If there's a current anime that's constantly on the verge of collapsing under the weight of its own ambition, it's Dan Da Dan. Not only are the stakes high regarding its production values, forcing studio Science Saru to hit consistent home runs if they want to compete with the standard they set early on, but it also walks a narrative tight rope act as well.
Dan Da Dan's mix of freewheeling science fiction, touching emotional pathos, and oddball humor makes it tricky to not only describe but to nail down tonally as well. How far can you lean in one direction before this blend loses its effectiveness? How many ingredients can you add before it becomes less of a show and more of a parade of weirdness?
