TV-Series
Description
Momo Ayase is the main female protagonist of the anime and manga series DAN DA DAN. She is a high school student who, on the surface, presents herself as a confident, outspoken, and fashionable young woman. Her personality is marked by a bold and impetuous nature; she is quick to speak her mind and does not shy away from confrontation, often resorting to comedic physical aggression when provoked. However, beneath this tough exterior lies a deeply compassionate, loyal, and surprisingly gentle individual who is fiercely protective of her friends and loved ones.
Momo was raised by her grandmother, Seiko Ayase, a powerful spirit medium, after her parents became absent from her life. Her childhood was difficult in part because Seiko made her perform daily protective rituals. These rituals made Momo a target of bullying from her classmates, including her childhood crush, Jiji, causing her to initially resent and doubt her grandmother's abilities. She eventually realized that her anger was more about others disrespecting her grandmother than about her own embarrassment, leading to a reconciliation that solidified their strong, loving bond.
Initially, Momo believed strongly in ghosts due to her upbringing but was entirely skeptical of aliens. Her core motivation shifts dramatically after she makes a bet with her socially awkward schoolmate, Ken Takakura, whom she nicknames Okarun. Their bet leads them to investigate paranormal hotspots, resulting in Momo being abducted by the Serpo alien race. This traumatic event awakens her latent psychic powers. From that point forward, she is driven by the desire to help Okarun recover his stolen testicles, a bizarre curse inflicted by a yokai spirit, and to protect everyone she cares about from the escalating threats of both spirits and extraterrestrials. She often acts as a strategist, using her quick thinking to devise plans in the midst of chaos.
Momo's role in the story is central as the anchor of the main group. She is the tactical heart of their operations, balancing her own psychic might with the supernatural abilities of her friends. Her most crucial relationship is with Okarun. Their dynamic begins as a rivalry of beliefs but quickly evolves into an unbreakable friendship forged through shared peril, which gradually develops into deep romantic feelings that both struggle to admit. She is also protective of and fiercely loyal to her grandmother, Seiko, who acts as her mentor in understanding and refining her powers. Her relationship with the vain and egotistical Aira begins as a bitter rivalry but later settles into a competitive but cooperative friendship.
Momo experiences significant development throughout the series. She grows from a somewhat cynical and emotionally guarded teenager into a courageous and dependable leader who faces the bizarre and terrifying with a defiant attitude. She learns to rely on her team and accepts her role in the supernatural world, maturing emotionally as her bond with Okarun deepens.
Momo's notable abilities are psychic in nature. Her primary power is psychokinesis, which she manifests as a pair of enormous, invisible astral hands. These hands allow her to grab, lift, push, and pull objects and beings at a distance with immense force, capable of lifting heavy vehicles. Her ability is tied to her physical hands; her control weakens if her hands are bound. She can see and manipulate the spiritual aura that surrounds all living and nonliving things. This allows her to suppress curses, detect enemy presences, and even accidentally access the memories of her targets. She also displays enhanced physical durability, surviving powerful blows that would normally knock out an ordinary person. In moments of extreme duress, she has been shown entering an empowered state where her aura becomes visible, she can levitate, and her physical strikes are greatly amplified. A notable technique she uses is the Moe Moe Tri Beam, a potent energy attack.
Momo was raised by her grandmother, Seiko Ayase, a powerful spirit medium, after her parents became absent from her life. Her childhood was difficult in part because Seiko made her perform daily protective rituals. These rituals made Momo a target of bullying from her classmates, including her childhood crush, Jiji, causing her to initially resent and doubt her grandmother's abilities. She eventually realized that her anger was more about others disrespecting her grandmother than about her own embarrassment, leading to a reconciliation that solidified their strong, loving bond.
Initially, Momo believed strongly in ghosts due to her upbringing but was entirely skeptical of aliens. Her core motivation shifts dramatically after she makes a bet with her socially awkward schoolmate, Ken Takakura, whom she nicknames Okarun. Their bet leads them to investigate paranormal hotspots, resulting in Momo being abducted by the Serpo alien race. This traumatic event awakens her latent psychic powers. From that point forward, she is driven by the desire to help Okarun recover his stolen testicles, a bizarre curse inflicted by a yokai spirit, and to protect everyone she cares about from the escalating threats of both spirits and extraterrestrials. She often acts as a strategist, using her quick thinking to devise plans in the midst of chaos.
Momo's role in the story is central as the anchor of the main group. She is the tactical heart of their operations, balancing her own psychic might with the supernatural abilities of her friends. Her most crucial relationship is with Okarun. Their dynamic begins as a rivalry of beliefs but quickly evolves into an unbreakable friendship forged through shared peril, which gradually develops into deep romantic feelings that both struggle to admit. She is also protective of and fiercely loyal to her grandmother, Seiko, who acts as her mentor in understanding and refining her powers. Her relationship with the vain and egotistical Aira begins as a bitter rivalry but later settles into a competitive but cooperative friendship.
Momo experiences significant development throughout the series. She grows from a somewhat cynical and emotionally guarded teenager into a courageous and dependable leader who faces the bizarre and terrifying with a defiant attitude. She learns to rely on her team and accepts her role in the supernatural world, maturing emotionally as her bond with Okarun deepens.
Momo's notable abilities are psychic in nature. Her primary power is psychokinesis, which she manifests as a pair of enormous, invisible astral hands. These hands allow her to grab, lift, push, and pull objects and beings at a distance with immense force, capable of lifting heavy vehicles. Her ability is tied to her physical hands; her control weakens if her hands are bound. She can see and manipulate the spiritual aura that surrounds all living and nonliving things. This allows her to suppress curses, detect enemy presences, and even accidentally access the memories of her targets. She also displays enhanced physical durability, surviving powerful blows that would normally knock out an ordinary person. In moments of extreme duress, she has been shown entering an empowered state where her aura becomes visible, she can levitate, and her physical strikes are greatly amplified. A notable technique she uses is the Moe Moe Tri Beam, a potent energy attack.