If nothing else, from danda known for its crazy action scenes and supernatural, mind-blowing situations but by not focusing on either, the anime adaptation may have given fans the best anime episode of 2024. Science SARU has proven itself with major anime series including: Scott Pilgrim Takes Off, Japan SinksAnd Devil Cry Baby but they may have hit their peak with the seventh episode of Yukinobu Tatsu’s anime adaptation. In addition to the heartbreaking story that makes up the seventh episode, from danda it also killed off a major character that many fans wouldn’t have guessed would throw this mortal coil.

Warning. If you haven’t watched the last episode yet from dandaEpisode Seven, be forewarned as we’re going into serious spoiler territory. When we last left Okarun and Momo, they were accompanied by newcomer Aira as they battled against one of the scariest creatures they had ever encountered. The spirit known as “Acrobat Silky”. The extraordinary man with the ability to turn his hair into a weapon must believe that Aira is his daughter and be ready to do anything and kill anyone that stands in the way of strengthening family ties. Although the acrobat looks scary, his past is so tragic that you may not be able to hold back your tears while watching Dandadan’s latest movie.

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RIP Aira

Although both Momo and Okarun managed to survive being swallowed by Acrobat Silky, Aira was not so lucky. As Turbo Granny explained, shonen heroes’ supernatural and psychic abilities kept them from losing their lives, but since Aira was just a “normal girl” she couldn’t say the same. The anime heroes try to bring Aira back to life when her heart stops, but teamwork is not enough in this case. Luckily, last-minute help comes from an unlikely ally, Silky the Acrobat.

To ensure Aira lived, Acrobat Silky would have to give up her own aura. While the ghost is certainly powerful, saving Aira’s life would mean the spirit’s complete end to existence. Despite potentially losing both his life and his afterlife, Acrobat Silky decides to give his essence to Aira after anime fans witness the ghost’s past. Said backstory is so heartbreaking and so emotionally portrayed that, as a result, Science SARU might have the best anime episode of the year.

Acrobat Silky’s Background

Acrobat Silky wasn’t always a ghost, but she was once a normal woman with a child of her own. In a harrowing sequence, we see Silky trying to make ends meet with her human side while also trying to ensure that her daughter has what she needs to both survive and thrive. In this flashback, we see that the spirit of the future is working hard to dance with his daughter, and that he bought her a dress that caught his eye while walking on the streets of the city.

Unfortunately, Acrobat appeared to have run afoul of some nefarious men, most likely due to needing money to survive. The men in question violently attack Silky and kidnap her daughter, leaving the future villain wandering the streets with horrific wounds on his arms. While searching for his daughter, the Acrobat encounters a young Aira in a trance, believes her to be his daughter, and transforms into the powerful ghost we meet.

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

I want to see what the future brings from danda? Follow Team Anime on ComicBook.com for the latest updates on Momo and Okarun, and hit me up directly @EVComedy to talk all things comics and anime.