Crash Bandicoot: Dance! Then Jump! Na Daibōken

Dansu！デ·ジャンプ！ナ大冒険 (lit. Dance! Then Jump! It's a great adventure) is a manga series published by Coro Coro Comics, and was drawn and written by Kawashima Ari, running from December 1997 to February 1999. The chapters were originally published in CoroCoro Comics magazine, and they were later reprinted into two manga volumes. Two final chapters were published in the magazine to tie in to Crash Bandicoot: Warped, which weren't given any reprints. The manga was officially only published in Japanese, though an English fan-translation can be easily found online.

The manga is loosely based off the events of Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back. Cortex tricked Crash into thinking he has changed his ways in order for him to gather the crystals for an elaborate plot to take over the world. Crash teams up Aku Aku and the adventure begins, Crash encounters a large variety of characters from Coco Bandicoot (whom he normally lives with) and Penta Penguin, to enemies from his past including: Dr. N. Gin, Ripper Roo, and even the Komodo Bros. The story itself focuses on comedy rather than action alone, getting Crash into hilarious situations involving the setting around him.

Differences between the manga and game

 * Every character can speak fluently in sentences, including Crash and Polar.
 * Crash along with a few other characters uses mild swearing very often.
 * This is due to some words in Japanese not being considered swear words, and then just translating accordingly to English.
 * Many differences in names being used for certain objects are simply the result of that being the literal translation, or simply that being what they are referred to as in the Japanese versions of the games
 * Wumpa fruits are called "Apples" in translations.
 * Because this manga is originally written in Japanese, many translations keep the use of terms such as 'Crash-kun', (Kun being a term typically used at the end of someone's name to show respect, mostly used for boys but not exclusively) 'Coco-Chan' (chan being an affectionate way to refer to someone) and 'Onii-Chan' (being an affectionate way to refer to your brother).
 * Cortex refers to himself with '-sama', this being something you'd typically use to show respect towards a person (though it is typically used for girls, but not exclusively) him referring to himself like this shows his very obvious ego.
 * The story follows the Japanese canon of Crash Bandicoot, meaning all animals in the story are anthropomorphic, whether or not they have been mutated (such as Polar), and Tawna having left Crash for Pinstripe.
 * Power Crystals are referred to as "Power Stones" in translations.
 * Fake Crash makes a cameo appearance in the story even though it is based around Crash Bandicoot 2: Cortex Strikes Back, although he was in the commercials for the same game, his first actual appearance was in the following game afterward.

Chapter 1: I'm The Hero!!
The story starts off with Crash defeating Cortex with a Spin Attack followed by him and Tawna happily reuniting. Crash wakes up to find out it was only a dream but declaring that Tawna and himself will stop Cortex for good. But suddenly he notices a letter written by Tawna stating that she is too mature for Crash, leaving him in heartbreak, Coco unaware of the situation comes home and decides to pay Crash a visit. Upon opening the door, she is literally flooded in Crash's tears, with a first glance from Crash he mistakes her for Tawna but this is quickly corrected by Coco. She reads the letter causing Crash more anguish and stating that Crash needs to become stronger so he finds a woman prettier than Tawna herself, Crash taking in her words sets out to do so.

Meanwhile in space Dr. Cortex and N. Gin are working on a "brainwashing machine" that is powered by the Master Crystal, Cortex launches the switch and starts to celebrate. But before any effects could take place N. Gin states that he needs 25 more "Power Stones" for the plan to work, so Cortex hatches a plan to let Crash find the Power Stones for him.

Back at Crash's house Coco assumes that Crash is working out (due to the noises she hears), only to find out that his head was ignited and that he actually was on fire. She questions this with Crash stating he was sleeping and suddenly he was burning up. Coco starting to reward Crash with his favorite snack "Apples" but changes her mind so Crash sets out to find apples on his own.

