Dandadan’s Origin Story Reveals a Major Flaw With Shonen Jump

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Yukinobu Tatsu’s cherished manga titled “Dandadan,” which is published on Shonen Jump+, gained immense popularity following its anime adaptation’s debut in Fall 2024. The series launched its second season in Summer 2025 and is still ongoing. As the fervor for “Dandadan” persists, fans grow increasingly captivated by the characters, particularly the principal pair, Momo Ayase and Okarun. Throughout the series, these two have been the primary focus, and their connection remains unshakable. The narrative features intense action alongside a delicate exploration of the romantic undertones between the duo. Interestingly, while the main duo has garnered adoration from fans, Tatsu originally intended to make Momo the sole protagonist.

In a recent share from Dandadanverse on platform X, Tatsu’s interview discussing the series prior to Season 1’s premiere was featured. Originally published in Switch magazine Volume 42, the creator admitted that he had long sought to create a boys’ manga with a female lead, but these proposals consistently failed during serialization discussions. Consequently, he decided it would be more effective to have a male character alongside her. It wasn’t until after Tatsu created Okarun that Dandadan finally debuted, emphasizing the persistence of the boy-centric focus in shonen manga. Despite evolving times, there are still few shonen manga with equally strong female characters or even a predominantly female cast compared to their male counterparts.

Shonen Jump Manga Is Still Male-Centric Despite the Growing Audience Over the Years

As an avid anime and manga fan, I used to think that the “shonen” demographic was strictly for young males. But as the popularity of these genres soars, I’ve realized that the original definition doesn’t hold much weight anymore. Shonen series, regardless of their origin, captivate audiences of all ages and genders. I find myself drawn to a wide range of action shows, even those with female leads.

However, in this vast industry, series like Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End and Claymore with strong female protagonists are still hard to come by. It’s a shame, because these action-packed stories offer something unique and exciting for everyone.

Shueisha boasts an array of captivating series with female protagonists like “Akane-Banashi” and “Ruri Dragon,” however, these aren’t filled with action like “Dandadan.” The backstory of “Dandadan” shows that even when a story offers all the elements a reader might desire, it can still be deemed unappealing to some because of its female lead. This underscores how limited our perceptions of an audience’s interests remain, particularly in relation to stories from a female perspective. There’s often the belief that male readers wouldn’t engage with such narratives or that they wouldn’t sell. In the same interview, Tatsu expressed his disappointment about not seeing a boy’s manga featuring a girl as the central character, and he has always aspired to create one in his own work.

Despite a gradual change over the years, shonen publishers are now accepting series with female leads. What sets Dandadan apart is that it premiered on Shonen Jump+, a platform that has emerged as a home for more innovative and diverse stories. Unlike traditional shonen publications like Weekly Shonen Jump, Shonen Jump+ hosts series such as Look Back, Kaiju No. 8, and Spy x Family, which offer improved female character representation or unique narrative structures.

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2025-07-29 21:19