Dandadan is one of the most popular anime in recent history, captivating viewers with its stunning visuals, unique characters, and engaging plot. With the second season set to air in Summer 2025 anime season, fans may be curious about how far the first season adapted the story and whether it’s worth reading the manga.
The first season of the Dandadan anime covers up till chapter 33 of the manga. Hence, those who wish to dive into the manga can pick it up from chapter 34. This will not begin a new arc but continue the Cursed House Arc, which the anime had started adapting.
Dandadan, created by Yukinobu Tatsu, is an exciting series combining action, comedy, and emotion to deliver an impactful package. The manga has been serialized in Shonen Jump+ since April 2021 and is ongoing with 191 chapters currently. The series revolves around the awkward Okarun and the headstrong Momo Ayase’s encounters with aliens, ghosts, spirits, and all other supernatural beings.

The anime ran from October to December 2024 and was adapted by Science Saru. Though the studio is known for underrated projects such as The Tatami Time Machine Blues and Devilman: Crybaby, they gained global recognition through Dandadan.
The first season, consisting of 12 episodes, fully adapted the first 3 arcs of the 10-arc manga. It began animating the Cursed House Arc, and those who wish to read the source material can start from chapter 34.
This continues Momo and Okarun’s efforts to help Jiji, Momo’s childhood friend, get rid of a spirit haunting his house. However, they soon face trouble as the dangerous Kito Family intervenes and attempts to feed them to the great snake, Tsuchinoko. During the chaos, the memorable Evil Eye is also introduced. This yokai, initially believed to be an antagonist, touches both characters and fans with its tragic backstory and eventually possesses Jiji.
With another entity similar to Okarun and Turbo Granny, Dandadan only gets more and more thrilling from this point. After the events of the Cursed House Arc, Okarun and Jiji form an adorable bond, while Momo and Okarun’s relationship begins growing from friendship into something more. New fan-favorite characters such as Kinta and Vamola are introduced, while monsters ranging from kaiju to alien invaders start to appear.
Is it worth reading the Dandadan manga?
Science Saru has undoubtedly elevated the source material of Dandadan through fluid visuals, exhilarating fight scenes, and extremely creative direction. Episodes such as Acrobatic Silky’s backstory left an indelible mark on viewers, and that was particularly because of the manner in which the studio animated it.
At the same time, the manga is still worth reading. The anime is a highly faithful adaptation, but the manga’s art style is stunning and deserves its due appreciation. Yukinobu Tatsu’s original vision contains wholesome character interactions and incredibly detailed battles that cannot be fully replicated through the animated medium.
The illustrations in the manga also enhance Dandadan’s themes, where the comedy scenes are hilarious, but the emotional moments hit harder due to the contrast between the art and the story. Therefore, we suggest that fans of the anime try reading the manga, whether now or in the future.
The Dandadan anime adapts up to chapter 33 of the manga, and fans can continue reading it from chapter 34. The story will dive into the Cursed House Arc, where the stakes are the highest they’ve been and the new main character, Jiji, will get his time to shine.