Dan Da Dan returns for an even more satisfying spectacle of supernatural and occult shenanigans as Jiji experiences a monstrous metamorphosis.
There’s an exciting, electric feeling whenever a series concludes a near-flawless freshman season that can quickly turn to dread when the prospect of topping that next year is considered. Dan Da Dan was far and away 2024’s pop culture juggernaut, thanks to its effortless mix of horror, science fiction, and coming of age rom-com bliss. There’s an inherent challenge to sequels — or second seasons — which is why there are so many properties that start out strong, but ultimately leak quality over time. Dan Da Dan avoids these expected pitfalls and delivers something that must be seen to be believed — just like some urban legend cryptid.
Dan Da Dan: Evil Eye tells a strong story that proves the first season’s magic wasn’t a fluke and that the next batch of episodes are likely to surpass the previous season’s greatest heights, just like how Evil Eye surpasses the other cinematic compilation, Dan Da Dan: First Encounter. Dan Da Dan’s first season was so successful that it wouldn’t have been difficult for the anime to coast on this energy and deliver more of the same. Thankfully, Evil Eye prides itself on its ability to go for broke. It’s the proper heightening of storytelling, stakes, and character relationships that you’d hope for from a show’s second season. Evil Eye is everything fans want from Dan Da Dan, while also throwing in a few things that they never knew they needed.
Dan Da Dan: Evil Eye is an odds and ends amalgamation of season one’s finale and season two’s first three episodes that begins with a sizzle reel of highlights from last season. Evil Eye adopts a curious approach where season one’s finale immediately feeds into new material, albeit in a slightly revised manner that’s not so clear cut. The two are inexorably intertwined and turned into something original that doesn’t cheat its way out of what happened in the finale, but still effectively builds upon it with a more effective and narratively suspenseful presentation of events.
Dan Da Dan: Evil Eye and the anime’s second season would be facing an uphill battle under any circumstances after its knockout freshman year. The series finds itself at an especially crucial inflection point as Momo and Okarun’s duo becomes a trio with Jiji. Many series fumble as they expand their core cast, yet Jiji becomes Evil Eye‘s secret weapon, both figuratively and literally. Jiji was a recent addition who came in at the end of Dan Da Dan’s first season and put a huge wrench in Momo and Okarun’s budding prospective romance.
Jiji was a delight during these introductory episodes, but Evil Eye is really Jiji’s time to shine and a proper showcase for the newer character. Jiji may have seemed abrasive to the Momo/Okarun shippers and set up to fail in some respects. However, it’s hard not to be a Jiji fan after the burst of affable character development that he experiences here. He’s just such a ray of sunshine in human Labrador form. Jiji feels just as important and beloved as Momo and Okarun by the end of Evil Eye, which is no small feat.
Dan Da Dan has showcased a wide range of supernatural disturbances across its first season between aliens, spirits, crab men, and more. This trend continues in Evil Eye with the creepy Kito family, outrageous elderly landlords who are another strong example of terrifying occult creatures who have mundane, normalized attitudes so they feel more like put-upon people instead of folkloric monsters. There’s a fascinating energy to the Kito family and the predatory dynamic that they have over Jiji.
The Kito family tap into an energy that’s honestly akin to home invasion horror where innocent characters are desperate to break free, but forced to carry out the sick whims of twisted interlopers. The Kitos’ macabre aggression with Jiji often brings Funny Games or even The Texas Chain Saw Massacre’s Sawyer family to mind. It’s a good fit for Dan Da Dan that effortlessly meshes with the anime’s reverence towards iconic horror and sci-fi texts, but it’s also a style and subgenre that wasn’t explored during season one.
Momo’s fight against the Kito family is thrilling and reminiscent of combat that’s ripped out of Stephen Chow’s Kung Fu Hustle. That being said, the Kito are easily the least interesting of Dan Da Dan’s supernatural antagonists to date. They’re a perfunctory obstacle and the decision to repeatedly threaten Momo with sexual danger grows progressively weaker and more manipulative each time it’s done. There are some great set-pieces around these enemies, but it feels like they really could have been triggered by any occult obstacle. Drama is born out of the Kitos’ victory over Okarun and Jiji, which pushes Momo into a difficult situation. However, giving the Kito family greater authority so that they actually defeat Okarun and Jiji might have helped these monsters stand out a little more.
The Kito may slightly lack impact, but they’re merely an aperitif for Evil Eye’s main event – the giant Kuragari Serpent Lord – a Mongolian Death Worm – who definitely doesn’t disappoint. This creature was actually teased during the tail end of season one. However, it’s a monster that exceeds expectations even without Dan Da Dan neatly connecting these dots. Dan Da Dan has been rich in disturbing creature designs and the Great Serpent Lord indulges in uncomfortable Eldritch imagery that feels appropriate for this unexplainable and all-encompassing invader. The anime continues to effortlessly blend actual folklore and urban legends with gripping action storytelling.
The Great Serpent Lord also emits powerful psychic waves that culminate in what’s easily one of Dan Da Dan’s most unnerving sequences. There’s a reverence to this monstrosity that praises him like some sick God. This threat intensifies as Kuragari — the Evil Eye — battles against the heroic trio. Evil Eye, in many ways, is Dan Da Dan’s most dangerous enemy yet and he wields a fatal Medusa-esque power. It’s a deeply dark idea that teases a more mature and emotionally intense second season ahead.
Looking beyond the occult action, Evil Eye is an utterly gorgeous film that’s on par with anything from season one. However, there are some particular highlights, such as Momo’s fight against the Kito or the heightened spectacle that concludes the movie. Most of these moments involve Momo, yet Okarun is still essential and there’s a satisfying sense of growth when it comes to their respective skills. Momo and Okarun’s personal friendship and emotional bond evolve just as much as their increasingly confident combat skills.
Dan Da Dan has also quietly made a name for itself with its over-the-top chase sequences, which have practically become one of the anime’s signatures. Evil Eye doesn’t disappoint in this regard and it features a Jiji-driven destructive pursuit that’s destined to become a classic. This story turns to more stylized visuals for its emotional moments, like heightened watercolors that dominate melancholy flashbacks. The film’s final fight is especially vibrant and accented by kaleidoscopic neon colors and kinetic images. It’s such a beautiful and visually inventive expression from Science Saru that reiterates why Dan Da Dan is currently one of the best in the biz when it comes to creative shonen action. You’ll curse your eyes for needing to blink and missing a single frame of mayhem.
There’s a satisfying sense of closure that’s reached by the end of the three episodes that comprise this movie. This feels like a complete story, albeit one that still ends on a cliffhanger. That being said, Dan Da Dan: Evil Eye is a movie that amounts to far more than merely an extended tease for season two. If nothing else, it’s just so much fun to spend time with these characters, watch them gain ground, and become more powerful in this beautifully unique universe. Evil Eye is the must-see anime event of the season, whether it’s enjoyed in theaters or in piecemeal when season two begins.
‘Dandadan: Evil Eye’ is now playing in select theaters.
Season 2 premieres July 3, 2025 on Netflix.
The post ‘Dan Da Dan: Evil Eye’ Turns Supernatural, Psychic Spectacle into a Modern Anime Masterpiece [Review] appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.
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