Dandadan Episode 9 has sparked controversy among Western viewers because of a scene in which Okarun appears naked, lying on the floor on top of Momo, who is wearing only her underwear. Even though this sequence was made with a humorous tone instead of fanservice, due to its suggestive nature, many viewers may have expected an international negative response; however, in its country of origin, Dandadan's episode went viral for a very different reason.

Although episode 9 has the most compromising scene of the series out of context, Dandadan’s impact in Japan was caused by a shot of nostalgia starring the alien Dover Demon. Unexpectedly, Dandadan was trending on X in Japan upon its broadcast because of Dover Demon's song and references to other popular franchises.

Dandadan Has Gone Viral Because Dover Demon's Song Revived a Classic Commercial

Dover Demon’s Song Is a Great Parody for the Alien’s Power-up

Dover Demon’s song in Dandadan episode 9 is a popular jingle from a 80s commercial for the energy drink from Japan, Regain. Because of this, both Dandadan and Regain became a trendic topic on X in Japan according to Kadokawa's webside thetv.jp, with many posts referring to the nostalgia of the song and for including a longer version instead of simply a single line like the manga. Yuuki no shirushi, or the Regain theme, is a catchy song with the lyrics serving as a hymn to Japanese salarymen’s corporative slavery during the time.

“Yellow and black are the signs of courage. Can you fight for 24 hours? Businessman, businessman, Japanese businessman.”

This way, in Dandadan, the song serves as a parody of Dover Demon being a gig worker for the Serpo aliens, and that after being injured and injected with a power-up serum, he gains energy again and is promoted to a businessman. Moreover, Dover Demon's design is influenced by Regain, as he has the same color pattern of yellow and red with the boxing gloves, just like the song lyrics. The reason why Japanese viewers enjoy this reference in Dandadan is that the Regain commercial was so popular that "Can you fight for 24 hours?" became a catchphrase during that year.

Furthermore, Regain has previously collaborated with popular franchises for publicity, like a promotional video featuring an exhausted Solid Snake from Metal Gear Solid 4 on a battlefield who regains his strength after drinking the energy drink. Also, contrary to the song Chiquitita by ABBA, which appeared in Dandadan Episode 8, the anime included the exact lyrics of the song, so it proves that the studio sought the rights to use it in the episode, which could be seen as a great publicity stunt or to appeal to nostalgic fans from that generation.

Ultraman and Street Fighter References in Dandadan Were Celebrated by the Audience

Dandadan Is Full of Nods To Other Iconic Series

Another especially celebrated reference in Dandadan episode 9 is how Dover Demon's design after receiving the Serpo’s serum is inspired by Alien Baltan from Ultraman. This isn’t the first nod to the iconic Japanese hero in the series since Dandadan’s premiere and opening has many Ultraman references.

Other subtler hints to the series are the Serpo Aliens design’s inspiration and the animation sequence used when they used their powers, which is inspired by a scene in Ultraman episode 16 where Alien Baltan is trying to take control of Dr. Mori and was also used in the latest episode when they were subduing Okarun and Aria. Also, Dover Demon attacks Aira with a Tiger Uppercut, one of Sagat's signature moves from the game series Street Fighter. This shows how the author, Yukinobu Tatsu, pays tribute to many franchises that inspired him when creating Dandadan's story.

Dandadan Continues To Create Controversial Yet Memorable Moments

Dandadan Has Proved to Appeal to More Than the Shōnen Demographic

Since its premiere, Dandadan has generated intense debate online for showing controversial themes such as Momo's alien abduction, Turbo Granny's dark backstory, Acrobatic Silky's past, or its singular sense of humor about “banana organs”. But despite Dandadan introducing many controversial tropes, the way the story always subverts the viewers' expectations shows why it has become one of the hit animes of the season and a candidate for anime of the year.

While Dandadan’s Easter eggs and references elevate the viewing experience, the anime continues to push the narrative limits that the audience expects of a shōnen, showing a wide range of genres and diverse themes. Dandadan even received praise from Hideo Kojima, who is known for his taste in animation and thoughtful reviews. The different responses to controversial sequences show how the anime keeps creating memorable moments during its airing, so the viewers should keep an eye open to see what other tributes are present in the episodes of Dandadan.

Source: thetv.jp