At a recent sit-down with Temple of Geek, members of the English voice cast of “DAN DA DAN” opened up about the whirlwind of comedy, chaos, and heartfelt emotion that goes into bringing the series to life. Known for its genre-bending blend of supernatural action, absurd humor, and deeply emotional character dynamics, “DAN DA DAN” has quickly become a standout in the anime world. The actors behind the voices shared how they approach the show’s outrageous shifts in tone, what makes their cast so special, and why fans keep connecting to its heart.
The English Cast of “DAN DA DAN” Talk About Their Incredible Chemistry
Temple of Geek asked about the process of bringing the characters’ chemistry to life, and the cast didn’t hesitate to credit each other.
“I could not imagine a more perfect Okarun in the English dub,” Abby Trott (voice of Momo) shared. “When I hear AJ’s performance, it’s so endearing—it makes it easy to respond to as an actor. And Lisa (Reimold)? Incredibly talented. Plus, Barbara (Goodson), her Turbo Granny transition is phenomenal. They make my job easy.”
The praise extended to their director, Alex Von David, who helps the actors balance authenticity with the chaotic tone of the series. “Alex will throw out code words during recording. Sometimes it’s, ‘She’s ugly now, she’s mean—be super ugly.’ Or he’ll say, ‘Give me shark teeth, Momo.’ Those cues are hilarious, but also incredibly helpful. He knows exactly how to ground us in the character.”
The Extreme Moments
With “DAN DA DAN’s” blend of comedy and heartfelt drama, delivering extreme emotional swings is part of the job. “As actors, we have to convince ourselves that things are real and true,” Abby explained. “The trickiness of this show is making the voice match the wild energy of the animation. Luckily, we have the luxury of multiple takes, a great director, and the incredible Japanese performances to guide us. They set such a strong foundation for us to build on.”
And, of course, there are moments when the comedy takes over. “Every recording session, something makes me break,” Abby admitted with a laugh. “AJ (Beckles)’s screams always get me—they’re so over the top. And then there was Barbara’s line, ‘You dumb bitches.’ I didn’t hear it until I watched it in the theater, and I completely lost it. That was my favorite moment.”
Do the English Cast Relate to Their Characters?
When asked if any part of their characters has rubbed off on them, the cast had mixed feelings. “I hope not—she’s crazy!” Lisa Reimold (Aira) joked. Abby added “But I relate to Momo in a lot of ways, even though I’ll never be as cool as her.”
AJ Beckles (voice of Okarun) reflected more earnestly: “I kind of want to be more like Okarun—altruistic, always doing good for the sake of doing good. Those are qualities I admire and want to bring into my own life.”
The Core of the Series is Found Family
At the heart of DAN DA DAN is something more than ghosts, aliens, or absurd comedy—it’s the theme of found family. The cast agreed that this is what makes the series resonate most deeply.
“One of my favorite things about anime growing up was the sense of 仲間 (Nakama), you know that friendship and found family,” Abby said. “Even when characters don’t get along, there’s this bond that reminds you you’re never truly alone. I hope fans see themselves in these characters.”
AJ added a personal note: “I was adopted when I was younger, so the idea of found family is really close to me. That’s why I loved shows like Naruto. DAN DA DAN carries the same spirit—showing that no matter how isolated you feel, there’s someone out there who will understand you. Okarun’s journey in season two—learning he deserves love and friendship, and that he wants to protect it—is powerful. I hope fans take that message with them.”
Why Fans Keep Coming Back
At the end of the day, “DAN DA DAN” is more than just absurd humor and chaotic action. It’s a series that offers something for everyone—ridiculous comedy, heartfelt emotion, and characters that stick with you.
As the cast summed it up: “The show has everything. It’s crazy, it’s funny, it’s heartfelt. And that’s why people love it.”
