Dan Da Dan has done it again! Just when you think you’ve seen everything from this show, it blindsides you with pure, raw emotion. Dan Da Dan episode 7 will go down in history as one of the most stunning, artistic, emotional episodes of the season. Rest in peace, Acrobat Silky.
"Dan Da Dan" Episode 7 Continues with Acrobat Silky
Episode 7 resumes the fight with an enraged Acrobat Silky. Momo and Okarun race around the factory in a harrowing chase sequence. Acrobat Silky pursues them using her hair like trapeze wire to strike at unpredictable angles. It’s a wonderful sequence with dynamic camera work that keeps Acrobat Silky on the fringes of the frame to heighten the tension.
Acrobat Silky takes out Okarun and is about to consume Aira. However, she realizes her hair is tangled from the chase. She can’t move. Momo keeps her immobilized while Okarun gets serious and fires off a devastating headbutt. Acrobat Silky goes flying and the environment returns to its normal colors, marking the end of the fight. The victory is short lived, though.
A Devistating Backstory
After Turbo Granny finds Okarun’s golden ball, she informs them that Aira is dead. She lost her life when she got swallowed by Acrobat Silky. Momo and Okarun try a cardiac massage and CPR, but nothing works. Aira no longer has aura. Without aura, the human body is lifeless. Then Acrobat Silky approaches them, offering to fuel Aira’s aura with her own. Momo doesn’t fully trust her, but with no options left, she uses her psychic hands to link Acrobat Silky and Aira. In doing so, Acrobat Silky’s memories rush into Momo’s mind and we see how she became a yokai.
The following scene is nothing short of a masterpiece. It’s good enough to be its own short film. Barely a word is spoken, but the whole story is animated in beautiful detail with a moving soundtrack that perfectly reflects the emotions of the scene. We come to understand everything about Acrobat Silky. This includes why she’s called that, her obsession with Aira, and the reason behind her red dress. It all culminates to a breathtakingly tragic conclusion. It needs to be seen to be believed.
The aura transfer works and Aira revives. In exchange, however, Acrobat Silky begins to fade away. Turbo Granny explains that without an aura and with regrets still tethering her to the mortal world, Acrobat Silky will fall into the void, forgotten by both living and dead. Then, Aira rushes in and embraces Acrobat Silky. It turns out Aira as a little girl had mistaken her for her own deceased mother. Both are bound by the loss of someone they love. Aira says the words Acrobat Silky always wanted to hear, allowing her soul to be at peace and move on to a kinder world.
Final Thoughts
Watch the episode first-hand. Not just for its emotional catharsis, but also for its artistry and storytelling. The fight scene is incredibly good with tons of little details and smooth animation. The standout moment, without a doubt, is Acrobat Silky’s backstory. The anime took those twelve pages of manga and recreated them in a masterpiece of animation. Its praises cannot be sung enough. Every detail, every movement, and every shot was focused on delivering this story. The best part is that it didn’t feel forced or manipulative. Dan Da Dan may be an action shounen rom-com at its heart, but the way it presented Aira, Acrobat Silky, and the situation felt completely natural. Ghosts and tragedy go hand-in-hand, so this won’t be the last time we see heart-wrenching drama.
Occult Corner
The Afterlife: As Acrobat Silky is fading, Turbo Granny explains that her lingering attachment and regrets from the living world prevent her from peacefully entering the afterlife. Instead, Acrobat Silky would have been condemned to be completely forgotten. This concept is pretty common in ghost mythology, solving a ghost’s regrets to help them move on. However, in the manga, Turbo Granny says Acrobat Silky won’t be able to achieve “nirvana.” Broadly speaking, “nirvana” is the ultimate goal of Buddhism. It describes a state of detachment from all greed, hatred, and ignorance and signifies the end of the cycle of rebirth. For Acrobat Silky, the inability to remain in the mortal world but also unable to rest in peace would have made her existence impossible, which is probably what Turbo Granny meant by “the void.”
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