In a recent interview, Dandadan creator Yukinobu Tatsu revealed his deep attachment to Momo Ayase, calling her his favorite character and admitting that he often redraws her just to make sure she looks “cute enough.” His dedication is so strong that it can even significantly delay the final draft of the manga.
“My favorite character is Momo. If I ever feel that I haven’t drawn her as cute as I want her to be, I’ll redo the drawing over and over again, and it can really hold up progress on the final draft.”
For a fast-paced action manga like Dandadan that has a lot of supernatural battles and unique (weird) creatures, Tatsu’s dedication to Momo’s appearance and character certainly stands out, even translating into the anime. This shows that Momo isn’t just a supporting character, but that she’s a core part of Dandadan’s universe.
Momo was also the runner-up Fall 2024 Best Girl, only ranking behind Blue Box’s Hina Chono.
The Unexpected Comparison Between Momo and Superman
Tatsu didn’t just talk about Momo’s character, but he also compared her to DC’s Superman. While both of them have supernatural powers, he believes the real strength is in how they inspire those around them, both Momo in Dandadan and the Man of Steel in his own universe.
“Superman helps people with his superhuman powers, but I don’t think that’s the core of who he is. In the face of violence or injustice, ordinary people often look away. But Superman’s presence inspires people, giving them the courage to stand up against such evil. In the same way, Momo’s actions and words inspire those around her, motivating them to rise up, just like Superman.”
The interview was released as part of the MANGA Plus by SHUEISHA’s 6th anniversary celebration. Besides Yukinobu Tatsu (Dandadan), the second part of the interviews also included Masaoki Shindo (RuriDragon) Kenta Shinohara (WITCHWATCH). You can read all the interviews on their official website.
Finally, among other things, Yukinobu Tatsu was asked about memorable scenes from Dandadan. He said one of his favorite scenes was the cow getting abducted by a UFO, adding that he “just felt like everything came together perfectly in that moment.”
More About Dandadan
Yukinobu Tatsu has been writing and drawing the Dandadan manga since 2021. It is serialized on Shueisha’s Shonen Jump+ service, and is now one of their main series. There is a total of 18 released volumes as of January 4, 2025. The manga is currently on a 1-month hiatus, and it’s set to return on February 25.
The Dandandan TV anime (licensed as DAN DA DAN) premiered last October, with both Crunchyroll and Netflix streaming it. Studio Science SARU was in charge of the animation, with Fuga Yamashiro as the director. The anime was voted Best New Anime of the Fall 2024 season, while Season 2 by the same studio is set to premiere in July of this year.
After a supernatural encounter went wrong, Ken Takakura (now nicknamed Okarun) was cursed and gained yokai powers. They then met Aira who also ended up cursed with powers of her own. Jiji was the latest addition to the gang, and it seems there’s a pattern there as the latest Season 2 trailer teased his own transformation.
Source: MANGA Plus by SHUEISHA Official Website
Featured image:
DAN DA DAN ©Yukinobu Tatsu/SHUEISHA, DANDADAN Production Committee
Superman © DC Comics
Participate In Discussions