Dead Dead Demon's Dededede Destruction (Japanese: デッドデッドデーモンズデデデデデストラクション, Hepburn: Deddo Deddo Dēmonzu Dededede Desutorakushon), also abbreviated as DDDD, is a Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Inio Asano. It was serialized in Shogakukan's seinen manga magazine Big Comic Spirits from April 2014 to February 2022, with its chapters collected in 12 tankōbon volumes. Viz Media licensed the manga for English release in North America. The story follows two high school students struggling with the mundanity of life after an alien spaceship appears over Japan.
A two-part anime film adaptation produced by Production +h. premiered its first part in March 2024, with the second part premiering in May of the same year. An 18-episode original net animation (ONA) series edition of the films streamed worldwide on Crunchyroll from May to September 2024.
By March 2022, Dead Dead Demon's Dededede Destruction had over 3 million copies in circulation. In 2021, the manga won the 66th Shogakukan Manga Award in the general category, as well as the Excellence Award of the 25th Japan Media Arts Festival in 2022.
Plot
Three years before the events of the story, on August 31, an alien spaceship appeared over Tokyo. Although it has not attacked, the Japanese government, seeing it as a potential threat, unsuccessfully tries to destroy it. The situation leads to a cold war between the humans on Earth and the invaders in the mothership above the Tokyo skyline. There is further conflict between political groups who want to eliminate the aliens, called "warctopuses," and those who want to negotiate peace, called "peacesquids." Despite the tense and precarious state of the world, high school students Koyama Kadode and Nakagawa Ouran live their lives with some semblance of normalcy. The focus of the story is not on the alien invasion but on human nature and growing up in a turbulent and uncertain world.
A third-year high school student and later university student who is a fan of the in-universe manga Isobeyan. She is of average height, has short black hair, and wears red glasses. Kadode has been best friends with Ouran since she was ten years old and calls her "Ontan." Despite her father, Nobuo, going missing on 8/31 and her friend Kiho dying in an incident involving an invader spacecraft, she has little interest in politics or the invaders.
A third-year high school student and later university student who is Kadode's best friend, she has oval-shaped eyebrows, is often seen drooling, and has long, black hair that she wears in pigtails with skull-shaped clips. Although Ouran is eccentric, friendly, and expressive in public, she tends to show her true self only to her friends and family. Ouran enjoys video games and dreams of bringing about the downfall of society and enslaving the human race. She values her friendship with Kadode above all else, calling their bond "absolute."
A fellow student at Kadode's and Ouran's high school who is also friends with Ai and Rin. She is short, sports a bob haircut, and has very thick eyebrows. As the most recent girl to join their friend group, she sometimes feels left out amongst the other girls. Her boyfriend is Kenichi Kohiruimaki. During the new year's holiday, she dies when an invader spacecraft is shot down over her apartment.
She was a friend of Kadode and Ouran in high school and university. She is of short, round stature and has small eyes and oversized glasses. Ai cares very little about the cold war between humans and the invaders, investing most of her time into caring for her five younger brothers. Her best friend is Rin.
A tall, lean, and angular girl who is a friend of Kadode and Ouran at high school and in university. Although she is almost always silent, Rin is noted to be a major fan of boys' love manga.
Futaba Takemoto (竹本 ふたば, Takemoto Futaba)
Voiced by: Azumi Waki[7] (Japanese); Chelsea Miller[5] (English)
A young woman from Hakui, Ishikawa, moves to Tokyo and attends the same university as Kadode, Ouran, Makoto, Rin, and Ai. She has distinctive pink blush marks and an oval-shaped nose. During orientation, she bonds with Kadode over their shared love of Isobeyan and joins her friend group. Futaba came to Tokyo in order to become involved in the "peacesquid" movement, which advocates for the safety and rights of invaders.
A student at Kadode and Ouran's university who moved from Hakui along with Futaba. Although Makoto is a boy, he loves dressing in women's clothing and wearing a blond wig. He wanted to be seen as an idol, so he moved to Tokyo in order to escape small-town gender norms and found an accepting group of friends in Futaba, Ouran, Kadode, Rin, Ai, and Oba.
A teen idol who disappeared on 8/31 and whose body was possessed by an invader. Oba befriends Kadode and Ouran, who quickly learn that he is an invader impersonating a human.
Kiho's anxious and terminally online boyfriend. Kenichi is radicalized following the death of his girlfriend and forms a vigilante group intent on killing off the invaders.
