The author of Dandadan was very poor

In the anime and manga "Dandadan", the main characters, Momo Ayase and "Okarun", often share meals after facing supernatural beings. Tatsu Yukinobu, the creator of the story, recently explained the importance of these scenes and the philosophy behind them in an interview with Mantan Web. From his perspective, a person's effort should always be rewarded: "It's useless to work hard if you don't get anything in return," Yukinobu said, recalling his experience as a manga assistant, a difficult time when he earned a modest salary.

During his time as an assistant, Yukinobu received an act of kindness that was etched in his memory. "My teacher gave me 1,000 yen and said, 'Go and buy something to eat.' That show of kindness was invaluable to me," the creator said. This memory now inspires his work, in which he wishes to convey an atmosphere of support and recognition through the dinners of his characters. He even quoted a line from Jarinko Chie, a manga about a girl who struggles to help her father, which says, "The worst thing for a human being is to be hungry and alone." Yukinobu knows well what it means to go through these experiences and, therefore, seeks that his characters find a moment of relief and companionship after hard work.

Another element that has influenced Yukinobu is the cinema of Hayao Miyazaki. As in films such as Ponyo, My Neighbor Totoro, and Porco Rosso, Yukinobu finds in meals a way to show family bonds and camaraderie between friends and peers. "In Miyazaki's films, those who have worked always eat afterwards, because they can't work anymore," he said. This approach can be seen reflected in episode 4 of the Dandandan anime, where Momo, her grandmother Seiko, and Okarun enjoy a feast of crab legs after an epic battle against a monster.

Since its debut in April 2021, the Dandadan manga has quickly become a hit, and its anime adaptation, animated by Science Saru, has captured global attention. In its premiere on Netflix, the series managed to position itself as the second most watched show in the world in a non-English language during the week of October 7 to 13, accumulating 4.3 million views. In addition, it has established itself as the best-rated new anime of the Fall-2024 season on MyAnimeList, which reinforces the impact and popularity of the work.

Source: Mantan Web