‘Dan Da Dan’ Director and English Voice Cast Talk ‘Ultraman’ References and Tease Season 2

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At Anime Expo on Saturday, the director of “Dan Da Dan,” Fuga Yamashiro, along with key members of the English voice cast, shared insights about the shifts in creative direction for the series across seasons, potential future installments of “Dan Da Dan”, and an upcoming gaming project.

The panel discussion for the animated series “Dan Dan Dan, Dan Da Dan” was hosted at the Peacock Theater within the Los Angeles Convention Center. During this event, director Yamashiro and producer Kohei Sakita from Science SARU were joined by voice actors Abby Trott (Momo), A.J. Beckles (Okarun), and Aleks Le (Jiji) on stage. The audience had exclusive access to messages from Japanese voice artists Mayumi Tanaka (Turbo Granny) and Shion Wakayama (Momo). Additionally, they witnessed a live-dubbing experience, sneak peeks of the upcoming season, including a snapshot from episode 21, and an announcement of a crossover event with anime RPG “Grand Summoners.” This event will feature an original story, with further details to be shared via the game’s social media and in-game notices.

A large portion of Saturday’s discussion centered around the creative decisions behind season two, particularly the opening scene and its symbolism. Yamashiro spent a great deal of time dissecting the color scheme and visual influences for specific scenes using storyboards and animatics. This analysis revealed several instances where he incorporated references to Ultraman. As Yamashiro put it, “The theme of this opening represents Okarun’s life and his perception of Momo.” He pointed out that the animation images are in sepia or black and white until Momo takes Okarun’s hand, at which point they transition into color. This signifies that the world Okarun sees remains monochrome until he interacts with Momo, symbolizing a shift in Okarun’s perspective.

As a devotee, I’ve observed that the director cleverly incorporated references to Ultraman by skillfully utilizing characters’ shadows and silhouettes. Later, he delved into the details of how his unique color theory, which assigns specific hues to individual characters (like giving The Evil Eye a blue-ish purple tone, or the Mongolian Death Worm a yellow one), was implemented differently in season two. In contrast to the tight scheduling constraints of season one, he had more leeway in season two to delve deeper into this color theory.

Yamashiro explained that instead of relying on a single dominant color or following who appears to be in control during a fight or sequence, he shapes these elements based on “who’s driving the scene.” He also amplified the intensity of colors and employed more blending within sequences. In contrast to season one, where only yellow or red tones were used, they aimed for something unique in season two, resulting in panels with a mix of blue and yellow hues for episodes two and three.

During the discussion later on, Yamashiro inquired about whether the English dub maintains the distinct back-and-forth dialogue of their characters and if it’s a challenging task. In response, Trott and Beckles explained that this approach makes their character interactions more authentic.

Trott mentioned that this aspect is one reason why the show feels authentic and appealing. Beckles commented that while it can be challenging, it’s also enjoyable. Since we record separately, we heavily depend on the director to ensure our collective sound is harmonious. We also draw inspiration from the exceptional Japanese voice actors. This collaboration, I believe, brings the scenes to life even more dynamically.

When asked about their favorite moments involving other cast members, Le mentioned that he particularly enjoys Turbo Granny’s character, as portrayed by Barbara Goodson. Hearing her act in the series always impresses him, especially since he was familiar with her work on shows like Power Rangers from his childhood. Now, being part of a project alongside her is a true privilege, as she injects such flavor and comedic energy into the show.

As a devoted fan, I’m thrilled to share some tantalizing tidbits about the music elements in store for us in season two, particularly episodes 18 and 20. The director hinted that these episodes would feature some challenging band scenes set in a concert hall, which he admitted were quite tricky to produce. He expressed confidence that it turned out well, and I genuinely hope we all enjoy it just as much!

At the conclusion of the event, Yamashiro expressed his gratitude towards the fans for their enthusiasm and asked them to continue supporting the series as it moves beyond season two. He shared how the warm reception he received during last year’s Anime Expo, where they premiered the first episode, had fueled his passion to work on season two. He then expressed hope that the audience would provide him with the same motivation so he could continue working on future seasons, stating that their support in season two will significantly impact its continuation.

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2025-07-07 16:24