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Science SARU’s anime adaptation of Yukinobu Tatsu’sDandadanwas one of, if not the most anticipated anime series of 2024. It turned out to be a massive success, with the exploration of the developing relationship and abundant chemistry between thecentral pairing of Ken “Okarun” Takakura and Momo Ayaseserving as one of the series' most engrossing aspects aside from its combination of the supernatural and the paranormal.
Shion Wakayama and Natsuki Hanae do a brilliant job of bringing the characters and their colourful dynamic to life in the original Japanese, and their English dub counterparts are also incredibly talented. Here’s why Abby Trott and A.J. Beckles were the best casting choices for the English dub ofDandadan.
Introducing the English Voice Actors of Momo and Okarun
Both Voice Actors Debuted in the 2010s
Abby Trott started her careeracting in puppet showsin Japan before moving to the United States. She joined Bang Zoom! Entertainment after winning an online voice acting contest, moving to Los Angeles and working on various anime, animation, and anime. She has been a voice actor since 2015, with her first anime role being Veronica Liones inThe Seven Deadly Sins, but her more famous roles include Nezuko Kamado fromDemon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, Yoh Asakura from the 2021 reboot ofShaman King, Kasey Ann in Bones' original net animationSuper Crooks, Shizuka Mikazuki inZom 100: Bucket List of the Deadand Tokiyuki Hōjō fromThe Elusive Samurai.
A.J. Beckles is Trott’s colleague at Bang Zoom! Entertainment, where he has worked on various anime, animation and videogames since 2017, with his debut role being Michizo Tachihara inBungo Stray Dogsseason 4. Beckles' first main character role would come in 2021, when he playedShiki Tademaru inKemono Jihen, but he has several other prominent roles under his belt, including Takemichi Hanegaki inTokyo Revengers, Jaxon Cross/Blader X inBeyblade X, Gremmy Thoumeaux inBLEACH: Thousand-Year Blood Warand Griffin Arbalest inMobile Suit Gundam SEED Freedom(2024).
What Makes Them The Perfect English Dub Momo and Okarun?
Understanding the Heart of Dandadan
What makes the pairing of Abby Trott and A.J. Beckles such a good choice for the English dub ofDandadanis the fact that it seamlessly feels like an English-translated version of the original dialogue between Momo and Okarun. The sense of their dynamic is effectively and completely transferred through the way the voice actors riff off each other. They are also able to bring this dynamic away from the recording booth and unleash it at will, channeling their respective characters in a unique, improv’d way without losing sense of who the characters are.Momo and Okarun’s dynamic is engagingfrom the beginning, and the way the series explores the romantic possibilities is measured, making sure not to outshine the amazing friendship developing between the characters. The relationship between Momo and Okarun is arguablyDandadan’sstrongest and most vital component, without which the other parts of the story would lose their radiance.
It is their, by extension, the series',wide-eyed exploration of the supernatural and the paranormalas it unfurls before them for the first time that sets the stage for the rest of the developments. Their relationship is the very heart ofDandadan. Abby Trott is immensely talented, and her love for the character shows, with her performances accentuating aspects of Momo’s character that she respects the most, like her bravery. A.J. Beckles' incredible level of control over his voice enables him to paint a highly convincing, grittyOkarun when he undergoes the Turbo Granny transformation; a performance that feels like it was done by someone else entirely.
How Does Momo and Okarun’s Dynamic Compare to the Japanese Version?
Interesting Parallels Become Apparent
In the Japanese version, Momo and Okarun are voiced by Shion Wakayama and Natsuki Hanae. While Hanae is something of a veteran voice actor at this point, with lots of experience playing various characters of a similar personality profile to Okarun. Hanae playedTokyo Ghoul’stortured protagonist Ken Kaneki,Summer Time Rendering’sShinpei Ajiro, Tanjiro inDemon Slayerand Falco Grice inAttack on Titan: The Final Season. Hanae, interestingly, has the role of Gremmy inBLEACHin common with Beckles. His experience creates a situation in which the relative newbie Wakayama can feel more comfortable with the gravity of this main role, one for which she appears to have been a divine insight of a casting.
However, in the English dub, the voice actors have been in the industry for roughly the same amount of time, so the sense that they are peers may also be felt through their performances together. The English dub ofDandadanis incredible, and it is, like the Japanese version and the anime production as a whole, another interesting case in which the understanding ofthe importance of the central relationshipof the series has yielded immense reward, once again highlighting the brilliance of the series.
Dandadan
Cast
Based on Yukinobu Tatsu’s popular manga that debuted in 2021 on Shonen Jump+, Dandadan blends action, comedy, romance, and supernatural thrills to create a unique and satisfying adventure. Momo Ayase and Ken Takakura believe in the extraordinary, although the former believes in ghosts and the latter believes in aliens. Determined to confirm their side’s existence, they set out to find their proof.
