most stylized, tightly-packaged anime episode all year, signaling only good things to come from the series. In a show that boasts ghosts, aliens, and downright absurd situations, however, the most exciting aspect of Dan Da Dan's first episode came not from a Granny after family jewels, but in its portrayal of its dual main characters.

Despite the wealth of popular romcoms released in 2024, it is the shōnen action series about everything and nothing all at once that offers the most promising romance of the year. Momo and Ken are polar opposites of each other, but their differences only add to their chemistry. As the two share the screen, it becomes apparent very quickly that a romance is beginning to bloom. Now, being practically tied at the hip, they will be forced to spend time together in order to keep the curse placed on Ken at bay. Hijinks will ensue at a break-neck pace, and Momo and Ken will continue to grow closer.

Momo and Okarun's Differing Personalities Only Add to Their Chemistry

Despite Being Polar Opposites, Dan Da Dan's Protagonists Work Well Together

Dan Da Dan is proving itself not only as one of the current best anime series based on a Shonen Jump manga, but also capable of weaving one of anime's best romances throughout all the action. From their very first on-screen appearance together, it's clear that Momo and Ken are very different people. Momo is a 'gyaru', or a girl who is popular and up-to-date with the latest fashion and pop culture trends. The series' opening scene shows her being dumped by a guy who isn't exactly a prize, before informing the audience that she is on a tiring search for her Ken Takakura, a movie star that Momo has a crush on.

Ken, on the other hand, is shown to be quiet and reserved, and is often bullied by others in his class. He its to having no friends, and is oddly obsessed with aliens and conspiracies. He and Momo seemingly live in two entirely different worlds, yet work so well when in each other's presence. Momo isn't exactly normal, either, as her grandmother is a famous spirit medium who raised her to believe in the paranormal.

It is their innate differences that elevate the chemistry between them, though, both coming out of their shells and being themselves when on screen together. Ken opens up, going so far as to tease his new, one and only friend, while Momo allows herself to share in his niche interests, and is more than up to the task of teasing him right back. From the moment the two meet, there is an instantly recognizable relationship forming, with Momo coming to Ken's rescue in a tasteful bit of foreshadowing of events to come.

Dan Da Dan Refuses to Make Fans Wait For Its Main Characters' Budding Romance

Momo and Okarun Waste No Time in Opening Up To One Another

It is common in anime for a romantic relationship to very slowly make itself known over the course of a series. Most, especially in the romance genre, spend the entirety of their runtimes building those relationships, before ending once the main couple is finally established. The trope mostly works well, allowing for characters to grow along their own paths, before meeting somewhere in the middle. Dan Da Dan has no interest in tropes, however, and is seemingly keen on establishing the chemistry between its two main characters from the very start.

Alongside their constant teasing of one another, Momo and Ken waste no time becoming personal in each other's company. As they separately explore their supernatural hotbeds, Momo shares intimate details about her childhood and upbringing, instantly shrinking any gap between the two of them. Later, Okarun returns the favor, explaining that all he ever wanted was a friend, and that he refuses to let this chance of having one in Momo slip him by.

Once their nightmarish encounters with the paranormal come to a close, Ken reveals his real name is Ken Takakura, knocking Momo to the ground and all but confirming that the two will end up together. It's rare for an anime to so quickly build up its characters and establish the likely possibility that they will end up as a couple, especially for an action series, and especially in one as weird as Dan Da Dan. However, the series promises a wholesome romance between Momo and Ken that will be an absolute delight to watch unfold in episodes.