In a world where high school romance collides with interdimensional yokai skirmishes and extraterrestrial abductions, Dandadan stands out as a genre-bending masterpiece. Created by Yukinobu Tatsu, whose earlier work The Elusive Samurai hinted at his knack for blending historical hijinks with supernatural flair, Dandadan exploded onto the scene in 2021 via Shueisha’s Shōnen Jump+ app.
The manga follows Momo Ayase, a tough-talking teen obsessed with the occult, and Ken Takakura (aka Okarun), a lanky alien enthusiast, as they navigate a bizarre reality where ghosts and UFOs are all too real. What starts as a bet-fueled ghost hunt spirals into a whirlwind of body-swapping spirits, psychic powers, and eyebrow-raising romantic tension – all delivered with Tatsu’s signature kinetic art style, packed with dynamic panel layouts that make every punch and possession feel visceral.
By September 2025, with over 200 chapters under its belt and no signs of slowing down, Dandadan has cemented its status as one of the most unpredictable shonen series out there. Its anime adaptation, helmed by the inventive studio Science Saru (known for the fluid animations in Ping Pong the Animation and Keep Your Hands Off Eizouken!), has only amplified its appeal. Season 1’s 2024 premiere on Netflix and Crunchyroll drew rave reviews for its vibrant visuals and faithful yet punchy adaptation, turning casual viewers into die-hard fans. Fast-forward to this week, and the hype train has derailed into overdrive: Season 3 was officially greenlit mere hours after Season 2’s finale aired in Japan on September 18, 2025. Produced once again by Science Saru with Netflix doubling down as a major streaming hub, this renewal promises to propel our heroes – and the series’ wild energy – to new galactic heights.
A Quick Recap: From Street-Level Haunts to Kaiju-Scale Mayhem
To appreciate what’s coming in Season 3, let’s rewind through the anime’s breakneck pace. Season 1 (12 episodes) adapted roughly Chapters 1-33 of the manga, kicking off with the high-octane Turbo Granny Arc (Chapters 1-8). Here, Momo and Okarun’s worlds shatter when a cackling yokai grandma curses Okarun with turbo-charged speed – and a comically exaggerated anatomy tweak that had fans howling. This opener masterfully sets the tone: equal parts horror, humor, and heart, as the duo exorcises spirits while bickering like star-crossed soulmates.
The season then barreled through the Acrobatic Silky Arc (Chapters 9-17), introducing the tragic ghost of a murdered performer whose aerial assaults force Momo to tap into her latent spiritual powers. By the Serpo Arc (Chapters 18-27), aliens crash the party, abducting Okarun and revealing a shadowy conspiracy of reptilian extraterrestrials. The back half dove into the sprawling Cursed House Arc (Chapters 28-50), a haunted mansion thriller packed with vengeful spirits, family secrets, and a cliffhanger possession that left viewers gasping. Clocking in at about 2.5-3 chapters per episode, the adaptation’s snappy rhythm kept the manga’s chaotic essence intact while adding killer soundtrack drops during fight scenes.
Season 2, which premiered in July 2025, picked up seamlessly from Chapter 34, wrapping the Cursed House’s lingering horrors before unleashing the Evil Eye Arc (Chapters 51-62). This segment ramped up the psychological stakes, with a malevolent spirit granting hypnotic powers that pit allies against each other, forcing Momo and Okarun to confront their insecurities amid escalating romantic sparks. The finale exploded into the Kaiju Arc (Chapters 63-73), a monster-movie spectacle where a colossal beast rampages through Tokyo, blending Godzilla-scale destruction with Dandadan’s quirky flair – think psychic mechs piloted by possessed teens. The season wrapped around Chapter 70, leaving the Kaiju battle unresolved on a pulse-pounding note: a massive entity awakening deeper threats from the shadows. Fans on Reddit and X buzzed about the emotional gut-punch, with Okarun’s growth from awkward nerd to reluctant hero hitting harder than any kaiju tail-swipe.
