The TV anime "Dandadan" is based on the popular manga by Ryu Yukinobu, which is currently being serialized in Shueisha's manga magazine app "Shonen Jump + (Plus)". It began airing in October on the late-night anime slot "Super Animeism TURBO" on MBS and TBS, and has been a hot topic for its innovative visuals, including powerful battle scenes and psychedelic color usage. In the fourth episode, the "chase" between Momo (Ayase Momo), Okarun (Takakura Ken), and Turbo Granny comes to an end, and Momo and the others have a meal together. In the original work, there are many scenes where the characters gather around a dinner table, and especially after a battle, a meal scene is depicted as a tradition. What kind of thoughts are put into that? We asked Ryu, the original author.
◇Food after work: Reward those who work hard
"Dandadan" is a story about Momo, a girl who doesn't believe in aliens, and Okarun, a boy with an occult mania who doesn't believe in ghosts, who encounter an overwhelming mystery... Okarun, who encounters Turbo Granny in a haunted tunnel, is cursed with the power to transform, and Momo, who comes from a family of mediums, is attacked by the Serpo aliens and awakens her hidden psychic powers. The two of them activate their special powers and face the strange phenomena that appear one after another.
A lively meal scene is depicted when the battle comes to a close. Ryu says, "I love Studio Ghibli's works and I am very impressed by Hayao Miyazaki's works," and explains, "In Hayao Miyazaki's works, people who have worked always eat. That's because they can't work anymore. I'm the same way, and I make my works so that there is always a meal after working." He also says that the famous line from "Jarinko Chie" - "The worst thing for a human being is to be hungry and feel cold" - is also linked to his attitude of placing importance on meal scenes.
The meal scene also contains the idea that "people who work hard should be rewarded."
"It's pointless if you work hard and get nothing. I think kindness is important. I myself was poor at one time. When I was an assistant, my teacher gave me 1,000 yen and said, 'Go get a midnight snack.' I was so grateful for that 1,000 yen. Eating a bowl of stir-fried pork and coffee on the way home, then going back to the office and working again is something that's stuck with me. It was hard, so I don't want other people to go through that hardship."
Regarding "Dandadan," he said, "Because it's entertainment, I definitely want to show readers hope before I finish it," and said, "I want to be kind. It's the most important thing."
The meal scenes in "Dandadan" are filled with hope and kindness. It will be interesting to see how they are portrayed in the TV anime.
