Academy Award-winning producer and distributor GKIDS announced this week that the company has acquired the theatrical, videogram, and digital transactional rights to the highly anticipated new series, DAN DA DAN. This marks GKIDS’ first engagement with a first-run series, following the North American distribution of various famed retrospective series work.
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GKIDS will announce more details on the acquisition in the coming months. DAN DA DAN is the series television adaptation of the manga of the same name created by author Yukinobu Tatsu, which is currently serialized in the Shonen Jump Plus by SHUEISHA under the globally beloved Shonen Jump imprint. You can also check out an official trailer release for the series below:
GKIDS ACQUIRES HOME AND THEATRICAL ENTERTAINMENT RIGHTS FOR DAN DA DAN
The new anime series is produced by studio Science SARU, the studio behind such shows as DEVILMAN crybaby, INU-OH, Scott Pilgrim Takes Off, and The Colors Within. It also marks the directorial debut of Science SARU veteran Fuga Yamashiro. Kensuke Ushio (Chainsaw Man, DEVILMAN crybaby, The Colors Within) is composing the score for the upcoming series.
Author Tatsu previously cut his teeth working as an assistant for Tatsuki Fujimoto for the global hit series, Chainsaw Man and Fire Punch. He also worked with Yuji Kaku on Hell’s Paradise: Jigokuraku. The series was conceived as a love letter to genre films, B-movies, and retro sci-fi works.
The story follows a high school girl named Momo, who comes from a family of spirit mediums, and Okarun, a high school boy who is obsessed with the occult. As they compete to disprove the existence of the other’s passion, they both become caught up in an encounter of both the spiritual and the paranormal. The experience imbues both teenagers with powers beyond belief.
The series marks the GKIDS’ sixth release of a Science SARU project, following local releases of Lu Over the Wall, The Night is Short, Walk On Girl, Ride Your Wave, INU-OH, and The Colors Within. Speaking on the announcement, GKIDS President David Jesteadt stated, “After years of championing feature animation and the occasional classic series, GKIDS is thrilled to join in the release of our first-ever new animated series.”
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Jesteadt continued, “We could not think of better partners than MBS and the artist geniuses at Science SARU, who we have had the fortune of working with on many films before. DAN DA DAN has been an office-favorite manga since its beginning, and we look forward to helping fans discover this vital new series later this fall.”
In terms of where you will be able to watch weekly streaming episodic releases, Crunchyroll previously announced earlier in March that DAN DA DAN will be joining the streamer’s schedule later this October. The show will be simulcast from Japan on Crunchyroll worldwide, excluding Asia, with new episodes airing every week.
About DAN DA DAN
Release: October 2024
Directed By: Fuga Yamashiro
Original Story: Yukinobu Tatsu
Producer: Toshio Suzuki
Music: Kensuke Ushio
Production: Science SARU
Distribution: GKIDS, Crunchyroll
Japanese Voice Cast: Shion Wakayama, Natsuki Hanae, Mayumi Tanaka, and Kazuya Nakai
Synopsis: DAN DA DAN follows Momo, a high school girl from a family of spirit mediums, and her classmate Okarun, an occult freak. The two of them start talking after Momo rescues Okarun from getting bullied. However, an argument ensues between them – Momo believes in ghosts but denies aliens, and Okarun believes in aliens but denies ghosts. To make the mutual deniers believe in each other, Momo goes to an abandoned hospital known for its UFO sightings, and Okarun goes to a tunnel that is said to be haunted.
In each place, they encounter overwhelming paranormal activity that transcends comprehension. Amid these predicaments, Momo awakens her hidden power and Okarun gains the power of a curse to challenge the paranormal forces! Their fateful love begins as well!? The story of the occult battle and adolescence starts!
What do you think of the news? Do you plan on checking out DAN DA DAN? Are you a fan of the manga series? What do you think of GKIDS licensing the series? Let us know your thoughts about the news on The Illuminerdi’s social media.
SOURCE: GKIDS
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