herminia81 - 2016-06-30 07:22:37

My review of Space Dandy includes both season 1 and 2 of the series. Feel free to come check out my 1700+ word review directly on my blog in the link below! Thank you for reading and your support!

http://otakunurse.com/2016/06/30/review-of-space-dandy-what-did-i-just-watch/

cvonrueden - 2015-03-26 21:04:58

What can I say about Space dandy? I could say that it’s about a dandy guy in space, but that’s overdone. So instead, I’ll ask you if you like Futurama. If so, then this anime and it’s sense of humor will instantly click with you, but if not, than I still think that it does enough to be worth a shot anyway.

--Story--
Space Dandy is about a man named Dandy and his two companions meow and QT who make a living off of finding new and rare species of aliens in space. Space Dandy does not feature an overarching long running plot, (or at least yet) so the show relies on the plot from episode to episode. This is great because this is honestly where it really shines. Each episode will have a beginning, middle and end, and then wash, rinse and repeat. The show heavily relies on comedy to pull it through, but also parodies a lot of science fiction movies and series’ such as groundhog day and it even manages to make one of the only zombie episodes that I actually cared about because it actually did something funny and interesting with the zombie apocalypse  trope.

--Animation--
The animation is absolutely fantastic. It looks similar to something like Kill la Kill and Gurren Lagann, and if you’re animation style is being compared to those two then you are doing something right to say the least.The animation is bright, colourful, fluid and unique. It manages to capture the grand sweeping scenes and also the smaller slower moments and add creativity and flair to keep it more interesting. It successfully manages to change it’s own art style at moments when a certain joke demands it and I can do nothing but applaud Bones for creating one of the best looking anime I've ever watched.

--Sound--
The sound is memorable, jazzy, catchy and weird in all of the right places. Just like the animation, I can find literally no downsides. I love it when an anime (such as cowboy beebop and battle tendency) have a jazz soundtrack filled with saxaphone and other brass. Even better is the fact that it fits this anime so well that it’s unbelievable. It can sound weird and strange to fit the alien side of things and build atmosphere, but it can also sound comedic or even tense at moments.

--Character--
Every character in this anime is memorable. Theres the lovable jackass Dandy, the sarcastic freeloader Meow, and the one that keeps them all in check (but often fails to and ends up getting himself in trouble) QT. The side characters even get some surprise character development which is always welcome as long as it doesn't get in the way of the jokes. It adds another layer that makes it more than just “some comedy that fills time”.

--Enjoyment--
I loved Space dandy and everything that it did. It was an absolute joy to watch as long as you don’t expect to be watching something along the lines of Evangelion. The anime doesn't take itself too seriously but does have a tonne of slowness and character development hidden in certain episodes. The thing that I like about this tactic is that the show doesn't show this in your face or try to be artsy. The only real criticism that I can give to series 1 of space dandy is that not everyone will like it. Other people will instead prefer something extremely deep with a lot of serious plot threads, twists, turns and action.  

dovie.dach - 2015-02-17 00:21:44

"He's a dandy guy, in space.

One thing's for sure, this is one dandy show.

Not gonna lie, Space Dandy is like most anime comedies; ridiculous, random, and not really going anywhere. Nevertheless, it's still fun and enjoyable, so if you're into comedy, definitely make time to watch this.

I'll say Space Dandy isn't for everyone. It's trippy, strange, and full of fanservice. You have to be a real weirdo (like me) to get down with this anime. Despite a few obvious cliches, it's certainly one-of-a-kind. The animation is unique and fluid, and the soundtrack is funky and unforgettable. You'll be dancing to the opening every time.

Dandy and his crew are silly and actually rather dense but not so much so that they're annoying. Their colorful personalities clash well with each other and makes whatever situations they find themselves in all the more hilarious. Although the show appears to be utter nonsense, Space Dandy actually has a little bit of everything. Action, a hint of romance, sci-fi elements, even serious, emotional scenes.

I'm a bit biased toward this type of anime, but Space Dandy is worth watching.

myrtice.fisher - 2014-12-10 00:34:56

I mean....... Shinichirô Watanabe..........
Well would you expect anything less from the same director that brought us Macross Plus, Samurai Champloo, and, oh yeah, a little series called Cowboy Bebop. Not to mention his current work on Zankyou no Terror and not-so-current work on The Animatrix ( a personal favorite). As far as I'm concerned Watanabe could do a series voiced entirely by meth heads, draw it in crayon and macaroni art, have Morimi Tomihiko do a cameo episode, and pass it off as a revolutionary, industry changing, piece of art. 

oh yeah and I guess Shingo Natsume had something to do with this too....

hershel47 - 2014-05-18 14:18:04

Space Dandy Review

I'll admit, I boarded the hype train for this show as soon as I heard about it. An anime with Watanabe at the helm, the writers of Cowboy Bebop, and Yoko Kanno doing the music (and bones animating)? Sign me up! The I watched the first episode and realized I should probably stop seeing this show as the next great work by Watanabe, and just as another show. Even after adjusting my expectations, I still came out pretty disappointed, mainly because I see so much potential in this show and it just falls short every time.

