Have you ever gone through a manga only to find a character that seems to be the one thing the story didn’t really acknowledge? That’s Momo Ayase. If you’re really into Dandadan, you would be aware that she is not just some tag-along girl sidekick.
She has got her own world. Energy. Style. Spine. And yet in some way, she is still the overlooked one.
Who the heck is Momo Ayase?
Okay, just for a moment if you’re totally new here—Momo Ayase is one of the main characters in Dandadan, a manga that picturizes aliens, ghosts, high school drama, and curse energy all at once. Imagine Jujutsu Kaisen meets Mob Psycho 100 only with more chaotic hormones and ridiculous comedy.
Momo is just introduced as this bold, kinda spicy character who doesn’t bother to explain to anyone. She is self-assured. She carries natural instinct with her. She is also by way of being human, but it does not come across as forced.
Not Just the Female Lead
It would be quite a simple thing to consider her as “the girl character.” The one you are familiar with from the list of clichés: she looks good, helps the hero when he is in a jam, gets captured, etc.
But Momo is not the one. She rescues those in danger. She is a leader in making choices. She doesn’t start the story with a devastating supernatural event. In fact, she doesn’t stop there. She is not the one who always waits for Okarun to do all the hard work.
She’s Funny in a Way That Feels Natural
You know how in some cases the authors force laughter out of the audience by making characters over the top humoristic but the readers still hardly find the characters funny? Momo is not like that. Her humor is unique. It’s earthy. It’s snappy. A combination of sarcasm, reactions, and that awkward teen honesty.
Emotionally, She Is Heavy
Momo isn’t the type that goes around hitting and joking. Her life story—the isolation, the necessity of being tough, the way she conceals her pain while still comforting others—was all positive for her development.
She’s a character that feels like she has experienced hardships but doesn’t ingrain them with her personality. Thus no “poor me” arc gets referred to. Only the strength that met real struggle.
Fighting Style That Fits With Momo
The soulful energy power she has are not just for show. There’s lore, and there is buildup. And visually? Momo’s combat (in the manga panels) is so loud and violent with so much disarray that it almost makes you feel like you’re watching an anime of full length right there.
Moreover, her combat isn’t just forceful. It’s based on the reaction side. She is not the most intelligent one in the room but she still has that street-smart which are characteristics that make her formidable in the best way.
Image concept: Momo mid-fight stance, energy glowing around her.
Alt text: Momo Ayase channeling spiritual powers for a strike.
Character Dynamics
Momo’s relationship with Okarun? It is non-romantic fluff. It is chaos, weirdness, and actually, it has tension. They fight. They misunderstand each other. They save one another. Sometimes in stupid ways. But what makes it work is that.
And her friendships?
One of the things that most reflects her loyalty is the little things. She doesn’t preach. She does. Even when she’s uncertain that it will be successful.
Why Momo Ayase Deserves More Screen Time
| Trait | Description |
|---|---|
| Strong Female Lead | Not reliant on male characters to drive plot |
| Emotionally Complex | Tough exterior, vulnerable but real inside |
| Comedic Timing | Naturally funny without being a joke character |
| Independent Arcs | Solves problems without being a tagalong |
| Visual Impact | Iconic design, high-energy action scenes |
How She Breaks Anime/Manga Tropes
We are all aware of the fact that shonen manga is not the place where we find a lot of deep female characters. However, Momo Ayase? She is not one of those characters that catch the usual traps.
- She wasn’t sexualized for no reason.
- She is not the friend that guides through moral choices.
- She is not passively waiting for a savior.
She is very different from the girls in the story. One which is not dependent on the guys of the story. And that ought to be the norm rather than being uncommon, but it is still quite the opposite.
Design That Actually Says Something
Cropped hair. Keen eyes. School uniform, yes, but not overly revealing.
Her appearance tells you that she is on her toes. She is quick. She does not care if she fits into some category. The way she looks corresponds to her personality quite well—still having some rough patches but not messy.
Why the Fandom Needs to Catch Up
Momo Ayase isn’t always trending. There are not a lot of cosplays of her characters or viral clips of her lines. And that’s quite surprising given how very central she is to what makes Dandadan work.
It is time for people to recognize her more. More fan edits. More reviews. More space in the discussions.
FAQs
1. Who is Momo Ayase in Dandadan?
She’s one of the main characters. The brain, the brawn, and the most underrated one. Not just a sidekick or romantic interest.
2. What are Momo Ayase’s powers?
She channels spiritual energy to get rid of aygjholic beings. It is quite similar to an exorcism, however, it is more chaotic.
3. Does Momo Ayase have a romantic arc with Okarun?
Sort of. It is more awkward tension and subtle unfolding rather than anything being shown. They are absolutely not your typical anime couple.
4. Why isn’t Momo Ayase more popular?
I guess one reason is that Dandadan is still an indie anime. Secondly, she doesn’t really play by the typical character trope rules and this weirdly makes her less noticeable.
5. Is Momo Ayase inspired by any known character types?
Not really. She is a combination of different character types, but she still gives a more relatable vibe, which is probably why she is the ones to be noticed if you are not distracted.
John Mike is a digital trends enthusiast and the mind behind this blog. He writes about social media, AI, online earning, and digital business to help readers stay ahead in the online world.
