‘Dan Da Dan: Evil Eye' Brings Curses, Chaos, and Heart

Gizmodo

4 days ago

Science Saru's theatrical preview prepares 'Dan Da Dan' for a genre-bending comeback before season 2 haunts your anime watchlist this July.
When Dan Da Dan hit streaming platforms last fall, it wasted no time becoming the Johnny-come-lately must-watch anime of the year. With an absolute bop of an opening theme, a seamless blend of comedy, sci-fi action, palpable slow-burn romance, and evocatively bouncy and expressive animation, Science Saru's off-kilter anime quickly became the standout of 2024. It also doesn't hurt that the series recently won some Crunchyroll Anime Awards, adding to its growing acclaim and cementing its place as a fan favorite in a year of exceptional anime.
Accolades aside, it'd be remiss not to note that Dan Da Dan's first season also left fans hanging in the most excruciating way possible–cutting to black right at the brink of its next big arc. Thankfully, the sting of that cliffhanger didn't last long, as the series was swiftly renewed for a second season. Now, GKids and animation studio Science Saru are teaming up once again to bring Dan Da Dan: Evil Eye to the big screen–a theatrical preview featuring the first three episodes of the new season. While the film introduces some new annoying pacing quirks typical of anime compilation releases, Evil Eye still sets the stage for an anime that continues to push boundaries with breathtaking animation, high-energy action, and emotionally charged storytelling. If its momentum holds beyond what Evil Eye showed us, season 2 is gearing up to exceed expectations when it premieres this July.
Evil Eye picks up right after the events of Dan Da Dan Season 1, with Okarun, Momo Ayase, and Jiji Enjoji diving into the mystery surrounding Jiji's cursed family home. Their investigation uncovers not just one, but two terrifying forces lurking in Byakuja Village: a monstrous worm kaiju that emits blinding light, driving its victims to the brink of self-destruction, and the Evil Eye–a sinister yokai that grants Jiji immense power akin to Okarun's, but at the cost of his self control. As if these threats weren't enough, the trio must also contend with the Kito family, a chilling cult with jaundiced-eyed martial artists, responsible for generations of child sacrifices, believing it's kept the village protected from calamities.
Evil Eye preserves Dan Da Dan's signature eccentricity, seamlessly blending horror and comedy with razor-sharp precision. One moment, Momo is locked in a harrowing battle with the Kito family, evoking the eerie menace that is characteristic of Junji Ito's work. Next, she's turning the tables in a bare-knuckle brawl straight out of a kung fu flick. Whether delivering tension or laughs, the film nails its timing, utilizing direction that goes beyond simple stylistic gimmicks to embrace anime's unique storytelling strengths fully. With dynamic flourishes reminiscent of a YouTuber's fast-paced editing, Evil Eye sharpens its emotional impact, drawing attention to key details, leaning into meme-like framing, and amplifying each heartfelt moment through swelling music and abstract, painterly animation. The result is a story that lingers long after the credits roll.
One of Dan Da Dan's greatest strengths is its ability to add depth and texture to its cryptids and yokai—rather than using tragic backstories as fleeting emotional bait, it ensures they resonate beyond mere shock value. While many contemporary anime lean into dramatic pasts only to quickly abandon them for the next big arc, Evil Eye fully embraces the complexity of its supernatural elements, elevating them beyond surface-level tragedy.
A prime example is its treatment of Jiji and his connection to the titular Evil Eye. Much like the series did with Acro Silky and Aira Shiratori, it takes a character once framed as comic relief and enriches them with poignant storytelling, recontextualizing Jiji's class clown nature while giving emotional weight to Evil Eye itself. Instead of feeling like a disposable antagonist, the entity becomes a compelling force within the narrative, allowing its presence to linger in a way that feels more poetic than performative. And Jiji isn't the only one stealing the show–Turbo Granny delivers some fantastic spit-take comedy as the group's petulant babysitter, Momo lands devastating kicks, and Okarun shines with his signature cool-guy monologues, complete with an unmistakable JoJo's reference.
Evil Eye is the latest proof that Dan Da Dan is anime's ultimate genre chameleon, effortlessly shifting tones and styles in an instant. This time, it leans deeper into its horror roots, channeling the eerie tension of a Takashi Miike thriller with razor-sharp timing between terror and comedy. But Evil Eye doesn't just pay homage to horror–it pushes the boundaries of Yokinobu Tatsu's ongoing manga, elevating its cinematic flair and expanding the chaos to thrilling new heights. Visually, Evil Eye redefines familiar anime techniques. Impact frames take on a hypnotic, lava lamp-like fluidity, while fight choreography moves effortlessly between close-quarters intensity and exhilarating free-running sequences.
Evil Eye does many things well, serving as a teaser for what's to come, but it falls into a familiar trap for anime compilation films—padding the runtime. Instead of jumping straight into its horror-thriller setup, it lingers too long on a highlight reel of past episodes, making the early moments feel more like promotional material than an organic transition into the new season.
While neat in theory, this approach dulls the impact of what should feel like a feature-length event. Other GKIDS releases have excelled at diving right into the action, but Evil Eye takes nearly 20 minutes to commit, with an additional 10-minute interview with co-directors Fuga Yamashiro and Abel Gongora sandwiched at the end, further stretching out the experience in disengaging ways where a director interview would have sufficed. This echoes a past misstep from Dan Da Dan's previous theatrical promo, where behind-the-scenes footage was put at the start of the film, with a majority of its 'how the sausage is made' segments spoiling major reveals before audiences even what they were in store for. A mistake GKids had been good about not repeating with its other anime preview films!
While the nostalgia is appreciated, it hasn't been that long since the series aired, and the extended recap feels more like unnecessary filler than a seamless setup. As a result, instead of thrusting audiences straight back into its cliffhanger momentum, Evil Eye slows things down, making its start feel more like a drawn-out warm-up than a thrilling leap into the next chapter.
Of course, it wouldn't be Dan Da Dan without another cliffhanger; them's the breaks with anime compilation preview films. But beyond these minor frustrations, Evil Eye takes bold, creative strides, upping the ante for anime adaptation in a way only Science Saru can. Once defined by its punchy, vibrant colors, Evil Eye teases how the show will go beyond briefly winking at other genres by fully leaning into a dynamic approach to fully manifesting their foundations and aesthetics, further solidifying Dan Da Dan's ever-evolving identity. Hopefully, that momentum will carry on beyond its opening stretch in new and galaxy-brained ways when the series makes its grand return.
Dan Da Dan season 2 premieres this July on Netflix, Crunchyroll, and Hulu. Evil Eye hits theaters across the U.S. June 6.