The hit supernatural anime series Dandadan has a lot to offer, from its fluid animations to its quirky, exciting story. However, an impressive aspect is the incredible work done by the Western dub team. In fact, one actor shared how his personal interests helped him bring his character to life.
Aj Beckles, the voice of Ken Takakura (Okarun), explained in an interview that his childhood fascination with the occult plays a big role in his performance. If you're curious about how the English dub actors are nailing their roles, read more below.
How Their Interests and Experience Helped Dandadan Voice Actors Play Their Characters
In Dandadan, the main characters, Okarun and Momo, are at the center of all the crazy and wacky events that unfold, with their decisions and mishaps driving much of the story.
Okarun’s voice actor, A.J. Beckles, perfectly captures his character as a scrawny, curious nerd with a voice that cracks, especially when he encounters the occult.
On the other hand, Ayase Momo, the hopeless romantic Gyaru, is voiced by Abby Trott, who brings Momo to life with her natural delivery. Trott perfectly embodies Momo’s personality: easily irritated, overly sensitive, yet surprisingly pure.
In an interview with Screen Rant, alongside Abby, Beckles revealed that his early interest in the supernatural helps him connect with his character. When asked about influences on their performances, he shared: “There were a couple of things I thought about for sure. It reminded me of Stranger Things, Ghostbusters, but growing up, I loved space. I watched shows about aliens on the History Channel. I was a little nerd for that too, like Ancient Aliens, 'What's going on in Ancient Egypt?'”
It’s interesting to note the parallels between Dandadan and Stranger Things, as both explore themes of extraterrestrial creatures and feature awkward kids stumbling through life in a world much bigger than they are.
While Abby Trott didn’t share the same childhood interests, she did mention her previous role as Junichi, a character who also had a passion for the paranormal, much like Momo. This experience helped her shape her portrayal of Momo’s character.
Where to Watch Dandadan's English Dub
If you're new to Dandadan and prefer to watch it in English, you're in luck! New dubbed episodes are released the same day as the subbed versions.
You can catch all the available episodes on Crunchyroll, Hulu, and Netflix, with new episodes airing weekly.
When asked which format they prefer, sub or dub, fans often say both. A big part of this is thanks to A.J. Beckles and Abby Trott, whose stellar performances have set a gold standard for the show.
How are you liking Dandadan so far? Let us know in the comments below!
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