Kadode and Ouran's high school teacher, who has a stoic and pessimistic demeanor, after their graduation, Kadode pursues a brief romantic relationship with him.
The titular character of the in-universe manga is Isobeyan. A parody of Doraemon, he is a humanoid mushroom who gives Debeko various gadgets in a misguided attempt to help her solve her problems.
A parody of Nobita Nobi in the in-universe manga Isobeyan. She is a careless and unintelligent girl who uses Isobeyan's gadgets to solve her problems, which usually backfires.
Dead Dead Demon's Dededede Destruction, written and illustrated by Inio Asano, was first announced with the tentative title Honobono Fūfu (ほのぼの夫婦, "Tender-hearted Couple").[10][11][12] The manga started in Shogakukan's seinen manga magazine, Big Comic Spirits, on April 28, 2014.[12] The series went on hiatus multiple times.[13][14][15] It finished on February 28, 2022.[16][17] Shogakukan collected its chapters in twelve tankōbon volumes, released from September 30, 2014,[18] to March 30, 2022.[19]
In March 2022, it was announced that the series would receive an anime adaptation produced by Production +h.[53] It was later confirmed to be a two-part film adaptation directed by Tomoyuki Kurokawa, with a screenplay by Reiko Yoshida, character designs and chief animation direction by Nobutaka Ito, and music composed by Taro Umebayashi.[54][55] The first part premiered in Japanese theaters on March 22, 2024.[4] The second part was originally scheduled for April 19, but was later delayed to May 24 to improve the film's quality.[56] The first part features the theme song "ZeZeZeZettai Seiiki" (絶絶絶絶対聖域, lit.'Abababab Absolute Sanctuary'), performed by Ano [ja] feat. Lilas Ikuta, while the second part features the theme song "Seishun Ōka" (青春謳歌, lit.'Adolescence Hymn'), performed by Lilas Ikuta feat. Ano.[57][58]
An 18-episode original net animation (ONA) series edition of the films streamed worldwide on Crunchyroll from May 24 to September 20, 2024, featuring new footage not included in the theatrical release.[59] The opening song is "Shinsekai Yori" (SHINSEKAIより, lit.'From the New World'), performed by Ano and Lilas Ikuta (used as an ending song for episode 0), while the ending song is the film's first part theme song "ZeZeZeZettai Seiiki" for episodes 1–8, and the second part theme song "Seishun Ōka" for episodes 9–17. Gaga [ja] released the episodes in Japan on a limited Blu-ray Disc box set, which became available for purchase through its online store on December 4, 2024.[60]
"Episode 0" Transliteration: "Dai zero wa" (Japanese: 第0話)
Haruo Ōgawara Kazumi Terada Kenya Kodama
Takaaki Suzuki
Ikuo Yamakado Takayuki Yamamoto Onyoung Kaneshou
May 24, 2024 (2024-05-24)
A massive ship unexpectedly emerges above Tokyo Bay, triggering a state of emergency. Amid the ensuing chaos, Nobuo Koyama, an employee at a publishing company, becomes entangled in the spaceship's crash.
Three years have passed since a giant ship appeared over Tokyo. Though its arrival seemed to signal the end of normal life and the world's collapse, the ship remained inactive, and life carried on as normal.
2
"Episode 2" Transliteration: "Dai ni wa" (Japanese: 第2話)
Akira Honma
Reiko Yoshida
Akira Honma Tomoyuki Kurokawa
June 7, 2024 (2024-06-07)
In Suginami, a smaller disc crashes into a residential neighborhood. To address the growing threat of these crashes, a private company rushes to deploy a new weapon system. Meanwhile, Kadode musters her courage and pays a visit to her teacher's home.
3
"Episode 3" Transliteration: "Dai san wa" (Japanese: 第3話)
Following the successful takedown of its first target by the Fujin-6, the government is urgently pushing for the rapid deployment of additional units by any means necessary. However, some voices are beginning to question this approach.
4
"Episode 4" Transliteration: "Dai yon wa" (Japanese: 第4話)
Onyoung Kaneshou
Reiko Yoshida
Shōtarō Kitamura
June 21, 2024 (2024-06-21)
It's Christmas, and the girls are gathered to celebrate together. Meanwhile, the mother ship continues to release smaller vessels, which are being intercepted and shot down by the Fujin Model 7. However, not all of these takedowns and subsequent crashes go as planned.