He ventures out to find a floating apple that starts to radiantly glow, then Crash mysteriously finds himself in a room with 5 glowing doors. Just then Cortex appears holographically. To Crash's surprise has no idea who he is, this infuriates Cortex a bit and he tries to get Crash to remember his name. He continues to get it wrong so Cortex forgets the situation. Afterward he lies to Crash that the earth will explode unless he gathers 25 Power Stones, Crash lacking attention only accepts due to the apples Cortex offers, hearing only that it's his opportunity to become irresistible. Crash goes forward only to forget what it is that he needs to collect.

Chapter 2: Reunion with Aku Aku
The chapter begins with Crash fast asleep at the top of a palm tree, dreaming about all the praise and apples he'll receive for saving the world. In his sleep, Crash plummets down from the tree, landing right in front of two small creatures that resemble armadillos.

Crash later awakens, and immediately reunites with Aku Aku. Aku Aku explains that the creatures, known as Arumas, saved Crash and took him into their home. He then tells Crash that he was with the Arumas because of a rumor that a thief was loose in the area, and he wanted to help stop them. Crash then tells the Aruma that he's looking for Power Stones, and he draws one on Aku Aku's back to show what they look like, to the mask's annoyance. Aku Aku realises that the their may have stolen one of the power stones, however Crash just gets distracted by showing off how many apples he can eat to the Aruma family. Suddenly, the mother Aruma takes a closer look at the drawing on Aku Aku and realises that she recognises the stone. Crash excitedly asks the Arumas if they know where one is, but Aku Aku asks why Crash is looking for them in the first place. Crash blurts out that he is looking for the stones for Cortex, to Aku Aku and the Arumas' horror. Both parents erupt into rage, and chase Crash and Aku Aku out of the house with a baseball bat and kitchen utensils as weapons.

Once Crash and Aku Aku reach safety, Aku Aku angrily reprimands Crash for teaming up with Cortex, reminding him that Cortex was the one that they had fought one year prior. Crash retorts that Cortex claims to have changed his ways, which Aku Aku angrily dismisses. Aku Aku tries to warn Crash to stay away from Cortex, but Crash doesn't listen, getting distracted by a stack of crates filled with apples. Crash tries to offer Aku Aku an apple to calm him down, but this only frustrates him, and out of frustration the mask says that Crash is always doing stupid things. Crash insists that he isn't stupid and tries to show off his body-slam ability, which only results in him hurting his head on a crate. Crash tries to relax and eat an apple, only for the thief to come rushing through, snatching the apple from Crash's hand on the way.

Furious, Crash gives chase. Aku Aku stays behind, only to see the Aruma family running after the thief, shouting the they kidnapped their son, Aru. Meanwhile, Crash catches up with the thief and pounces on them, pinning him to the ground and shouting at him for taking his apple. Crash snatches a small round object from the thief's hands, only to find the baby Aru instead of his apple. Crash puts the baby down and leaps at the thief again upon seeing they still have his apple. Finally Aku Aku and the Arumas catch up, only for the thief to snatch Aru up again, demanding a ransom of a Power Stone before they let the kid go. Finally the thief removes the scarf from their face and introduces himself as Anachuur. Aku Aku urges Crash to save Aru, but Crash is loafing around by tying Anachuur's scarf around his neck and pretending to be "SUPA-Man". Just as the Arumas and Aku Aku are about to give up hope, Crash's cape gets caught on a tree branch while he's running around, making him drop his apple, sending it rolling away past Anachuur, towards a chasm in the ground. Crash desperately runs after the apple, bowling Anachuur over in the process, making him drop Aru.

Crash successfully catches the apple only to immediately fall into the chasm. Meanwhile the Arumas tearfully pick up Aru, overjoyed that he's safe. They thank Crash for saving Aru, who is confused at first, but soon soaks up the praise. The Arumas then give Crash a map that will lead to a Power Stone, which he gladly takes. Aku Aku then promises to help Crash find the Power Stones, and the two set off together.

