Manga Mavericks

Dun Da Dun, we’re talking about Dan Da Dan! Dan Da Dan is one of the best-produced anime on the scene, and the first three episodes of season two are currently screening in U.S. theaters as a compilation film dubbed Dan Da Dan: Evil Eye. I had the opportunity to interview the new season’s co-director, Abel Góngora, a longtime Science Saru animator who directed the beloved opening sequence for Dan Da Dan’s first season, as well as the English dub voice cast: A.J. Beckles (Okarun), Abby Trott (Momo), and Aleks Le (Jiji/Evil Eye)! I talked with Abel about how he collaborated with first season director Fuga Yamashiro on this season and his thought process behind many of the creative choices made with the animation, color, and art direction in the show. Then, I ask the dub cast about the highlights and difficulties of performing their characters, with A.J. discussing how he captures the interiority of Okarun in both his normal and Turbo forms and tries to push himself to match or surpass Natsuki Hanae’s performanc