If you’ve been living under a rock—or maybe just avoiding the chaotic, neon-drenched fever dream that is Science SARU’s latest hit—you might have missed the absolute explosion of Dandadan. It’s weird. It’s loud. It’s got aliens with a weirdly specific interest in human anatomy and ghosts that just want a hug (or your soul). Now that the first batch of episodes has wrapped up, everyone is asking the same thing: when do we get Dandadan Season 2?
Honestly, it’s not just a matter of "if" anymore. It’s a matter of "how soon can the animators breathe?"
The first season hit like a freight train. You've got Momo Ayase, who believes in ghosts but scoffs at aliens, and Ken "Okarun" Takakura, who is the exact opposite. They make a bet, they both lose, and suddenly Okarun is missing his... well, you know. It’s a wild premise. But underneath the supernatural chaos, there’s a genuine heart and some of the best chemistry seen in modern shonen. That’s why the demand for a second season is through the roof.
The Production Reality of Dandadan Season 2
Let’s get real about the timeline. Animation isn't magic. Even though it feels like it when you’re watching Science SARU work their voodoo on screen. Historically, Science SARU doesn't just churn out sequels like a factory. They’re boutique. They’re stylistic. Look at Devilman Crybaby or Keep Your Hands Off Eizouken!—these are projects with distinct identities.
However, Dandadan is a different beast entirely. It’s a massive Shonen Jump+ property. The manga, created by Yukinobu Tatsu, has millions of copies in circulation. When a show hits this hard, the production committee usually has a roadmap ready before the first season even finishes airing.
Wait.
Think about the "split-cour" trend. A lot of modern anime, like Spy x Family or Bleach: TYBW, break their seasons into chunks to maintain quality. Given the insane kinetic energy of the fight scenes in the first season, it’s highly likely that the team needs a significant lead time to ensure Dandadan Season 2 doesn't look like a slideshow. We are likely looking at a late 2025 or early 2026 release window. That sounds like a long time. It is. But you want that quality, right? You don’t want the animation to dip when the fights get even more complex.
What’s Actually Left to Adapt?
If you’re a manga reader, you know the "Turbo Granny" and "Acrobatic Silky" arcs are just the tip of the iceberg. The first season barely scratched the surface of Tatsu’s imagination.
Basically, the next major narrative chunk is the Cursed House arc. It’s darker. It’s more claustrophobic. It introduces Jiji (Enjoji Jin), a childhood friend of Momo’s who is basically the "Golden Retriever" energy to Okarun’s "Anxious Black Cat" energy. The dynamic changes. The jealousy gets real. But more importantly, the stakes for the supernatural threats escalate from "scary urban legend" to "world-ending ritualistic nightmare."
- The Evil Eye: This is the big one. Without spoiling too much, Jiji brings a literal curse with him that makes the Turbo Granny look like a minor inconvenience.
- The Alien Invasions: They don't stop. They get weirder. We're talking subterranean humanoids and high-tech invaders that look like they stepped out of a 1950s sci-fi B-movie.
- Power Scaling: Momo’s psychic abilities and Okarun’s transformation evolve. They have to. The enemies aren't just looking for a scrap; they're looking for total domination.
The manga has over 160 chapters as of early 2026. The first season covered roughly the first 30 to 35 chapters. If they keep that pace, Dandadan Season 2 will likely take us through the end of the Kaiju/Mecha-style battles and the incredibly emotional backstory of the Vamola arc. Yes, it gets emotional. Prepare to cry over a space dinosaur.
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Why Science SARU is the Only Choice
There was some initial worry when the anime was first announced. People thought Tatsu’s art was "un-animatable." His lines are messy, detailed, and incredibly dense. But Science SARU proved everyone wrong by leaning into a psychedelic color palette and fluid, almost rubbery movement.
Director Fuga Yamashiro clearly gets the vibe. It’s punk rock. It’s messy.
If a different studio took over for Dandadan Season 2, it would be a disaster. The "soul" of the show is in its weirdness. You need those off-model frames. You need the fish-eye lens shots. You need the transition scenes that feel like a fever dream. The rumors in the industry suggest the core staff is already locked in for the continuation, which is the best news fans could hope for.
Addressing the "Manga vs. Anime" Debate
Some purists argue the manga is better because of Tatsu’s incredible double-page spreads. They aren't wrong. Tatsu worked as an assistant to Tatsuki Fujimoto (Chainsaw Man) and Yuji Kaku (Hell’s Paradise), and you can see that DNA in his work.
But the anime adds something the manga can't: a literal beat. The music by Kensuke Ushio—who also did Chainsaw Man and A Silent Voice—is a character in itself. It’s techno-horror-funk. In Dandadan Season 2, the sound design will have to work even harder as the scale of the battles grows. When a giant house starts attacking people, you need that bass to thrum in your chest.
Common Misconceptions About the Plot
People keep thinking this is a romance anime. Sorta.
It’s actually a story about trauma and found family disguised as a battle shonen. Every "ghost" Momo and Okarun fight has a tragic backstory rooted in human suffering. The Acrobatic Silky wasn't just a monster; she was a grieving mother. This theme continues heavily in the upcoming arcs. If you're just here for the "will they, won't they" between Momo and Okarun, you're going to get plenty of that, but you’re also going to get some heavy social commentary on isolation and neglect.
Also, don't expect the "alien vs. ghost" debate to be settled anytime soon. The series thrives on the fact that both are equally real and equally terrifying. The crossover between the two—like aliens using ghost powers or vice versa—is where the series gets its most creative ideas.
The Strategy for Staying Ahead
If you want to be ready for the premiere, here’s what you actually need to do. Don’t just rewatch the show.
- Read the Manga (Chapters 35-70): This covers the immediate aftermath of Season 1. It’ll give you a sense of the visual jump the animators have to make.
- Follow the Official "Dandadan" Twitter (X) Account: They drop teasers and "key visuals" months before any trailer hits.
- Check Science SARU’s Production Cycle: They usually have one major project per year. If they announce a movie or a different series first, it might push the release date back slightly.
- Watch the Voice Actors: Natsuki Hanae (Okarun) and Shion Wakayama (Momo) are incredibly active. Their recording schedules often leak hints about when a show is in active production.
Dandadan Season 2 is going to be a culture-shifting moment for anime fans. It’s the bridge between the "Dark Trio" (Jujutsu Kaisen, Chainsaw Man, Hell's Paradise) and something entirely new—something more colorful, more hopeful, and significantly more bizarre.
The wait is annoying. Everyone knows it. But considering the level of craft required to turn Tatsu’s chaotic ink into moving art, a bit of patience is a small price to pay. Stay skeptical of "leaked" release dates on TikTok that claim it's coming next month—they’re almost always engagement bait. Stick to official Jump+ announcements or confirmed reports from industry insiders like Sugoi LITE or oecuf0.
The next chapter of Momo and Okarun’s journey is coming, and it’s going to make the first season look like a quiet afternoon in the countryside. Keep your eyes peeled for the first official teaser trailer, which usually drops during major events like Jump Festa. That’s when the real hype begins.