Just like the first season of Dan Da Dan, studio Science SARU, in conjunction with Crunchyroll, is releasing the first 3 episodes of Season 2 theatrically bundled together under the name Dan Da Dan: Evil Eye. Not a traditional movie per se, the theatrical event begins with a combination of a five minute first-season recap. (The recap encompasses all 11 episodes of the first season, which leads into episode 12 from Season 1, of which we get about three quarters of the episode in its entirety). Evil Eye then seamlessly continues directly from the final cliffhanger of Season 1 into an action-packed first three episodes of Season 2, followed by a short Q&A with the series directors.

After discovering the secret behind the cursed house of Momo’s (Shion Wakayama) childhood friend Jiji (Kaito Ishikawa) and the treachery of the sinister Kito family, Okarun (Natsuki Hanae) and the duo land in a supernatural underground dwelling lorded over by a gigantic worm like creature that the Kito family serve as a deity. If that’s not enough, though, Jiji is lured in and possessed by the spiritual entity known as the Evil Eye, despite the protestations of a stowaway, Turbo Granny (Mayumi Tanaka), the macguffin who always seems to pop up with more knowledge than the group knows at opportune times, this time under the guise of wanting to visit the local hot spring.

Having a vindictive spirit possessing the goofy, and banal, but generally harmless Jiji certainly brings a new dynamic to the core group of Dan Da Dan. And I’m looking forward to seeing how the dynamic plays out over the second season. The first three episodes finish off the whole story involving the Kito family and the giant worm, but it doesn’t exactly leave Okarun and Jiji in a great space, so the events don’t seem anywhere near being finished. Nonetheless, the first three episode event here certainly does kick start the new season for fans with a bang.

For any fans who felt the smaller turnaround window may affect the quality of the season, let me put those fears to bed immediately. Dan Da Dan: Evil Eye packs the same level of execution that the first provided and more. The visuals are fantastic here, with a stunning drawn-out fight sequence between the transformed versions of Okarun and Jiji that inexplicably involves a soccer-like ball made of spirits and is better animated than the entire first half of Bluelock‘s second season. But the real treasure here is the sunken city. It’s a fabulously rendered environment that has its own set of physics and dynamics that prove to enhance the story and the fights. The voice cast remains unchanged from season one, and they are all in top form here as well.

Dan Da Dan: Evil Eye is certainly more theatrical showcase than feature, but that does not make it without merit. It’s a perfectly executed teaser for what looks to be a stellar second season to one of 2024’s biggest breakout hits. And while this might not be the best entry point for a new fan trying out the series, it doesn’t slow down to explain past pretense at all, it’s nothing but eye candy for the already converted. But not that Dollar Store brand candy that sounds like the name brand, no, we’re talking that more expensive stuff that has its store in the mall.