But before I rip this show a new one, how about we talk about what Dandy did right. For starters, I loved the presentation and style of the show. The show felt very distinct, like something I haven't seen before (you'll hear that a lot during this review, because it's probably what this show is best at, being different), and I love having that feeling while watching an anime. It makes it feel like a totally new experience, and in this case Dandy was certainly an experience. The sheer unpredictability of this show makes it very entertaining, and I absolutely loved that each episode stood out in some way (not always good mind you). Sometimes it was the music that stood out, sometimes the story, and sometimes the Animation. Perfect examples would be episode 13,where the music got all Daft Punk on us (very robotic), which was fitting considering it was a love story about a robot. Episode 5 had a very calming score, while the plant episode had some trippy animation. I like that about Watanabe, he knows how to make an episodic show. He knows how to keep his shows fresh, which is needed in an episodic anime, as they usually don't have the story or character development to keep you wanting more. Simply put, this show has a lot of style, which is always a good thing.

The bigger problem with Dandy is the writing, which is odd, considering this was the ONE place I thought it would succeed. It was written by Dai Sato and Keiko Nobumoto, among others. I assume they didn't write all of it themselves, but the fact that the "Vest vs Undies" episode got through them AND Watanabe (and the actual director) is beyond me. Half these episode were plain bad, uninspired, and forgettable story wise. While I applaud the times where Dandy is very unpredictable and crazy, it makes the less crazy episodes feel like they are missing something. I remember watching episodes 5 and waiting for some out of the ordinary to happen, but I never got it; instead we got a cookie cutter story about dandy trying to help some little girl. It was generic, cliche, and I hated it. It's a shame the writing couldn't keep up with the awesome style and creativity of the rest if the show. And that includes the characters, which compared to other episodic stories weren't charming or memorable. Dandy was fine, but neither Meow nor QT were any good, even after their respective episodes.

As a whole, I liked Dandy more than I hated it, because I'm one who thinks style and presentation can make it break a show, and Dandy deliver on both fronts. I never felt bored with the show (besides with the writing), usually just disappointed by it. Not always of course, the Race episode and the Zombie episode were great, as was the final episode, even if it didn't feel like much of a finale (which it isn't, since it's getting a second season). For the time being, this show will get a 6/10 from me, because while the show wasn't great from a writing standpoint, it had enough creativity and style to make it enjoyable most if the time. This show really showcases why I watch anime, for something different, creative, and stylish, not necessarily well written (though that is important too), which are all things that are lacking in most media now a days.

What do I want to see out of the next season of Dandy? For starters, better writing. Maybe make some better episodic stories or maybe try to connect the crazy mess they've made for themselves, either route will make this show good IMO, but if they keep giving us crap like Vest vs Undies and Runaway kids, the second season will be a forgettable and average as this one.

rocio.yost - 2014-03-31 08:16:45

During the time I've spent watching anime, there has been times where all I want to watch is some stupid, yet entertaining show that I could kick back, relax, and watch instead of the shows that I had been watching at the time. Enter Space Dandy, the show I had been hoping to see.

Space Dandy is a show about a Human named Dandy, a robot named QT, and a Betelgeusian nicknamed Meow. The show was created by Shinichiro Watanabe, known for directing smash hits such as Cowboy Bebop and Samurai Champloo, and more recently, Kids on the Slope.

Now, before we start, Space Dandy is NOT like Bebop. Far from it.

From the first episode, you'd think you're in for a fun and wacky action show. But after the first episode, that's not the case. The show focuses more on the comedy than the action, sometimes there's barely any action in the show. But, this doesn't mean the show is bad. The show is actually quite good for the most part. It's a zany show, and it uses this zaniness to its advantage.

---STORY---

The show is quite episodic, even to the point where the characters die episode after episode, only to be back the next episode as if nothing happened. This works in the shows favour, as it gives the writers the ability to make episodes about practically anything, like Lost children, Space Racing, Ramen, and Boob Monsters. Yeah. Monsters made out of Boobs. Sadly, it seems as if the writers didn't want to step out of their comfort zone too much, with the weirdest episode being the aforementioned Boob Monster episode. Due to this, I give the story a 6/10.

