Episode Air Date
30-06-2025
Warning: The following contains minor spoilers for Dandadan, Episode 3, “It’s a Granny vs. Granny Clash!”, now streaming onCrunchyroll.
The newest episode ofDandadanpeaks early this week thanks to a ferocious character introduction and then follows through with some more of Okarun and Ayase’s winning chemistry. It’s hyping up a big confrontation that will presumably round out the story’s first major arc before moving on to the next absurd happening that will terrorize these two kids' lives.
Last week,Okarun and Ayase faced off against the Flatwoods Monsterwhich entrapped them on the grounds of Ayase’s home when she removed the protective talisman from the main gate. After a dazzling battle, they ended up defeating the monster, only for Ayase to pass out from exhaustion, leaving her defenseless as Okarun fell to Turbo Granny’s curse.
What Dandadan and Mob Psycho 100 Have in Common
Since the show began, there have been natural comparisons toMob Psycho 100, from the aesthetic to the lively animation, and most of all, the tone, which feels especially similar this week.Mob Psycho’s logline was about a phony mediumworking with an actual psychic to deal with paranormal cases. The comedy was derived from the natural skepticism toward so-called “mediums” and the theatricality or seriousness with which they present themselves.
Dandadan’s third episode starts much the same way, with Seiko Ayase appearing on a local daytime show under the moniker Santa Dodoria, a spirit medium. She comes off like any other phony, but beneath that cheap facade, she’s more real than anyone could imagine, andthat fantasy is what makesMob PsychoandDandadanso fun at their cores. It’s about exploring the paranormal after first grounding it in heavy skepticism.
Seiko’s Stunning Character Reveal
The first 6 minutes of this episode have only one goal and that is to make Seiko look as cool as humanly possible, a feat achieved effortlessly through some powerful directing choices. Her design alone is wild, channeling youthful sexuality while never contradicting her commanding aura that conveys years of experience. In both Japanese and English, her vocal performance completes the character in this sense. If the voice wasn’t channeling that wisdom, it wouldn’t work at all.
Kari Whalgren (Haruko inFLCL)truly is one of the greatest voice actresses of our time, and she is fully in her element here. The way she punctuates her sentences with “Hun” with that hint of acid in her tone is top-notch scriptwriting for a dub. It doesn’t just translate the original script but conveys a speech pattern significant to her, which is a small touch, but one that adds a lot of character.
Seiko Stomps Turbo Granny
This isn’t so much a fight as it is a one-sided beatdown, which makes it no less a thrill to watch when it tells the viewer so much about a character in just a few minutes. Seiko has a lot going for her, from her aesthetic to her performance, and her powers, but the coolest thing about her is how intentional her every move is. Every pause has a purpose; to size up her foe or to formulate a plan, and by the time she makesher presence known to Turbo Granny, her plan has already been made.
Her barrier techniques are built on simple mechanics that are easily understood with only a little exposition, but the way they are presented makes them feel so much more intricate. The way her baseball bat doubles as a giant jagged pencil, marking the soil with a hunk of graphite, is such a bizarre but creative touch. It’s all punctuated by great sound design, whether it’s the pencil being retracted or the bat hammering a nail into the earth.
It might not beas frenetic as previous episodes' fights, but the direction is arguably stronger than ever and the patience with which Seiko dispatches prey speaks to her expertise. When she stares down at Turbo Granny from inches away, she has such a striking and unforgettable presence. Even as Turbo Granny rises above her, that confidence is hardly overshadowed. It’s a great example of using a fight scene to not only introduce a character but get to know them.
How Seiko Puts a Spin on Worldbuilding
Another fascinating detail is how Seiko’s abilities and her status in the realm of the supernatural differ from her granddaughter’s. Ayase comes home not only believing that her grandmother is a spirit medium all of a sudden but also claiming to have unlocked telekinesis. In any other story, this would be the moment the elder character reveals the secrets of the world and instructs the youth on how to control their power, but that’s not how it goes down.
If anything, Seikoseems unknowledgeable about Ayase’s powers, lacking those same powers herself. It’s almost like her abilities derive from a different source, which only serves to make the power scaling of this story more chaotic. Alternatively, if Seiko is more knowledgeable than she lets on, it could be part of her protective nature. She might have taught Ayase about spirits as a child, but that was to keep her safe, not necessarily to turn her into some psychic fighter.
Episode 3 Sets up a Stellar Rematch
The remainder of the episode is solid. Ayase wakes up and apologizes to her grandmother for not believing her for so long, though understandably annoyed that she made her think Okarun was dead at first. The main pair continues to be friendly one minute and at each other’s throats the next, but they’re absolutely adorable regardless. After two near-death experiences, they’re not exactly strangers, andit’s clear this week that they’ll be friendseven after this mess is resolved.
However, there’s a part of Okarun that worries about disappointing Ayase and ruining their budding friendship - something he’s yearned for so long. As usual,Dandadanexcels at balancing its chaotic action with some very touching character writing. The episode ends with them setting off for a final battle with Turbo Granny and the conclusion of an all-around great introductory arc.
