10 Biggest Similarities Between Dandadan and Mob Psycho 100 (2025)

Dandadan was one of the biggest hit anime of fall 2024, captivating fans with its goofier take on shonen anime mixed with paranormal action. However, it wasn't the first anime to take this route. Before Dandadan came to life, there was Mob Psycho 100, which told the tale of an ordinary boy named Shigeo Kageyama with psychic powers. Though Shigeo started off on his own, he gained friends along the way and grew into the person he always dreamed he'd be.

Mob Psycho 100's manga and anime may have both met their end, but their influence shows clearly in the ongoing anime and manga of Dandadan. These two series have plenty of similarities, from their characters to story elements. This has led Dandadan to feel like a modern Mob Psycho 100, bringing a pleasant sense of nostalgia to this new anime.

10 Okarun and Mob Are Overlooked By Their Peers

These Two Boys Start Their Journeys Alone

In the beginning of Mob Psycho 100, Shigeo Kageyama is mostly alone, despite his psychic powers. He has parents and a brother who he isn't particularly close to. He also has no friends at school, though there is a girl he has a crush on. He works Reigen Arataka's exorcism business, Spirits and Such, but Reigen is more of a mentor than a friend. Shigeo blends into the crowd so much he's given the nickname Mob. However, he wants to stand out and have friends.

Likewise, Ken Takakura may share his name with a famous actor, but he's far from being recognized by his classmates. He has no friends, so he often dreams of making contact with aliens so he can befriend them instead. His classmates may notice him, but it's only because they pick on him, even throwing things at him just to see his reaction. It isn't until Momo Ayase comes into his life that Okarun realizes he might be able to make friends after all.

9 Goofy Humor Keeps the Tone Light

Serious Scenes Mix with Hilarious Jokes

Mob Psycho 100 has its fair share of serious moments. Shigeo can commune with spirits, helping them move on to the next life. He also has to face off against fellow espers and spirits who have less than the best intentions for Shigeo and his friends. However, the series mixes the serious with the lighthearted by adding in silly moments, such as Reigen and Shigeo cross-dressing as high school girls or Shigeo accidentally shaving Teruki's head after a fight.

Dandadan has a similar tone. Okarun and Momo have to face off against aliens, ghosts, and youkai on a daily basis, but that doesn't mean they don't have time to be a little silly. For example, after their school is attacked by aliens, Momo, Okarun, and Aira have to flee from their classmates in their underwear or no clothes at all. Likewise, Okarun received his powers in an outrageous way, after having his penis and balls stolen by Turbo Granny. By mixing the hilarious with the serious, neither tone feels too overbearing, creating a perfect combination of the two moods.

8 Conspiracy Theories Prove to Be True

This Supernatural World Is Far From Simple

Mob's world is full of espers and ghosts. When things take a turn for the strange, it's usually because the supernatural is involved. Reigen Arataka makes a business out of looking into ghost hot spots and exorcising spirits that prove too dangerous, though the hard work is usually left to Shigeo. Early in the series, there's even a ghost in a tunnel that Mob and Reigen decide to check out, eventually exorcising the spirit housed within.

Dandadan's world is equally full of the supernatural, although not all the characters in the show are aware such things exist. In the beginning, Momo believed in ghosts but not aliens, while Okarun believed in the opposite. To prove to each other that ghosts and aliens are real, the two decide to go to two different hot spots: one where youkai can be found, and another where people keep getting abducted by aliens. Momo and Okarun were in for a huge surprise when they discovered both aliens and ghosts did exist by getting abducted and cursed, respectively.

7 The Protagonists Are Given Unique Nicknames By Their Friends

Shigeo and Ken Are More Commonly Known By Their Nicknames

Shigeo Kageyama received his nickname, Mob, when he was younger and began working for Spirits and Such, under Reigen's guidance. Thanks to Mob's unassuming looks and nature, he easily blends into the crowd, just like a background character. Thus, Reigen began calling Shigeo "Mob" instead, not that Shigeo seemed to mind. Many others call him Mob over the course of the series.

In Dandadan, Okarun's real name is Ken Takakura, like the famous actor. However, Momo Ayase struggled to take him seriously without her heart skipping a beat because of his name. Her celebrity crush was the actor Ken Takakura after all. In order to work alongside Okarun, Momo had no choice but to call him Okarun instead, based on his love of the occult. Momo still gets tripped up when someone calls Okarun by his real name instead.

6 A Lonely Boy Makes Friends Over Time

Shigeo and Okarun Don't Stay Lonely for Long

At the beginning of Mob Psycho 100, Shigeo lived up to his nickname. His presence was noticed about as much as a background character. He had no friends. He kept a safe distance from his family. The closest thing he had to an ally was his mentor and boss, Reigen. Over time, Shigeo decided to reach out to others, interacting with the occult club at his school, joining the bodybuilding club to get stronger, and even making friends with his brother and other fellow espers.

Likewise, Dandadan's Okarun started off on his own as well. He eventually gave up on making friends with his peers, instead hoping that he could make contact with aliens and become their friend. Momo Ayase changed everything when she came to defend him and dared him to go to the tunnel where Turbo Granny was in. Since then, Okarun has gained mentor figures in Turbo Granny and Seiko Ayase, and a best friend and crush in Momo Ayase. Over time, Okarun is bound to make more friends, achieving what he once thought impossible.

5 The Public Overlooks the Supernatural

The World Doesn't Notice Ghosts, Youkai, and Aliens

In Mob Psycho 100, people with psychic powers exist, although they're called espers, and each have their own unique powers. However, the public seems to believe psychic powers are a thing of fantasy. Ghost sightings are occasionally taken seriously, but most are thought to be something fun to check out. However, espers exist in this world, as do ghosts. They should be taken seriously with their power, but the public never seems to take notice of them.

