Dandadan’s Director Reveals Godzilla and Ultraman as Key Inspirations!

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In a straightforward and engaging manner: The anime series, Dandadan, openly showcases its ties to popular culture. During Season 1, viewers spotted references to well-known manga such as Slam Dunk, renowned Japanese actors like Hiroshi Abe, and even catchy jingles from the 1980s (“Yuuki no Shirushi”). Additionally, the artistic team at Science SARU drew inspiration from various films, TV shows, and anime to develop Dandadan‘s distinctive mood and style. As the much-anticipated movie adaptation of The Evil Eye is about to release, and Season 2 is hot on its heels, co-director Abel Gongora has shared some additional sources of inspiration for Dandadan, which are essential viewing for any dedicated fan.

Abel Gongora, an experienced animation director, came aboard for Season 1 to oversee the creation of the memorable opening credits set to Creepy Nuts’ “Otonoke” OP. In Season 2, he teams up with Fuga Yamashiro as co-directors, beginning with the upcoming “Evil Eye” movie that hits theaters on June 3rd. In an exclusive chat with ComicBook, the gracious co-director shared insights about “Evil Eye”, Season 2, and his most significant directorial inspirations.

Dandadan Director Reveals the Biggest Influences on Season 2

In my chat with Abel Gongora prior to the theatrical debut of “Dandadan: Evil Eye”, he shared some key inspirations shaping the film’s atmosphere, style, and narrative. He mentioned receiving suggestions from Yamashiro-san, the director, who recommended certain movies for him to watch. Additionally, Abel expressed his personal interest in exploring many classic Japanese films as well.

Friend, I suggest you check out ‘Shin Ultraman’. It’s a contemporary take on the classic ‘Ultraman’, making it more accessible to modern audiences. The original might be challenging for some viewers… But don’t forget, the recent versions of Japanese classics like ‘Shin Kamen Rider’ and ‘Shin Godzilla’ are truly remarkable films.”

In Season 2 of ‘Dandadan’, they drew inspiration from these rebooted versions of classic Japanese series.

It’s common knowledge that Godzilla played a significant role in shaping the narrative of Dandadan. In fact, an imitation of the legendary monster, known as a kaiju, made its appearance in Season 1. The battle between Nessie in Episode 8 was heavily inspired by Shin Godzilla, even recreating the creature’s Atomic Breath scene shot-for-shot.

Dandadan: Evil Eye Dives Into Horror

2024 saw Abel Gongora sharing on Instagram that he had watched a whopping 217 films throughout the year. As entertainment reporters, we were left astounded by this impressive count. Besides Ultraman and Godzilla, it seemed Abel Gongora drew inspiration from a diverse range of movies, with a particular emphasis on horror films.

In its second season, “Dandadan” draws from the “Cursed House” and “Evil Eye” storylines penned by Yukinobu Tatsu, which are known among readers as some of the most haunting chapters in the series. This has led director Gongora to admit that he immersed himself in numerous horror films prior to Season 2’s production. “Horror flicks, [which] aren’t typically my cup of tea,” the director reminisced, citing them as an inspiration. “I felt it was essential to grasp the intricacies of how fear is portrayed on screen. I aimed to make the Underground truly unsettling, and the flashbacks featuring the Evil Eye possess a melancholic horror narrative.

In theaters starting June 3rd, you’ll find the anime “Dandadan: The Malevolent Gaze.” Approximately a month later, on July 3rd, Season 2 will be available for streaming on Crunchyroll and Netflix.

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2025-05-30 23:09