Turbo Granny Arc

Lore & Background

The arc begins when Momo, a high school girl who believes in ghosts but not aliens, meets Okarun, a classmate who believes in aliens but not ghosts. After a bet to prove their respective beliefs, Momo takes Okarun to a tunnel rumored to be haunted by Turbo Granny—a vengeful spirit of an elderly woman who curses those who enter. Okarun is attacked and possessed by the ghost, gaining its incredible speed but also a dangerous curse that will kill him unless the spirit is exorcised. Momo, who secretly possesses latent psychic powers, teams up with Okarun to confront the ghost directly. Their battle takes them deep into the tunnel's supernatural domain, where Turbo Granny manifests as a grotesque, elongated figure with a menacing grin. Momo's psychic abilities, awakened through her grandmother's training, allow her to exorcise the spirit partially, but not before Turbo Granny's power remains sealed within Okarun's body. The arc concludes with the spirit's defeat and banishment, though its lingering energy continues to affect Okarun, granting him temporary super-speed at the cost of his testicles—which the ghost stole as a curse. This sets the stage for the next arc, where the Serpoians, the series' first alien antagonists, arrive to exploit the chaos.

In Their Own Story

The streetlights flickered as the old woman stepped into the alleyway. Her posture was wrong, too rigid for someone her age. Momo gripped her talisman, feeling the cold chill of a non-human presence radiating from the figure's skin. Okarun adjusted his glasses, sensing the hum of energy that didn't belong to Earth. The old woman smiled, revealing teeth that glowed with an unnatural violet light. She moved faster than sight allowed, a blur of motion that defied physics. There was no time for fear, only action.

Reader's Guide

The narrative begins with Momo and Okarun investigating strange occurrences linked to a local UFO cult. They discover that the cultists are being manipulated by actual extraterrestrial beings rather than mere delusions. Turbo Granny reveals herself as one of these masters, possessing an elderly woman's body to ambush the duo. During the confrontation, the pair struggles against her overwhelming speed and physical strength. Momo attempts spiritual barriers while Okarun tries to disrupt the alien signal controlling the host. They realize their individual methods are insufficient against a threat that blends biology with technology. The turning point occurs when they synchronize their efforts, combining spiritual exorcism energy with psychic interference. This synergy allows them to overwhelm Turbo Granny's defenses and force the entity out of its vessel. The arc concludes with the immediate threat neutralized, leaving the duo aware that more aliens are watching from the shadows.

Did You Know?

• Dandadan received the most nominations at the 9th Crunchyroll Anime Awards with 22, more than any other series.
• Dandadan won three awards at the 9th Crunchyroll Anime Awards, including Best Character Design.
• Two characters from Dandadan—Seiko Ayase and Turbo Granny—were nominated for Best Supporting Character at the 9th Crunchyroll Anime Awards.
• The anime song 'Otonoke' by Creepy Nuts, from Dandadan, won both Best Anime Song and Best Opening Sequence at the 9th Crunchyroll Anime Awards.
• Kensuke Ushio was nominated for Best Score at the 9th Crunchyroll Anime Awards for his work on Dandadan.