Dan Da Danhas premiered to critical acclaim, much to the delight of fans excited for one ofShonen Jump+‘sstrangest, most beloved ongoing manga. However, a major contributor to its eclectic style is the soundtrack composed by Kensuke Ushio, known for incredible and beloved hits likeChainsaw Man,Devilman Crybaby,andA Silent Voice.WithDan Da Danjuggling aliens and evil spirits in the modern day, Ushio-san had an interesting task in creating the representative sound of the hot new Shueisha adaptation.
As part of promoting theDan Da Dananime release, Kensuke Ushio appeared at Anime NYC’s panel, showcasing the English dub of episode #1 while giving the audience a glimpse into his style. It is fascinating to hear him infusing old Japanese enka styles, for instance, with a contemporary edge.At an especially memorable point of the panel, he stood up and began dancing to the rhythm.Kensuke Ushio left an exciting impression on the audience with his work onDan Da Dan’ssoundtrack, while also graciously appearing in an interview with Screen Rant alongside producer Hiroyuki Aoi.
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Summer 2024 is almost over, but to close it out, Science Saru dishes out the wildest ride of the season with the anime adaption of Dan Da Dan.
After the recent debut at the Dan Da Dan panel, regarding the creative process and your energy at the show, is your creative process often more geared toward being able to dance to your final product, or is that a more recent addition?
Kensuke: I dance at home, too. laughs When I work on a series or project, I create a concept, create an album, and present it to the staff.
What is the summary regarding the musical aesthetics, including what’s used in your sampling for Dan Da Dan? You mentioned sampling at the panel, but what are the different musical styles, decades, or eras used?
Kensuke: What I consider when creating music is that I don’t want to lie when making it. To give an example, if my client requests something jazzy, but I didn’t get inspiration from that field, I would usually say no. I really have to reach into what I’ve experienced and what’s a part of me when creating that music.
For sampling in Dan Da Dan, I looked into 1990’s UK “Big beat” music, like Prodigy, Fatboy Slim, and The Chemical Brothers, because that was the music that inspired me as a teenager.
What’s the usual turnaround time for your music output, depending on the project?
Kensuke: It varies. Usually, for a film, if someone asks for the soundtrack, two or three months would be the time frame to turn it around, but I don’t like that; when I get an offer, I would like to think about it, get involved, be immersed in the project. Ideally, I would like to work on it from ten months to a year. Basically, I don’t approach it like a soundtrack job, but rather, as an artist considering the music.
Like an artwork versus a project.
Kensuke: Exactly. And, when the client sets a deadline, then I work especially hard.
With your body of work, one can’t help but look back at Space Dandy and its infusion of different genres. Are the Dan Da Dan soundtrack’s similar techniques in any way related to your past contributions toSpace Dandy?
Kensuke: I only worked on two songs forSpace Dandy, and I’ve done a lot fromA Silent VoicetoChainsaw Man, but to me, they’re not all that different. What I’m doing is the same: I see the project through my own filter, so I don’t change my approach depending on the series, but rather, immerse myself into it.
For Aoi-san, helping promote the show and seeing how audience members react to it, how do you feel about the experience and how the music delivers it?
Hiroyuki: When we asked Ushio-san to take over the soundtrack, because it’s toward the beginning of the project, we don’t have any animation to show him. When the animation comes in, we take his music, fit each piece to each scene, decided by the various directors, but it’s just so amazing when it all comes together at once.
The music is crucial, and while the animation itself is great, fitting the soundtrack in is like a puzzle and it increases its quality exponentially. Ushio-san’s music is such an important element, so when he’s thinking about a project for eight months to a year, it really shows, becauseit’s so great.
Kensuke: verify this comment is in “bold.” laughs
How did you feel seeing people reacting to the music?
Kensuke: I don’t remember much other than that I started dancing. But I did rehearse beforehand for that moment. It was a good audience to begin with, but having Hanae-san and Wakayama-san got everyone excited. Japanese audiences show a different reaction from American audiences, so having Americans show their responses so directly was really great.
Thank you toKensuke Ushio & Hiroyuki Aoiand GKIDS for talking with us atAnime NYC!
Dandadan
Cast
Two high school students, embroiled in a wager to prove the existence of ghosts or aliens, encounter daunting paranormal threats, acquire superpowers, and possibly discover love. The series blends supernatural elements with personal dynamics as the protagonists navigate their newfound abilities and unexpected challenges.
