If nothing else, Dandadan it was known for its wild action scenes and supernatural, mind-blowing circumstances but the anime adaptation may have given fans the best anime episode of 2024, focusing on none. Science SARU has proven itself with major anime series, incl Scott Pilgrim takes off, Japan sinksand Devilman Crybaby but it could have ended with episode seven of Yukinobu Tatsu’s anime adaptation. In addition to the heartbreaking story that makes up the seventh edition, Dandadan it also killed off a major character that many fans might not have predicted would drop this mortal coil.

Warning. If you haven’t yet watched the latest episode of DandadanEpisode seven, be warned we’re about to dive into serious spoiler territory. When we last left Okarun and Momo, they were joined by newcomer Aira as they battled one of the scariest creatures they’d ever faced. the spirit known as “Acrobat Silky”. With the ability to turn her hair into a weapon, the larger-than-life should believe that Aira is her daughter and was willing to do anything and kill anyone who stood in the way of cementing their family bond. While the acrobat might have looked terrifying, her backstory is so tragic that you might not be able to hold back the tears while watching Dandadan’s latest.

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RIP Aira

While both Momo and Okarun managed to survive being ingested by Acrobat Silky, Aira was not so lucky. As Turbo Granny explains, shonen heroes’ supernatural and psychic abilities protected them from losing their lives, but since Aira is just a “normal girl”, she couldn’t say the same. The anime heroes try to bring Aira back to life when her heart stopped, but their teamwork wasn’t enough in this case. Fortunately, last-minute assistance came in the form of an unexpected ally, Acrobat Silky herself.

To ensure that Aira lived, Acrobat Silky would have to give up her own aura. While the specter is certainly powerful, saving Aira’s life would mean the spirit would cease to exist altogether. Despite potentially losing both his life and his afterlife, Acrobat Silky makes the decision to give Aira her essence after anime fans witness the ghost’s backstory. Said backstory is one so heartbreaking and portrayed in such an emotional way that Science SARU might have the best anime episode of the year as a result.

Acrobat Silky’s backstory

Acrobat Silky wasn’t always a specter, but was once a normal woman with a child of her own. In a sad sequence, we see Silky’s human side trying to come together while making sure her daughter has what she needs to survive and thrive. In this flashback, we see the future spirit working hard to dance with her daughter, buying her a dress that caught her eye as she strolled through the city streets.

Unfortunately, it seemed that Acrobat ran into some unfortunate men, most likely due to the fact that he needed money to survive. The men in question violently attack Silky and kidnap her daughter, causing the would-be villain to wander the streets with horrific arm injuries. During her trance state searching for her daughter, Acrobat meets a young Aira, believing her to be her daughter and transforming into the powerful specter we were introduced to.

Aira’s heart stops in this episode, but Acrobat Silky, who eventually dies. Thanks to the ghost transferring its aura to Aira, the young human can live and as a result could receive supernatural abilities. Just as Okarun relies on Turbo Granny’s power, expect Aira to have some superpowers of her own based on what we’ve seen from Acrobat Silky.

You want to see what the future holds Dandadan? Follow along with Team Anime at ComicBook.com for the latest Momo and Okarun updates, and hit me up @EVComedy directly to talk comics and anime.