers that teens face in the real world when comes to sex (mainly towards young women). Now with this episode that just came out, it feels like this series has a lot to say about this very uncomfortable but very serious topic. As an anime watcher, I'm curious to see where it goes.

[@JmanAnimates]

I think your comment is the best defense i've heard for episode 1 tbh. It's made me rethink things. I didn't think about the crap yokai that is very true. Great comment and great analysis my friend!

[@KingJH0510]

Not even how to adapt a flashback, but just how to DO a flashback in general By allowing momo and aira to see the flashback it puts us in their shoes and lets us see what theyre seeing and feeling It doesnt feel out of place, it doesnt feel forced, it doesnt feel unnecessary Our main characters are seeing all this, and that is why we as an audience is seeing it too

[@JmanAnimates]

I was gonna title the video that but I didn't breakdown what makes a flashback a flash back lol. Also yes I agree I like that Momo and Aira see the flashback. it makes me wonder how much of that info is relayed to Okarun.

[@noobmasterruben5167]

Man, Demon slayer villains wishes they had a well executed backstory as Acrobatic Silky. I cannot put into words how well they did the music and the POV shots where it feels like youre on VR

[@JmanAnimates]

haha VR i like that.

[@christiank7679]

Something I haven't seen anyone mention is the red traffic light immediately after Silky leaves her client. While pretty innocuous overall, with how much effort they put into the rest of the details, I feel like they had to have meant that as an allusion to the red-light district.

[@JmanAnimates]

@@christiank7679 that’s a good point

[@drippykirbo]

I knew it was gonna happen... I knew the end of her character... But fuck... I shed tears...

[@JmanAnimates]

i almost did too tbh.

[@UsagiisChii]

The long hair represents power and malevolence growing stronger. Some of the most notably Japanese demons have long hair. She reminds me of a Kuchisake-onna and Futakuchi-onna.

[@JmanAnimates]

ok thanks for clearing this up. This seems to be the general consensus in the comment section

[@gameshehe]

Wasn't sure is Dandadan was anime of the year Now im certain it is

[@JmanAnimates]

yup