It's the beginning of the Spring 2022 Anime Season and the first anime that's caught my attention is Dance Dance Danseur. I was intrigued because it was a MAPPA production; they have produced some pretty visually stunning anime hits (Jujutsu Kaisen, Banana Fish, Yuri On Ice all come to mind) and while their track record isn't perfect (The Yuri On Ice Movie is in some weird limbo - completely missed the Winter Olympics potential crossover), I generally am pleased with their shows.
As a gay man, DDD's first episode really drives the idea of "what is manliness?" Junpei is the main character and he was inspired to do ballet at a young age, but then the pressures of society (his fellow students calling ballet "only for girls") and his father's legacy forced him to stop and instead pick up martial arts, which his father enjoyed and did for a living (he was a stunt...coordinator?). He does a spin for his friends at class to showboat and passes it off as a Jeet Kune Do move, his one classmate Miyako knows better and invites him to her mother's new ballet studio.
Junpei is at an impasse, does he continue this course of manly-man martial arts, or does he go where his heart wants, the sparkles of joy in dance?
I'm pretty invested after the first episode. I'm reminded of two different anime, firstly, the I'm sure there will be direct comparisons to Welcome to the Ballroom, which I thoroughly enjoyed. Just because both shows falls under the "other sports anime" category, doesn't mean they are the same. But I can see the similarities. The other anime I'm reminded of is My Dress-up Doll. Gojou, in that anime was ridiculed for liking (and designing) traditional Japanese dolls but continued his craft and his grandfather's legacy. It was only his classmate who brought him out of his shell to experience the world.
Clearly, there's a what if where Junpei could have gone Gojou's route, but his father's legacy kind of forced him at a young age to pivot. Now he's 13 or 14 and again at that life pivot point.
I'm definitely intrigued by this show, not only with the premise, but I think MAPPA did a good job on episode 1. I hope the quality level stays high the rest of the season.
Episode 1 Grade: A-
Season Verdict: Watch full season
Remember, you can keep an eye out on what I'm watching by following my MyAnimeList profile. I don't really read manga, but I pick up the odd issue here and there at the library.
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