Dan Da Dan Season 2 Co-Director Shares Insights on Anime's Evolution

The eagerly awaited second season of the anime series Dan Da Dan is set to debut this July, continuing the story from the cliffhanger ending of season one. Abel Gongora, who directed the opening sequence in season one, has stepped into a co-director role for the new season alongside original director Fuga Yamashiro. This shift allows Gongora to bring fresh creative energy while sharing the demanding workload of production.

Gongora’s involvement began with the opening theme of season one, which featured bold silhouettes inspired by Ultraman and a distinctive typography style reminiscent of Kon Ichikawa’s work. Granted creative freedom by Yamashiro, Gongora infused the sequence with shiny, vibrant colors and a unique rough animation style achieved through traditional pencil and paper techniques rarely seen in modern animation. This opening theme, performed by Creepy Nuts, became a fan favorite and won several awards.

For season two, Gongora promises a completely different opening sequence set to AiNA THE END’s song “On My Way.” He emphasizes the importance of innovation over repetition, aiming to deliver a fresh visual experience that complements the new musical tone.

The creative influences shaping Dan Da Dan’s second season extend beyond anime to include horror films, Hong Kong kung fu cinema, and iconic sci-fi movies such as Alien. Gongora cites Hideaki Anno’s Shin Ultraman and Shin Godzilla as key inspirations, blending kaiju and horror elements with dynamic storytelling techniques like dramatic zooms and intense character expressions.

Production challenges have led the team to experiment with integrating 3D animation to complement traditional methods. This hybrid approach helps manage complex scenes that would be difficult or prohibitively time-consuming to animate by hand. The team is also exploring innovative uses of music to enhance the narrative impact.

The collaboration between Gongora and Yamashiro is marked by a shared vision and mutual respect, despite occasional creative disagreements. They divide directing duties across arcs but remain closely involved in each other’s work to maintain consistency in character design, color palettes, and storytelling style. Their prior experience working together on projects with Masaki Yuasa has fostered a smooth and productive partnership.

Dan Da Dan season two promises to elevate the anime’s unique blend of horror, action, romance, and sci-fi with bold stylistic choices and innovative animation techniques. The theatrical event Dan Da Dan: Evil Eye, showcasing the first three episodes, will premiere in U.S. theaters on June 6, ahead of the full season launch on Netflix, Crunchyroll, and Hulu.

For fans and creators alike, Dan Da Dan’s evolution exemplifies how collaborative creativity, respect for source material, and embracing new technologies can push the boundaries of anime storytelling. As the series continues to blend diverse cinematic influences and experimental animation, it sets a high bar for genre-bending narratives in the medium.