Adult Swim’s Toonami programming block has officially announced that it will air the popular supernatural/sci-fi action series Dan Da Dan, with its premiere set for July 26, 2025, at 12:30 AM Eastern Time. This marks a significant acquisition for the late-night anime block, bringing one of the most requested Shonen Jump titles to televised audiences in the United States.
The decision to bring Dan Da Dan to Toonami has been met with excitement from fans, especially given Toonami’s history of introducing Western viewers to iconic anime series such as Dragon Ball Z, Mobile Suit Gundam, and Sailor Moon. The series will be positioned prominently in the Toonami lineup, airing after Dragon Ball Daima and before Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War, indicating its status as a major new addition.
The Story of Dan Da Dan
Dan Da Dan, created by Yukinobu Tatsu, is a unique blend of action, comedy, and supernatural thriller elements. The narrative centers on two high school students, Momo Ayase and Ken Takakura, nicknamed “Okarun.” Momo, who comes from a family of spirit mediums, firmly believes in ghosts but not aliens. Conversely, Okarun, an occult enthusiast, believes in aliens but dismisses the existence of ghosts.
Their clashing beliefs lead them to embark on separate ventures to prove each other wrong. Momo ventures to an abandoned hospital rumored to be a UFO sighting spot, while Okarun investigates a reportedly haunted tunnel. To their astonishment, both encounter overwhelming paranormal activities that defy their understanding. In the midst of these bizarre predicaments, Momo awakens a hidden power, and Okarun gains the ability of a curse, enabling them to confront the new dangers they face. This bizarre encounter also sparks the beginning of their fateful, and arguably peculiar, romantic journey.
Production and Broadcast Details
The Dan Da Dan anime television series is produced by Science Saru, a renowned animation studio, with Fūga Yamashiro directing the series. Hiroshi Seko is responsible for the series composition and episode screenplays. The character designs are handled by Naoyuki Onda, while Yoshimichi Kameda is credited with the intricate designs of the aliens and supernatural entities. Kensuke Ushio composed the music for the series.
The first season of Dan Da Dan originally aired in Japan from October to December 2024 on TBS and MBS as part of their Super Animeism TURBO programming block. Prior to its broadcast television premiere, the English dub of the series first appeared at Anime NYC on August 24, 2024. Additionally, the initial three episodes were compiled into a theatrical release titled Dan Da Dan: First Encounter, which screened in Asia starting August 31, 2024.
A second season of Dan Da Dan premiered on July 3, 2025, in Japan. Both Crunchyroll and Netflix are streaming the series worldwide, while Hulu also streams it in the United States. GKIDS acquired the theatrical, videogram, and digital transactional rights for the series in June 2024.
Toonami’s acquisition of Dan Da Dan is expected to introduce the unique blend of action, comedy, and supernatural elements to a broader audience, solidifying its place as a key player in bringing diverse anime content to Western viewers. The weekly release of episodes on the Cartoon Network platform is anticipated to initially cover season one.
