If nothing else, Dandan is known for its wild action scenes and supernatural, mind-bending circumstances but the anime adaptation could have given fans the best anime episode of 2024 by focusing on neither. Science SARU has proven itself with major animated series including Scott Pilgrim takes off, Japan sinksAnd Devilman Crybaby but they could have outdone themselves with episode seven of Yukinobu Tatsu’s anime adaptation. In addition to the heartbreaking story that makes up the seventh part, Dandan also killed off a major character that many fans might not have predicted would shed this mortal coil.

Warning. If you haven’t yet watched the latest episode of DandanEpisode seven, be warned we’re going to delve into serious spoiler territory. When we last left Okarun and Momo, they were accompanied by newcomer Aira as they battled one of the scariest creatures they had ever faced. the spirit known as “Silky Acrobat”. Having the ability to turn her hair into a weapon, the larger-than-life would have to believe that Aira was her daughter and was ready to do anything, including killing anyone, who stopped her from cementing their family bond. Although the acrobat may have seemed terrifying, his story is so tragic that you may not be able to stop crying while watching Dandadan’s latest film.

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RIP Aira

While Momo and Okarun managed to survive being ingested by the Silky Acrobat, Aira was not so lucky. As Turbo Granny explains, the shonen heroes’ supernatural and psychic abilities protected them from death, but since Aira is just a “normal girl”, she couldn’t say the same. The heroes of the anime try to bring Aira back to life when her heart stopped, but their teamwork was not enough in this case. Luckily, some last-minute help arrived in the form of an unexpected ally, Acrobat Silky herself.

In order to ensure that Aira lives, Acrobat Silky would have to give up his own aura. While the specter is certainly powerful, saving Aira’s life would mean the spirit would cease to exist entirely. Despite potentially losing her life and afterlife, Acrobat Silky makes the decision to give Aira her essence after anime fans witness the ghost’s story. This story is so heartbreaking and so emotionally depicted that Science SARU might just have the best anime episode of the year on its hands.

The story of Acrobat Silky

Acrobat Silky was not always a specter, but was once a normal woman with a child of her own. In one sad sequence, we see the human side of Silky trying to make ends meet while making sure her daughter had what she needed to survive and thrive. In this flashback, we see the spirit of the future working hard to dance with his daughter, buying her a dress that caught her eye as she walked the city streets.

Unfortunately, it seems that Acrobat ran afoul of some nefarious men, probably because he needed money to survive. The men in question violently attack Silky and kidnap her daughter, forcing the future villain to wander the streets with horrific wounds on his arms. During his trance state searching for his daughter, Acrobat comes across a young Aira, believing her to be his daughter and transforming into the powerful specter we were introduced to.

Aira’s heart stops in this episode but it’s Acrobat Silky who ends up dying. Thanks to the ghost transferring its aura to Aira, the young human can live and could well receive supernatural abilities. Just as Okarun draws on the power of Turbo Granny, expect Aira to have superpowers of her own, based on what we’ve seen from Acrobat Silky.

You want to see what the future holds Dandan? Follow Team Anime on ComicBook.com for the latest updates on Momo and Okarun and contact me directly @EVComedy to talk all things comics and anime.