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Dandadan season 2 is back and wilder than ever, but it is not just the supernatural chaos and fast-paced storytelling grabbing fans’ attention. The latest opening theme, “On The Way” by AiNA The End, has arrived with a bang. It is soft, chaotic, and impossibly catchy, fitting the anime’s strange, heart-racing energy like a glove.

What is surprising is how it matches, if not rivals, the season 1 opening, a fan-favorite in its own right. Sequels often struggle to replicate that first burst of magic, but “On The Way” via @animeDANDADANen on X somehow channels the same electric vibe while bringing its own unhinged brilliance to the table. And fans are here for every second of it.

A Theme Song That Matches Dandadan's Wild Energy “On The Way” Hits Harder Than Fans Expected It's here— the all-new Opening Theme for #Dandadan Season 2, "On The Way" by AiNA The End! ðŸ...

As the weekend approaches, it's time once again for the Bam Smack Pow team to bring you the biggest anime news of the past week. This week, we're ramping up to the Summer 2025 anime season with new trailers and information, and taking a look at a showcase of the career of the one of the most important figures in the history of anime.

More information about Dan Da Dan season 2

Last week, Bam Smack Pow reported that the Dan Da Dan movie Evil Eye trailer went live. The movie itself will be a special early look at the first three episodes of the anime's second season, released as a compilation movie. This week, the official trailer for the full season of the anime has been released, which you can watch above.

Also notable is the announcement from Netflix that "On The Way", the opening for Dan Da Dan season 2 will...

Season 1 of Dandadan might have stolen the hearts of everyone and their grandparents with its awesome plot, action, animation, and overall perfection. But Creepy Nuts made the experience 10x better with their opening theme song, Otonoke. It perfectly captured the chaotic energy of the series while elevating the overall experience.

The beat and rhythm of he music were surprisingly refreshing and suited the anime’s over-the-top atmosphere. It is fast-paced, with a distinct rapping style, and the flow and diction truly stood out. Needless to say, fans were expecting Creepy Nuts to appear again for the anime’s second season.

Dandadan season 2 chose not to bring back Creepy Nuts Creepy Nuts made everyone sway to their tune in season 1 of Dandadan | Credit: Science Saru

After Creepy Nuts’ awesome performance in Dandadan season 1, a majority of fans wanted the Japanese hip hop duo to return with another banger for the anime’s second season.

Dandadan Season 1 hit us hard with that “neon-fueled” energy. It was a mix of yokai spookiness, silly humor, and straight-up alien craziness, with Momo and Okarun winning our hearts. The animation by Science Saru was on another level, dazzling us with vivid colors and energy in each scene.

But let’s be serious, the real highlight was “Otonoke” by Creepy Nuts, that bomb of an opening song that caught our ears and became the spirit of the show. It was everywhere on playlists, and fans were even using it in edits all over the place.

Now, since Season 2 is coming out on July 3, 2025. We did get a new trailer that left us with the shocker, that Creepy Nuts is out, and we have got a new track in. And it’s a real bummer as Dandadan might not feel like Dandadan without that same opening theme.

“Otonoke” was the heartbeat...

The official website of Dandadan anime unveiled the second promotional video for the series’ upcoming second season on May 19, 2025.

The Pv previews the new opening theme song, titled ‘Kakumei Douchuu’ (On the Road), performed by Aina the End.

Singer-songwriter Aina the End commented on her involvement with the project, stating:

“I had the pleasure of writing the new opening theme ‘Kakumei Douchuu’ for Dandadan Season 2. I’ve been a huge fan of the original manga and Season 1, so I’m incredibly grateful for this opportunity.

In the song, I poured in the emotions of someone running forward and fighting to protect what’s important to them, while carrying a sentimental love in their heart.

It reflects the inner feelings of Momo and Okarun, and I hope it can also push forward those who may be feeling lost. It’s a song I truly love.”

The anime’s second season was confirmed for July 3, 2025, release.

Wit Studio producer Ryoma Kawamura -- especially well-known for his work producing Attack on Titan Season 3 -- has asked Netflix to do more to promote the anime studio's upcoming anime series on the platform, Moonrise.

As seen in a recent X (formerly Twitter) post on his official account, Kawamura wrote, "Please do your best to promote it. I can't do it on my own. Seriously please!!" he added. "It's still buried deep. Red N Company!! It's time to show the world your power!"

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Moonrise is coming soon!

Netflix just unveiled a new trailer and key art at this year’s AnimeJapan, ahead of the premiere on April 10, 2025.

