In one of the most striking esports crossovers of the year, GIANTX has blurred the lines between gaming and anime culture with its brand-new promotional video for VCT EMEA Stage 2. Drawing creative fuel from the hit anime and manga series Dandadan, the European esports organisation has turned a traditional team intro into a viral spectacle that is already earning praise from fans across the community.

The video recreates the vibrant opening of Dandadan Season 2, layering VALORANT’s competitive energy with the series’ supernatural visual language. Set to the same track used in the anime’s second season intro, ‘Otonoke’ by Creepy Nuts, GIANTX’s video features its roster cosplaying, posing, and moving like the characters from the original sequence. The styling is unmistakable, the editing is frame-perfect, and the result is a visual homage that feels both epic and effortless.

But this promo is not just a clever imitation. GIANTX took things a step further by subtly integrating VALORANT maps, in-game abilities, and mascots into the anime-style world. From signature animations of agents to a cameo by the community-favorite Wingman, the production feels like a love letter to both anime fans and VALORANT purists.

What also stood out is how GIANTX featured not just their own players but also gave screen time to their rivals in VCT EMEA, including Fnatic, Karmine Corp, and Team Vitality. The approach feels celebratory, turning the kickoff of Stage 2 into a cultural moment instead of just another match cycle.

The move has clearly worked. Social media lit up with praise from fans who are calling it the most entertaining team promo of the year. Some users even declared they would support GIANTX solely because of the creative direction and music choice. With over 62 million YouTube views on the original anime sequence, the reference was instantly recognizable and deeply resonant.

Now, with the VCT EMEA Stage 2 officially starting on July 16, GIANTX has set the tone for the competition. They open their run with a crucial match against Team Vitality in a best-of-three format scheduled for 7 pm BST. Given their disappointing results in the EMEA Kickoff and Stage 1 earlier this year, GIANTX now faces a do-or-die situation. A top-two finish is the only clear path to securing a direct ticket to VALORANT Champions. Even a third-place spot might leave them short of the regional VCT Points needed to qualify.

With the odds stacked and expectations reset, GIANTX has managed to build something even more powerful than hype. They have built culture. In doing so, they have become the rare team to turn pre-match promos into a storytelling platform that fuses anime fandom, gameplay art, and team identity.

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