--ANIMATION--

The animation for Space Dandy was done by Studio Bones, who previously had done some animation on Cowboy Bebop. The animation is vibrant and fluid, but that's not the end of it. The animators know when to go all out when they need to, with the first episode having the trippiest action scene I've ever had the pleasure of watching. It's a joy to watch.

Animation gets a 9/10.

---SOUND---

The soundtrack was sadly forgettable, and by the end the only songs that I could fully remember would be Toonami OP, ED, and the Japanese OP "Viva Tears". The other songs are great, but I can't say that I would put it on my iPod or anything like that.

Here's the Japanese OP.

If there's one thing that the sound department succeeds in, it's the Dub. Space Dandy was simuldubbed by Funimation, and aired it on Toonami hours before it aired in Japan. Ian Sinclair was a perfect fit for Dandy, with a deepish male voice. QT was voiced by Alison Viktorin, who's voice was autotuned, giving QT's voice that robotic feel it needs. Meow was voiced by Joel McDonald, who gave the character a laid back and relaxed voice, exactly what I thought Meow would sound like. Sound gets a 6/10.

---CHARACTERS---

The characters were a joy to watch, due to most of them being goof balls. Their personalities fit them perfectly, I wouldn't have it any other way. Their dialogue is also well written, with the character speaking in a manner that you'd expect them to speak in. There's one problem I have with the characters. Most of them are one time appearances, as expected from an episodic show. Still, I would've liked to see more of characters such as the kid from episode 5 or Prince in the racing episode.

Characters get an 8/10.

---ENJOYMENT---

At the end of the day, I quite enjoyed Space Dandy. It doesn't need to be deep and thought provoking, it's just something that you can sit down and watch after a long day at work or school. Sometimes the show dragged on and was unenjoyable, but times like that were few and far between. Enjoyment gets an 9/10.

---OVERALL---

After adding all my scores together, dividing the answer by 5, rounding it to the nearest whole number, and then dying for no reason only to be alive the next week, I give Space Dandy an 8/10. If you're looking for a show that you don't have to think about, this is for you. If you're looking for a show similar to Bebop, stay away.

alejandra77 - 2014-03-28 04:43:21

Plot: 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!

Story: The story of Space Dandy is really non-existent in the first season. Basically, you follow the crew around as they try to catch aliens. Throughout the series you learn very little about the war that is going on or anything else except of Dandy's alien catching high-jinks.

Animation: The animation really stands out in this show. The show overall is very well animated whether it be the planets or space itself. Both the scenery and the characters are very well animated.

Sound: Nothing about the sound track outside of the opening really stands out in the series. But, the dub of Space Dandy is very good and i feel all of the cast did a great job with their characters.

Characters: Throughout season 1 of Space Dandy you really don't learn much about the characters. Almost non of the main characters back story is talked about and their motivations are left mostly unclear. So one can watch the episodes in almost any order they want without missing anything to important.

Enjoyment: I really enjoyed Space Dandy and i hope season 2 develops the story and characters into something that is amazing. Space Dandy is basically a series that is based on all the funny episodes of Cowboy Bebop such as the Mushroom Samba episode of the for mentioned series. Overall, Space Dandy is worth the watch because it is interesting and very well animated.

abdiel03 - 2014-03-21 17:21:50

Shinichiro Watanabe's Spectacle that is Space Dandy

What can be said about Space Dandy that cannot be covered in the first 5 minutes of the first episode, 4th wall breaking opening with one of my favourite opening tracks i've heard it really seeks to capture the style and Heart of this Anime, At the core of this Anime lies it characters which are Space Dandy he is a Dandy in space and very much the core of the anime a weird cross between Spike Spiegel and Kamina with an over the top nature and a Mild obsession with attractive and top heavy women. The voicing is spectacularly done by Ian Sinclair who captures the zany nature of the character very well. Next is QT a robot and Space Dandy's Friend and Sidekick (for want of a better word) and is also outdated and Prone to issues like Memory Shortage and Battery Failure and is also the voice of reason amongst the crew of The Aloha Oe and is voiced by Alison Viktorin who i only really knew prior to this as Luo from Darker than Black, but she does a very good job in balancing out Sinclair's role especially with it's over the top nature, Finally is Meow (Real Name Merowmreowreow I think? that's what it sounded like anyway!) a giant space cat also known as a Betelgeusian a giant cat that is also a pervert as in the first 5 seconds of seeing him you will understand why! and he is voiced by Joel McDonald who also voiced Jacuzzi Splot (Baccano!) and Kilik Rung (Soul Eater) plus many other roles and again he only adds to this stellar voice cast. Also adding to the amazing cast is The Narrator voiced Robert Bruce Elliot who really has the star role pretty much, the story is about Dandy but it's the narrator that really makes this one for some of the funniest lines in this anime. The Soundtrack as i said is one of my favorites in a long time and the Animation quality being produced by Studio Bones i pretty knew what i was going to get which is that the animation quality is extremely high and it is a very vibrant anime with lots of colour, Now the only place this anime really suffers is in it story because it's episodic and quite strange sometimes so the over arching story is very difficult to see with everything else going plus the episode have a large disconnect with one another especially the first episode, so if your looking for something with an amazing story then i cannot suggest this other than episode 5 where the anime delivers a very dramatic episode and expands upon the character of Dandy so although the overall story does suffer in parts, the individual episodes themselves as self contained stories are genuinely quite good and episode 5 really illustrates this as subtracts the usual level of boobs and trade this for a more heartfelt story , however if your looking for something lacking an overarching story but a great episodic style that is also funny with a great art style, great sound and characters, something enjoyable then i can highly recommend this anime. I tend not to care but i watched it in dub due to the fact that it's simulcasted and can recommend the Dub because much like Black Lagoon i think the subbed version detracts from the anime itself but thats just my personal opinion.