The event also revealed additional voice talent, including AiNA The End as Mary, Misaki Yamada as Rhys Rochelle, Katsunori Okai as Georg Landry, Yu Kobayashi as Eric Baker, Kosuke Takaguchi as Osma, Arisa Kori as Inanna Zinger, Yuka Terasaki as Zowan, Satoshi Yamaguchi as Duan, Masaki Aizawa as Bob Skylum, Takehito Koyasu as Wise Crowne, Mie Sonozaki as Doctor Salamandra, Arisa Sekine as Windy Sylph, and Shin Aomori as Novice Harbinger.

Keep reading to find out more…

Here’s the official logline: “What happens when Earth’s peaceful existence clashes with the Moon’s fight for independence? Premiering on April 10, Moonrise unfolds on a grand scale, adapting the novel by Tou Ubukata (author of “Tenchi Meisatsu” and series composition/scriptwriter for Fafner in the Azure and Psycho-Pass) to explore this question.

The upcoming film Mononoke the Movie Trilogy: Chapter 2: The Ashes of Rage is heating up, with its official social media account revealing fresh details. The latest update includes new cast members, a striking main visual, and a trailer that gives us a deeper look into what’s coming.

Set to hit Japanese theaters on March 14, this second installment continues the Mononoke saga, following up on Mononoke The Movie: Phantom in the Rain, which premiered in July 2024. The first film, which is streaming on Netflix, took home the Axis: Satoshi Kon Award for Excellence in Animation at last year’s Fantasia International Film Festival.

The new cast lineup includes Ryō Horikawa as Fujimaki, Naomi Kusumi as Katsunuma, Yoshiko Sakakibara as Suikōin, Yukana as Sayo, and Atsumi Tanezaki as Sachiko. Previously announced additions include Chō as Yoshimichi Tokita and Kenyuu Horiuchi as Rōjū Ōtomo.

Mononoke fans will be happy to know...

The official YouTube channel for Japanese singer AiNA The End has started streaming a music video for her latest 18th digital single song "Love Sick." The mysterious tune was produced as the theme song for the theatrical anime film Mononoke the Movie: Karakasa, which opened in Japan on Friday, July 26. This is her first theme song work for an anime feature film. Yuki Tsujimoto, known for his Mv works for NAMBA69, UVERworld, and Chanmina, directed the music video. The clip consists of two scenes representing yin and yang, light and darkness, and depicts a heart broken by a sweet disease, but struggling in the dark in search of the light of love. Tsujimoto said on X (formerly Twitter) , "It was a pleasant production period from beginning to end, and during the shooting, people were glued to the monitors as if they had discovered a fantastic creature, and many people were...

Following the recipe he implemented for “A Bride for Rip Van Winkle” and “Last Letter”, of shooting movies based on his own novel, Shunji Iwai has come up with “Kyrie”, a 3-hour movie that details the story of its three main characters over the span of 13 years. At the same time, it functions as a promotional piece for the idols in the cast, mainly Aina The End whose songs are heard throughout.

Kyrie is screening at Nippon Connection

The movie starts in the present, but eventually unfolds over several different time axes. In the present, Kyrie, a mysterious girl who only whispers except when she is singing, is trying to become a professional musician, but has no luck, even having to live on the streets. Eventually, another girl her age approaches her, Ikko, who immediately convinces her to become her manager, with the two soon sharing an apartment.

It turns...

A spin-off of the original anime series, Ayakashi: Samurai Horror Tales, Mononoke is undoubtedly one of the most peculiar original anime series we have on the market. It is an avant-garde series focusing on the supernatural, incorporating elements of mystery and psychological horror, as the series focuses on the unnamed traveling apothecary who is stingy with words. He travels with his medicine cabinet and a box containing a spiritual sword whose pommel is adorned with a monkey’s head, fighting numerous supernatural enemies along the way.

The original anime series ran for 12 series in 2007 but the series is coming back with a feature-length anime movie titled Mononoke: Karakasa, which is going to be released on July 26, 2024 in Japan. Today, a new trailer and a lot of new information has been released, so we are going to report everything to you here.

The Mononoke anime movie was announced back in 2022, as...

Toho Animation's long-awaited anime adaptation of the popular light novel series The Apothecary Diaries has received a new update.

A new trailer for the upcoming series, which highlights its animation and provides a more detailed look at its plot and characters, has been shared by studio Toho Animation. The series will premiere later this month with the first three episodes.

Related: To Be Hero X, The Apothecary Diaries and More Find Streaming Home at Crunchyroll

Based on the light novel series of the same name, The Apothecary Diaries revolves around Maomao, a quick-witted young girl with an extraordinary knowledge of medicine who is kidnapped one day and unexpectedly finds herself at the imperial palace. Her encounter with the head eunuch, Jinshi, brings her into a world of secrecy and danger, as she must serve as a lady-in-waiting to the Emperor's favorite consort Gyokuyou, tasting her food to detect poison.