5
"Episode 5" Transliteration: "Dai go wa" (Japanese: 第5話)
Kazumi Terada
Reiko Yoshida
Kazumi Terada
June 28, 2024 (2024-06-28)
Reflecting on their elementary school days, Oran and Kadode's friendship begins during a summer course when Oran reaches out to Kadode, who is frequently bullied by their classmates. However, Oran struggles to defend her new friend back at school. During this time, the pair also stumble upon a mysterious creature, adding an unusual twist to their bond.
6
"Episode 6" Transliteration: "Dai roku wa" (Japanese: 第6話)
Katakuri Kazumi Terada
Reiko Yoshida
Akira Honma
July 5, 2024 (2024-07-05)
Kadode takes it upon herself to use the "invader's" tools to assist those in need. One sweltering summer day, she attempts to help a pregnant woman stranded at a closed railway crossing but inadvertently causes a train derailment in the process. Horrified by the unintended consequences of her actions, Kadode is devastated that her efforts to do good resulted in harm. Determined to make amends, she vows never to fail again.
Ai joins an admirer on a sightseeing bus tour through Tokyo. At the same time, the company SES pushes forward with the development of advanced weapons systems, aiming to make Japan self-reliant and eliminate its dependence on foreign nations.
Kadode and Oran graduate from high school, stepping into a new chapter of their lives. Meanwhile, Japan continues its intense efforts in constructing the Chokujin, while the existence of the invaders is kept a secret. However, a growing resistance begins to emerge.
Kadode, Oran, Ai, and Rin start their studies and encounter Futaba on campus. As protest movements gain momentum, the government struggles to conceal the existence of the invaders any longer, especially after a recent incident exposes the truth.
10
"Episode 10" Transliteration: "Dai juu wa" (Japanese: 第10話)
Kazumi Terada Kenya Kodama
Reiko Yoshida
Yōjirō Arai Kazumi Terada
August 2, 2024 (2024-08-02)
Oran comes across the invader inhabiting Oba's body and chooses to temporarily shelter him with Kadode. At the same time, the JSDF and other organizations initiate a public search for the invaders following the revelation of their existence.
As the Fujin Model 9 is introduced, the invaders' situation becomes more perilous. SHIP grows increasingly desperate as their efforts fail to garner attention and public interest fades. Meanwhile, the government upgrades the new Fujin models with AI technology.
Aware that the world is on the brink of destruction, Kadode plans a meeting with her former teacher, Watarase. Meanwhile, Oba confronts an invader, seeking answers about the situation aboard the mothership. The Occultism Club also embarks on a summer camp trip.
Futaba makes a choice about the mission given to her by SHIP. Meanwhile, Ontan sneaks away early in the morning, sparking concern in Oba, who fears the worst. Worried about what might happen, Oba teams up with Makoto to locate Oran before things take a turn for the worse.
As the mothership falls apart and crashes toward Tokyo, the government struggles to prevent foreign interference. In their final moments of desperation, the invaders see no choice but to resort to a drastic measure.
As Kadode, Oran, and their friends debate whether to return to Tokyo, the situation in the city intensifies. The government accelerates the launch of their ark, "Ocean", and prepares to abandon the city. Meanwhile, Kohiruimaki is formulating his own plan.
As the world nears destruction, Kadode, Oran, and their friends return to Tokyo, while Oba races against time to use the password and shut down the mothership's reactor before it detonates.
Returning to the world after August 32nd, Makoto encounters Kadode's father. Makoto realizes there is only one possible solution for Nobuo: he must reset the world again and return to the moment 12 years ago, the point where the Shift Machine is anchored.
Reception
By March 2022, the manga had over 3 million copies in circulation.[62]
Dead Dead Demon's Dededede Destruction, alongside PLINIVS, placed eighteenth on Takarajimasha's Kono Manga ga Sugoi! 2016 ranking of top 20 manga for male readers.[63] It won the French award of "Daruma for Best Drawing Manga" at the Japan Expo Awards in 2017.[64] The series was chosen as one of the best manga at the San Diego Comic-Con Best and Worst Manga Awards of 2018.[65] The manga received the Attilio Micheluzzi Award in 2018 for Best Foreign Manga.[66] The series won the French Konishi Prize for the Best Translated Manga in 2019.[67] In 2021, along with Police in a Pod, Dead Dead Demon's Dededede Destruction won the 66th Shogakukan Manga Award in the general category.[68][69][70] It was also awarded an Excellence Award in the Manga Division at the 25th Japan Media Arts Festival in 2022.[71]