Season 3: Arcs, Chapters, and the Epic Scope Ahead
With Season 2 clocking similar runtime, expect Season 3 to adapt Chapters 71-120 (or thereabouts), giving it room to breathe through the manga’s densest, most ambitious storyline yet. Kicking off with the Kaiju Arc‘s explosive conclusion (Chapters 71-73), viewers will see the dust settle – or rather, the rubble clear – as Momo’s unyielding spirit and Okarun’s alien-forged abilities clash in a finale that redefines team-ups. This short but savage wrap-up ties loose ends from Season 2’s cliffhanger, revealing how the kaiju’s rampage connects to larger cosmic forces, all while sprinkling in Tatsu’s trademark body-horror gags (no spoilers, but prepare for some seriously weird transformations).
The real meat – and what makes Season 3 a must-watch event – is the Space Globalists Arc (Chapters 74-120), Dandadan‘s longest and most polarizing saga, spanning a whopping 47 chapters across Volumes 9-14. Often hailed as the series’ peak by manga purists, this arc catapults the story from earthly haunts to interstellar intrigue. Our protagonists get roped into a galaxy-spanning war against the “Space Globalists,” a cabal of alien overlords manipulating human history through psychic experiments and yokai proxies. Momo unlocks god-tier spiritual techniques, Okarun grapples with his fragmented memories, and side characters like the clairvoyant Aira and the enigmatic Jiji steal scenes with their own power-ups.
What sets this arc apart? It’s Dandadan at its most ambitious: sprawling space battles intermixed with intimate character beats, like Momo and Okarun’s first real kiss amid zero-gravity chaos (romance fans, rejoice). Tatsu weaves in themes of identity and colonialism through the aliens’ “globalist” agenda, drawing parallels to real-world conspiracies without ever feeling preachy. Visually, expect Science Saru’s animators to go wild – fluid zero-G fights, psychedelic psychic visions, and kaiju-sized mechs that echo Evangelion but with way more slapstick. If the manga’s raw energy translates half as well as Season 1’s Turbo Granny chase, it’ll be animation gold.
By the arc’s end around Chapter 120, Season 3 might tease the Onbusuman Arc (Chapters 121-128), a palate-cleanser introducing a mischievous transport yokai that grounds the cosmic scale back to street-level antics. At 12 episodes, this leaves plenty of wiggle room for original filler or extended fights, but given the studio’s fidelity, it’ll hew close to source material. Total adaptation pace? Roughly 40-50 chapters, pushing the anime to over 100 manga pages deep – a testament to how Dandadan packs more twists per volume than most series do in a decade.
What to Expect: High Stakes, Higher Laughs, and Heart-Pounding Twists
Season 3 isn’t just more Dandadan; it’s the escalation we’ve been craving. Plot-wise, anticipate deeper lore dives into the “Dandadan” prophecy tying ghosts and aliens, plus villain reveals that flip alliances on their head. Character arcs shine: Momo evolves from hot-headed skeptic to spiritual powerhouse, while Okarun’s alien heritage forces a identity crisis that’s equal parts poignant and hilarious. The romance simmers toward a boil, with Tatsu’s subtle (yet steamy) tension making every glance feel electric.
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Tonally, expect the series’ alchemy of genres to hit overdrive – yokai folklore clashes with sci-fi epics, undercut by absurd humor like possessed sumo wrestlers or alien tech gone comically awry. Science Saru’s style will amplify this: exaggerated expressions for comedy, balletic action for drama, and a soundtrack blending J-pop bangers with eerie synths. Fun fact: Tatsu drew inspiration from ’70s UFO cults and Japanese urban legends, infusing the arc with meta-commentary on belief systems that feels eerily timely in 2025’s meme-fueled discourse.
Release-wise, don’t hold your breath for 2025 – production timelines point to a late 2026 debut, likely fall or winter, aligning with Netflix’s anime push. Trailers are already dropping hints of starry voids and glowing auras, building unbearable hype.
Why Season 3 Could Be Dandadan’s Defining Moment
Dandadan thrives on defying expectations, and Season 3’s dive into the Space Globalists Arc feels like the perfect payoff. It’s not just bigger fights; it’s a bolder exploration of what makes us human (or alien, or ghostly) in a universe that’s equal parts terrifying and absurd. Whether you’re a manga veteran chasing those panel flips or a newbie hooked by the anime’s vibe, this season promises to launch the series into the stratosphere – pun very much intended. As Tatsu keeps churning out chapters (hello, ongoing Current Arc at 201+), the future looks brighter than a Serpo saucer. Strap in, occult club: the globalists are coming, and they’re bringing the dakimakura army.
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