Chapter 2: A Trip to a Deep Resort
N. Gin shows Cortex his latest invention, the Size Changer, and demonstrates its use. The Size Changer can make objects larger or smaller, and change them back. Cortex is impressed and decides to borrow it.

He finds Crash and Aku Aku taking shelter from a rainstorm and uses the Size Changer to shrink Crash down to the size of an insect. Crash is understandably upset and demands Cortex change him back, but Cortex teases the tiny bandicoot, resulting in Crash getting angry and throwing a pepper shaker at Cortex's face. Cortex sneezes, shooting Crash across the room, where he eventually lands in an open tin of food. While helping Aku Aku look for Crash, Cortex discovers the tin and eats the contents, not realizing that Crash is inside. The bandicoot narrowly avoids being crushed by Cortex's teeth, but ends up getting swallowed, landing at the bottom of Cortex's stomach.

Meanwhile, Aku Aku and Cortex are still searching the house for Crash. Cortex pauses and clutches his stomach, stating that he feels funny. Crash decides to try climbing back out. He takes a fistful of the soft stomach wall and begins to climb, causing Cortex to experience sharp stomach pains. The walls of his stomach ripple in reaction to Crash's grip, putting the bandicoot in danger of falling back down, so he bites down hard on Cortex's stomach. Cortex begins to roll on the ground in agony, and Aku Aku suggests he take a painkiller. Crash is almost at the top when three pain pills and a glass of water come flooding down, clocking him in the face and knocking him back to the bottom of the stomach.

Some time later, Aku Aku still hasn't found Crash, and Cortex is now in so much pain that he's lying in bed in the fetal position. Crash finally makes it to the top only to find himself in Cortex's nasal passage, which is lined with hair. The bandicoot pulls out hair by the fistful to get through, causing Cortex to yelp in pain. Aku Aku turns to see what's going on and finds the tiny bandicoot crawling out of Cortex's nose. Crash is returned to normal size and he and Cortex commence bickering, much to Aku Aku's annoyance.

Chapter 3: Baby Crash~?!
Crash, Aku Aku, and Cortex resume their quest to find more Power Stones. After becoming lost in a cave, Crash throws a tantrum, expressing frustration at their fruitless search and doubt that Cortex's map can actually help them find the next Power Stone. Crash asks Cortex to carry him the rest of the way, but the scientist refuses, stating that the bandicoot isn't a baby and can walk by himself.

Crash leans on the cave wall, and part of the wall shifts inward, sending him falling into another section of the cave. There he finds the Power Stone encased in ice. Crash performs a spin attack to shatter the ice, freeing the Power Stone, but the large chunks of ice fall on top of him, knocking him out. Aku Aku pulls him out and slaps him in the face to rouse him. Crash regains consciousness, but the blow to his head has caused him to revert back to the mental state of a baby. He calls Cortex "Mama" and attempts to suckle at his breast, and can't walk on his own, forcing Cortex to carry him.

Later, Crash gets hungry and eats the map, causing the three to become lost within the cave. They eventually find a river they must cross, but the current is quite strong. Cortex has the idea to climb across using stalactites on the ceiling, but Crash jumps onto his back, and Cortex can't hold on with Crash's additional weight. Aku Aku tries to help but the three fall into the river. Fortunately, the river flows through a hole in the cave wall to the outside. Both Crash and Cortex smack their heads upon hitting the ground, returning Crash to normal and causing Cortex to begin acting like a baby.

Trivia

 * When Crash upsets Ripper Roo, his blond hair stands up straight and he begins to develop an aura-like energy around him, this could be a reference to Akira Toriyama's "Super Saiyan" which is from a manga known as Dragon Ball.
 * A third volume was in development but was cancelled for unknown reasons. This makes the series end on a cliffhanger with Crash and Cortex stuck in space after finding out the locations of the Power Stones.