Dan Series X

Dan Series X (Japanese: ダンシリーズX Hepburn: Danshirīzu X) is a 2011 Japanese anime directed by Megumu Ishiguro, and is an adaptation of the popular American series Dan Series, it was produced by Nintendo Studios Japan in association with Aniplex and was animated by Toei Animation.

The series featured character designs by Miho Shimogasa, who has also worked on other anime such as Cutie Honey Flash, Ultra Maniac, and Sailor Moon. The series was produced entirely in Japan, and Tom Coleman (creator of the original series) was only involved during its initial conception. The series first aired on TV Tokyo in 2011, and on Nintendo TV Japan a few days later, it was also broadcast on AT-X.

For the English version, the adaptation was made by Nintendo Studios itself (who had also adapted some anime into English), and the voices from the original series reprized their roles for this anime.

Plot
The series is about 3 brothers, Akira Hashimoto (Dan Walters in the English version), Ichiro Hashimoto (Axel Den Walters in the English version) and Masaru Hashimoto (Jefferson Dai Walters) who are affected by by some lost intergalactic rays that fall on the earth, and these rays give powers to the three brothers, which will allow them to defeat the villains that arrive to get the power of the other rays, and thus dominate the universe.

Cast
For the English version, most of the actors who participated in the original series returned for their respective roles.

Production
The idea for an anime about the Dan Series began in 2007, when it was at a point of success, Tom Coleman said that he really enjoyed Japanese animation, and that he didn't see a bad anime about the Dan Series, Nintendo Studios wanted the anime to It was the most faithful to the original series, in 2008 Nintendo Studios had reached an agreement with Toei Animation to create two animes of two of its most popular series, Dan Series and Kirby Fighter, after that Nintendo Studios gave some liberties to Toei and to Nintendo Studios Japan to create the two anime. Two pilots of both animes were shown at the 2009 Tokyo Anime Festival, after that, Toei and Nintendo Studios Japan only started production on the Dan Series anime, while the Kirby Fighter anime had been canned.

In 2010 the official title of the series was revealed, which would be Dan Series X, and the premiere for 2011 was also revealed. Megumu Ishiguro was revealed as the director of the series in December 2010.

Adaptation
For this anime, the names of the characters were changed, such as Dan Walters, in this version Akira Hashimoto was named, although in the English version (as well as other languages) the original names of the characters are maintained, although the personality of several characters was maintained, as well as many things of his physical appearance.

Broadcast
In Japan, the series aired on TV Tokyo and AT-X, and on Nintendo TV Japan (which is where it currently airs).

In the United States, the anime was not broadcast until 2014, and curiously, it was first broadcast on Nincrafter 2, although later, the following chapters were broadcast on Nintendo TV, the anime ended in 2019 in the United States. In other parts of the world, the anime airs on Nintendo TV as well as local channels, although in Australia, the anime premiered on Fox8, and not on Nintendo TV.

Reception
The anime was well received by American audiences, in its country of origin, Japan, the anime was quite successful, since it came to have a manga, as well as products, despite that, it received some criticism, such as that sometimes the humor became absurd, and also some plots did not develop well, but apart from that, the anime today is considered cult.

Music
The anime kept its opening theme throughout the entire run of the series, while two songs were used for the credits. In the English version, the songs were left in their original language. In 2016 Aniplex released in Japan the original soundtrack of the anime, with extended versions of several songs (including the opening and ending themes).

Opening theme


 * 1) "Kibō no Kakera" (希望のカケラ, Pieces of Hope) by Nana Kitade

Ending themes


 * 1) "Mayonaka no Door" (真夜中のドア, Door of Midnight) by Liu Yi Fei (eps 1-85)
 * 2) NATSUIRO (夏色, Summer color) by Hearts Grow (eps 86-100)

Manga
From August 2011 to May 2014, it was adapted into a manga illustrated by Shiho Komiyuno, and published by Shueisha in Weekly Shōnen Jump magazine. A total of 25 manga were published, and the main difference between the anime and the manga is that here the antagonists are two human-shaped androids, who seek to steal the powers of intergalactic lightning from the three brothers.