Dandadan is one of the most highly anticipated returning anime series of 2025 and its made a shocking statement with its Season 2 premiere: the most terrifying enemies aren't the supernatural creatures lurking in the shadows. They're the ordinary people who've lost their humanity.
While Season 1 introduced audiences to a wild world of aliens, yokai, and paranormal chaos, the second season's opening episode delivers something far more unsettling through the introduction of the Kito family.
The shift is immediately apparent. Gone are the cartoonish alien invaders and mischievous spirits that defined the series' early episodes. Instead, the Kito family has been sacrificing people to a giant man-eating earthworm cryptid that lives beneath the house for centuries, all in hopes of appeasing the God of the volcano near their hometown to prevent it from erupting.
Warning - The rest of this article contains spoilers for the first episode of Dandadan Season 2.
When Tradition Becomes Terror
What makes the Kito family particularly chilling isn't their supernatural abilities or otherworldly appearance but their normal functioning in society. The family members seem more like a cult, and Jiji's home houses much more than a simple spirit haunting.
They're ordinary people who've become trapped in a cycle of ritualistic murder, convinced that their actions serve a greater purpose. Their belief system has warped reality to the point where human sacrifice becomes necessary.
This represents a significant evolution in Dandadan's storytelling approach. The threats faced by the characters in Season 1 were external—alien invasions and yokai encounters that could be fought and defeated.
The Kito family's horror comes from within, rooted in generations of indoctrination and blind faith. They've created their own mythology around appeasing supernatural forces, turning their home into a sacrificial altar where the Kito Family have still been sacrificing people to the Great Serpent Lord for 200 years.
The Most Disturbing Moments Aren't Supernatural
The first episode's most unsettling sequences don't involve the Mongolian death worm or psychic battles. They center on the Kito family's casual approach to violence and their predatory behavior.
Momo is left exposed in the hot spring, forced to fend off the five predatory men, showcasing how the family's corruption extends beyond their ritualistic practices into everyday cruelty.
This grounding in real-world horror makes the supernatural elements feel secondary. The true terror lies in watching how ordinary people can rationalize the most heinous acts when they're wrapped in tradition and religious fervor.
The irony? The Kito family doesn't see themselves as villains. They're convinced they're heroes protecting their community from volcanic destruction.
Evolution Beyond Paranormal Comedy
Dandadan Season 2's premiere uses the Kito family as a lens to examine how cult-like thinking develops and perpetuates. Their isolation has created an echo chamber where dangerous beliefs go unchallenged for generations.
The family's willingness to sacrifice outsiders, including Jiji and his parents, demonstrates how in-group loyalty can completely override basic human empathy.
The episode's horror comes from recognizing that these aren't fantastical monsters, but people who could exist in the real world. Their motivations, while extreme, follow a logical progression from fear to superstition to violent action.
It's a chilling reminder that the most dangerous threats often come from those who believe they're doing the right thing.
This tonal shift signals Dandadan's maturation as an anime series. While it retains its signature blend of action and humor, Season 2's premiere proves the show can tackle more serious themes without losing its identity.
The Kito family arc promises to explore how ordinary people become complicit in evil, how tradition can be weaponized, and how isolation breeds extremism.
The contrast with Season 1's pilot involving more lighthearted supernatural encounters makes this evolution even more striking. Dandadan has proven it can deliver genuine horror alongside its trademark chaos, creating a more complex viewing experience that resonates beyond simple entertainment.
As the series continues, the Kito family's introduction suggests Dandadan Season 2 will challenge viewers to confront uncomfortable truths about human nature.
Sometimes the real monsters are the ones who look just like us—and that's the most terrifying revelation of all.
While you wait for the second episode's release, check out other popular anime airing this summer in our guide!