renee.corwin - 2014-02-06 14:55:43

This show is incredible. Not many shows get away with breaking the 4th wall within 3 minutes and it wasn't even that subtle. I don't usually laugh at animes that much, but when I do, it's probably as funny as Space Dandy.

dare.jennings - 2014-01-10 07:49:48

I’ll be perfectly honest. I was scared when I started watching Space☆Dandy as not only was it the big ultra-hyped show of the season, it was also at a risk of being a show relying only on pointless fan-service to draw in a fanbase. After all, seeing as I’ve been quite let down by a lot of shows in recent memory.

Luckily, I was wrong to have those fears, because this show is the dandiest show of this year so far and the only show this season where I have already watched an episode twice.

Space☆Dandy tells the story of the dandiest man in the universe; Space Dandy. He’s an alien hunter who travels across the galaxy along with his robot sidekick QT and finds alien species that are not yet registered as existing. Throughout the first episode we get to know Dandy, QT and a third character who’s a double reference to Douglas Adam‘s The Hitchhiker’s Guide to Galaxy.

We also get to see the intergalactic “breastaurant” called Boobies, an obvious Hooters parody, which is the big meet-up point for all alien scum across the universe. While there’s plenty of imagery and jokes relating to the female anatomy in this first episode, it’s mostly done in either a funny or a inoffensive way.Though I’ll admit that it got a little bit gratuitous and distracting after a while, though Bahi JD who worked on the show promises that the show is not all boobies as it moves on.

What’s interesting about the production of the show is that the dub releases before the subtitled version comes out, allowing us to compare the two directly. The dub is actually surprisingly good and is worth watching if you for some reason would prefer not having to read things, though unfortunately there was one major thing lost in translation during the scene at the Boobies joint regarding the character of Honey the waitress, which you can also read about on Bahi JD‘s tumblr. The music was also stellar, with the great OP and ED unfortunately missing from the dub.

Episode 2:

[Edited]Following a fun first episode, Space☆Dandyjumps right into the second episode without a single pause for thought. In fact, the ending of the first episode doesn’t even end up being addressed in the second episode, they just move on. A weird move, but I’ll run with it for now.

Specifcally, the second episode is about Dandy and his crew searching for an ancient alien who, according to legend, makes the most amazing ramen in the universe.

The events of the episode follow the crew trying out ramen at different stores around the galaxy in order to find the right one. We’re also introduced to new characters and get to learn more about Meow’s interests

The episode is not as funny as the first episode was. But unlike the first episode it felt more focused and ended on a scene that was Cowboy Bebop levels of good. The amount of fan-service this episode was less if measured in time, but more gratuitous in the actual content. Boobies (the breastaurant) return yet again, as does the character of Honey. Neither seem to have changed much at all since last episode, so you’ll know what to expect.

The soundtrack and voice acting is still top-notch and the art is just as good as last week. While there’s no big set-piece action scene like the planet sequence in the first episode, it makes up for it by having Dandy visit more alien worlds and meeting more species that we’ve not seen before.

There’s also a beautifully made fight scene at one of the ramen stores that was better than the chase at Boobies last week, though it wasn’t as funny as the latter was.

While Space☆Dandy remains a fun show, I felt that this episode was a step down in some ways. Had it not been for the great ending scene I’m not sure I would have liked the episode as much as I did.[Edited]

I’m looking forward to seeing more of Space☆Dandy in the coming weeks, this first taste was a lot of fun and I can see it become a classic if the quality keeps up.

(will update frequently)