The same could be said for Dandadan, although there are actually consequences for those who interact with the supernatural. Those people end up getting cursed or unlocking latent powers. Okarun and Momo took them lightly and faced the consequences. The same could be said of Aira, who became aware of the supernatural when she came in contact with one of Okarun's golden balls. Aliens also have the ability to separate the supernatural into a different plane of existence, keeping the public oblivious to the world of the ghosts and aliens.

4 A Powerful Spirit Becomes an Ally

Dimple and Turbo Granny Join the Good Guys

Dimple was a villain introduced early in Mob Psycho 100. He was the head of Cult LOL, where he attempted to become a god. However, he was unable to bring Shigeo under his influence and make the boy laugh. When he tried to fight Shigeo, Shigeo used the full extent of his psychic powers to bring Dimple back under control. Dimple was sure that Mob would be the one to bring him to godhood, but eventually became a sort of strange ally instead.

Turbo Granny met a similar fate. She was first revealed when Okarun wandered into her tunnel to prove to Momo that ghosts didn't exist, but ended up cursed by her instead. It took several episodes of working together, but Momo and Okarun seemed to finally defeat Turbo Granny. However, it was revealed her consciousness hid inside Okarun. He got his penis back, but not his testicles. However, Seiko Ayase pulled Turbo Granny's consciousness out of Okarun and sealed it in a lucky cat. Since then, Turbo Granny has done her best to help Okarun get his balls back, even if she still causes a little trouble along the way.

3 Psychic Powers Make a Difference

These Supernatural Gifts Aren't to be Laughed At

Mob Psycho 100's world is full of espers. These gifted souls have psychic powers that can take any number of different forms, including telepathy, telekinesis, and even controlling animals. Espers are strong enough to take on ghosts and exorcise them. Sometimes, they can even transfer their powers to others, like how Shigeo's powers are temporarily transferred to Reigen after a long fight with the members of the Claw organization of espers.

Okarun may not have psychic powers, but Momo Ayase does. They were unlocked after an encounter with the Serpo Aliens that awoke powers hidden deep within Momo. Even her grandmother tried to insist psychic powers didn't exist, but Momo proved her wrong. Thanks to her powers, Momo can keep up with Okarun on the field of battle, even if her human body doesn't have the same stamina or durability as Okarun's Turbo Granny-powered form. She can create psychic limbs with her powers and even reach inside others with their might. Momo and Shigeo may be physically weak, but their psychic powers more than make up for it.

2 The Mentor Figure Is Eccentric and Supportive

Seiko and Reigen Support Their Allies in Their Own Ways

From a young age, Shigeo began working for Spirits and Such as the psychic brawn behind Reigen Arataka's fast-talking brain. Shigeo wanted a place to belong and to feel like his powers didn't make him so different from his peers, and Reigen did his best to make sure Shigeo felt accepted. Along the way, there were times when Reigen's selfish nature won out, causing him to say some hurtful things to Mob in order to buff his own ego. However, Shigeo never stopped believing in his mentor, who he believed to be the coolest.

Seiko Ayase takes on the mentor role in Dandadan. In addition to being Momo's grandmother, she also helps look after Okarun. She was the one to help Momo and Okarun defeat Turbo Granny the first time, as well as the one to drive Turbo Granny's consciousness from Okarun's body. She may be a little foul-mouthed and enjoys teasing Okarun and Momo, but she truly cares for her granddaughter and the friend she's made. She's even bonded with Turbo Granny over time as well, just like how Reigen bonded with Dimple once the spirit began following Mob around.

1 A Supernatural Boy Faces Adolescence and the Supernatural

The Otherworldly Makes Growing Up Even Harder

Deep down, past the over-the-top action and supernatural powers, Mob Psycho 100 is a coming-of-age story of a young boy. Shigeo may have psychic powers, but the story also focuses on his need to make friends and relate to his family. He falls in love for the first time, even if his feelings don't work out the way he'd like. Shigeo grows over the course of the series, growing in strength and beginning to believe in himself. He became the sort of person he wanted to be from the beginning.

Dandadan is far from over, but it's easy to see that adolescence and growing up are key themes in the narrative. Okarun goes from a lonely boy who only believed in aliens to a strong individual who does his best to protect those he cares about. Momo learns to fight for things other than boyfriends and fashion. First love begins to blossom, though it's hard to say where that relationship will end at this time.

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Dandadan

TV-MA

Animation

Action

Adventure

Comedy

Fantasy

Release Date

September 13, 2024

Creator(s)

Yukinobu Tatsu

Cast

Natsuki Hanae , Shion Wakayama , Nana Mizuki , Ayane Sakura , Kaito Ishikawa , Mayumi Tanaka , Kazuya Nakai , Kaori Maeda , Miyu Tomita , Ryûnosuke Watanuki , Hikaru Tanaka , Seitaro Taniguchi , Satomi Kobashi , Mayuko Kazama , Ryuuzaburou Ootomo

Main Genre

Animation

Seasons

1

Studio

Science Saru

Creator

Yukinobu Tatsu

Number of Episodes

9

Streaming Service(s)

Crunchyroll , Netflix , Hulu

Based On

Manga

MyAnimeList Score

8.71

Character(s)

Ken Okarun Takakura , Momo Ayase , Seiko , Aira Shiratori , Jin Jiji Enjōji , Turbo Granny , Serpoians , Miko , Muko , Momo's Boyfriend , Male Student A , Male Student B , Elementary School Boy , Flatwoods Monster

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