The second season of Space☆Dandy.
Space Dandy is a dandy guy, in space! This dreamy adventurer with a to-die-for pompadour travels
across the galaxy in search of aliens no one has ever laid eyes on. Each new species he discovers
earns him a hefty reward, but this dandy has to be quick on his feet because it's first come, first
served! Accompanied by his sidekicks, a rundown robot named QT and Meow the cat-looking space alien,
Dandy bravely explores unknown worlds inhabited by a variety of aliens. Join the best dressed alien
hunter in all of space and time as he embarks on an adventure that ends at the edge of the universe!
(Source: Bandai Visual)
img1000(https://gonzonyan.files.wordpress.com/2014/10/oxhwpst1.png?w=520) *Note: This review is about the series in general, not just Season 2* Boobies and butts make the universe a pretty awesome place to exist in. How is this so? Just ask Dandy himself, and he could tell you all about it in glorious enthusiasm. This Dandy I speak of is named Space Dandy. Imagine if you mixed the best of western and eastern humor in TV animation shows and combined them into one neat package. That should tell you that Space Dandy destines to be different and fresh without making an overly big deal about it. Regardless, you certainly can’t beat this hot, fun garbage series with other garbage entertainment, anime or otherwise. It should be noted that Space Dandy is not a Shinichiro Watanabe-directed anime in its purest sense, the director of such classics as Cowboy Bebop and Samurai Champloo. Even though he is the overseas chief director for the show, this is essentially a conglomerate of different anime directors putting their directorial spin on the series. That should tell you that Space Dandy does not follow any direct narrative from point A to point B. Episodic episodes spliced together to follow Dandy and his band of various misfits create a western-style animated series vibe that can be nostalgic for those of us growing up as kids watching these shows day by day. So if you thought this was going to be a Cowboy Bebop-style show, be thankful that you will be getting the filler episode portions of Bebop. img1000(https://gonzonyan.files.wordpress.com/2014/11/spacedandy12_02.jpg) Nevertheless, that should not entail that Space Dandy is nothing more than a comedic version of Bebop. In actuality, it brings forth a unique style to formulate charm to its humor and characters. Almost all jokes prevalent in Space Dandy hit all of the notes perfectly with nicely done comedic timing, and on top of it, they don’t just make all of the jokes onto one subject matter. Sure, the main focus of Space Dandy’s comedy is purely sexual with its constant pandering over butts and boobs, but once you further yourself into the show, you’ll realize that it is not the case. Many tropes are satirized from what you would typically see in any animated show with male characters like Dandy, always getting what he wants at the end that quickly falls flat over him. There are genuine surprises thrown in here and there. For instance, it is probably one of the few anime you will ever see with its musical number. Even with its comedy, the writers delve into introspective subject matter that becomes insightful while still maintaining its humor without exemplifying it. Rarely would I ever applaud a show for being able to achieve both of these elements. The reason is that the jokes are written in a very clever fashion its intricate pacing and punchlines. Never is there a dull moment between the hilarious banter of Dandy and his friends. img1000(https://gonzonyan.files.wordpress.com/2014/11/sdep3pic_1.png) Dandy is quite the protagonist in keeping the show at an evenly paced comedy with his larger-than-life charisma and presence. Generally, a man who constantly obsesses over booty and tits can be grating over some time. Dandy is an exception because they do not shove the obvious joke down our throats continuously, although in some parts, they do, especially in the earlier episodes. He proves himself to be an exceptional main character, but that’s not to say he’s the only one who can do that in Space Dandy. After humiliating him in the first episode, Meow, Dandy’s right-hand man, isn’t similar to Dandy in terms of personality. Meow would be the one to set him straight to focus on their missions, even though Dandy himself isn’t a total idiot in most cases. QT, Dandy’s robot sidekick, is the same way in this aspect, where he is always trying to keep things in order over Dandy’s typical behavior. These leads are lovable because of the perfect chemistry between them and Dandy. Even when their relationship seems atypical, goofy trite at first glance, they eventually warm up to be a match made in heaven. img1000(https://gonzonyan.files.wordpress.com/2014/11/space-dandy-wallpaper-hd-images-3-hd-wallpapers.jpg) What good is it to talk about Space Dandy without mentioning its elaborate music? Zilch. I will speak in no hyperbole whatsoever in stating that Space Dandy has the most infectious Opening I’ve enjoyed listening to. The word contagious is meant in the most positive sense possible. Newcomer Kensuke Ushio made himself quite a success story in 2014 with this and also composed for Ping Pong The Animation. The opening itself sets the mood for the entire show and lets you know that fun is about to come your way like any other good opening does to any other show. One crucial thing to note is the artistic direction and how diverse the animators decided to put into creating this very elaborate, kooky universe. All of the alien creatures are unique in design, a mix mash of previously imagined aliens and putting in their vision. The elegant colors are set with great care, so Space makes Space Dandy pleasing to the eyes. It also helps that the animation is nice and fluid to further the aesthetic to new heights. Also, because there are multiple directors for each episode, some even put their artistic vision into the spectrum. One notable is Masaaki Yuasa, director of The Tatami Galaxy and Ping Pong The Animation, who filled in one episode for animation direct in episode 3 and put a whole different spin on the series in terms of animation. img1000(https://gonzonyan.files.wordpress.com/2014/11/sd43.jpg) There is nothing like Space Dandy that you often see in anime. In some ways, it’s Japan’s answer to western animated TV shows and saying, “Hey, we can make episodic goofy comedies just like the rest of y’all!” Whether that was their true intention, it speaks volumes by analyzing how Space Dandy can work both as a satire or a genuine comedy. Japanese anime purists may watch this with disdain because it's not the archetypal anime, even though we are used to comedy standards. If you’re willing to give credit where credit is due for a Japan-produced nostalgia trip of the late-’90s to early 2000s animated shows, look no further. Grade: A-
