Okarun

Lore & Background

Okarun is the nickname Momo Ayase gives to Ken Takakura, her fellow high schooler. The two engage in a bet to determine who is correct about the existence of ghosts versus aliens, leading them to separately visit locations associated with both. Momo is abducted by aliens who accidentally unblock her chakras, enabling latent psychic abilities. Meanwhile, Okarun becomes possessed by a spirit, and together with Momo's abilities, they use his possessed form to defeat the aliens. A central plot focuses on Okarun's quest to retrieve his missing testicles (kintama). After succeeding, the story shifts to Momo when she becomes afflicted by a curse that diminishes her size and erases her presence. Although Momo's curse is eventually lifted, she loses most of her memories — including those of her time with Okarun and the others.

In Their Own Story

Okarun begins as a high schooler who believes in aliens but not ghosts. In a bet with Momo Ayase, who believes in ghosts but not aliens, the two separately visit locations associated with both the extraterrestrial and the occult. Momo is abducted by a group of aliens who accidentally unblock her chakras, enabling latent psychic abilities. Meanwhile, Okarun becomes possessed by a spirit, and together with Momo's abilities, they use his possessed form to defeat the aliens. The rest of the story follows Okarun and Momo as they ally with fellow students, friends, family, and new acquaintances to combat supernatural entities, including spirits and extraterrestrial beings, while also navigating the evolving romantic tension between them. Initially, a central plot focuses on Okarun's quest to retrieve his missing testicles (kintama). After succeeding, the story then shifts to Momo when she becomes afflicted by a mysterious curse that gradually diminishes her physical size and erases her presence to those around her. Although Momo's curse is eventually lifted, she loses most of her memories — including those of her time with Okarun and the others.

Reader's Guide

Okarun is a high school student whose defining trait is his belief in aliens but not ghosts. This belief leads him into a bet with Momo Ayase, who holds the opposite view. Their separate investigations into locations associated with both the extraterrestrial and the occult result in Momo being abducted by aliens and Okarun becoming possessed by a spirit. Using Momo's newly awakened psychic abilities and Okarun's possessed form, they defeat the aliens. A major early plot point is Okarun's quest to retrieve his missing testicles (kintama). After this is resolved, the story shifts focus to Momo's curse. Throughout the series, Okarun and Momo ally with fellow students, friends, family, and new acquaintances to combat supernatural entities, including spirits and extraterrestrial beings, while their romantic tension evolves.

Did You Know?

• Okarun's real name is Ken Takakura, but Momo Ayase nicknames him 'Okarun'.
• Okarun believes in aliens but not ghosts, while Momo believes in ghosts but not aliens.
• A central plot focuses on Okarun's quest to retrieve his missing testicles (kintama).
• After Momo's curse is lifted, she loses most of her memories — including those of her time with Okarun.
• The anime adaptation of Dandadan was produced by Science Saru and aired from October to December 2024.

Origins and Supernatural Awakening

Ken Takakura, whom Momo Ayase nicknames 'Okarun', is a high school student who believes in aliens but not ghosts. In a bet with Momo, who believes in ghosts but not aliens, the two decide to separately visit locations associated with both the extraterrestrial and the occult — Momo visiting the former, and Okarun the latter. Momo is abducted by a group of aliens who accidentally unblock her chakras, enabling latent psychic abilities. Meanwhile, Okarun becomes possessed by a spirit, and together with Momo's abilities, they use his possessed form to defeat the aliens. A central plot focuses on Okarun's quest to retrieve his missing testicles (kintama). After succeeding, the story shifts to Momo when she becomes afflicted by a mysterious curse that gradually diminishes her physical size and erases her presence to those around her. Although Momo's curse is eventually lifted, she loses most of her memories — including those of her time with Okarun and the others.

Production Philosophy and Direction

The anime adaptation, produced by Science Saru under the direction of Fūga Yamashiro, represents a significant directorial debut marked by a unique visual philosophy. Producer Hiroshi Kamei highlighted the team's dedication to 'everyday action,' a technique where the camera lingers on subtle character expressions to convey emotion without heavy reliance on dialogue. This approach prioritizes visual storytelling over exposition, allowing quiet moments to define character dynamics. The production also utilized 'lead scenes' to foreshadow future developments; for instance, an early scene of Momo handing Okarun a magazine is later mirrored when he returns the favor with his clothes, visually charting their relationship's growth. Yamashiro frequently took notes while watching other media to refine this style, ensuring that the series balanced its high-octane supernatural action with intimate, humanizing details that ground the fantastical elements in relatable character interactions.

Global Release and Distribution Strategy

The series achieved a rapid global rollout through a multi-platform distribution strategy involving major streaming services and theatrical releases. The first season premiered on Japanese networks MBS and TBS in October 2024, with worldwide streaming handled by Netflix and Crunchyroll. In the United States, Adult Swim's Toonami block aired the English dub starting in mid-2025. Uniquely, the production team released the first three episodes theatrically outside Japan as 'Dan Da Dan: First Encounter' prior to the TV broadcast, a format repeated for the second season with 'Evil Eye.' This hybrid model allowed international audiences to experience the series in cinemas before home viewing. Despite some pre-release leaks of localized episodes by Iyuno, the official rollout remained robust, securing licensing deals across Asia-Pacific, Europe, and North America through partners like GKIDS and Muse Communication.

Critical Reception and Cultural Impact

Upon its release, the anime garnered widespread critical acclaim for its animation quality, storytelling, and musical score. Review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes awarded the first season a perfect approval rating based on initial reviews, praising the series as an exceptional Shōnen entry that combines horror and science fiction with genuine heart. Critics from Anime News Network lauded Science Saru's dynamic visuals and the chemistry between the lead characters, noting how well the show integrated rom-com tropes with supernatural thrills. However, reception was not universally positive; some reviewers criticized the intense use of flashing lights and the depiction of sensitive themes like sexual assault. Despite these criticisms, the series' visual flair and unique premise secured its status as a standout title, leading to immediate announcements for subsequent seasons and cementing its place in modern anime history.

Relationship with Momo Ayase

Okarun and Momo Ayase are fellow high schoolers who initially disagree about the existence of ghosts versus aliens. Their bet leads to both being thrust into the supernatural world. After Momo is abducted by aliens and Okarun becomes possessed by a spirit, they use their combined abilities to defeat the aliens. The rest of the story follows them as they ally with fellow students, friends, family, and new acquaintances to combat supernatural entities, while also navigating the evolving romantic tension between them. After Okarun's quest to retrieve his missing testicles succeeds, the story shifts to Momo when she becomes afflicted by a curse. Although Momo's curse is eventually lifted, she loses most of her memories — including those of her time with Okarun and the others.