The highly anticipated anime adaptation of Yuto Suzuki’s popular manga, Sakamoto Days, has finally arrived, and it’s making waves in the anime community. Premiering on January 11, 2025, on Netflix, the series has garnered significant attention, with many viewers already declaring that the anime is not just a faithful adaptation, but a superior experience to its source material. This bold claim has sparked debate among fans, but a close examination of the anime’s early episodes reveals compelling reasons for this sentiment.
A Strong Start: Episode 1 Exceeds Expectations
The premiere episode of Sakamoto Days has been lauded as a triumph, successfully assuaging concerns that arose from early promotional materials. Some fans had expressed worries about the voice acting and animation quality. However, the first episode not only addressed these concerns but surpassed expectations. The voice acting is phenomenal, with the cast perfectly embodying the tone and personalities of their respective characters. Nobunaga Shimazaki, voicing Shin, deftly balances the character’s competence with his childlike awe of Sakamoto. Tomokazu Sugita, as Taro Sakamoto, delivers an impactful performance with minimal dialogue.
Furthermore, the animation is gorgeous, exceeding the quality hinted at in the trailers. TMS Entertainment has faithfully translated Yuto Suzuki’s unique art style from the manga to the screen, enhancing its visual appeal.
Enhanced Fight Scenes: A Visual Spectacle
One of the most significant improvements the anime offers is in the presentation of the fight scenes. While the manga’s choreography is impressive on the page, the anime brings these sequences to life with dynamic animation and fluid motion. The anime fills in the gaps, showing Sakamoto’s non-lethal takedowns with high kicks, palm strikes, and elbow strikes in all their glory. The visual dynamism of these fights, which was always a strength of the manga, is elevated to a new level in the anime.
New Scenes and Enhanced Storytelling
The anime adaptation of Sakamoto Days also introduces new scenes and expands upon existing ones from the manga, enhancing the narrative’s impact. For instance, the anime provides an extended introduction to Taro Sakamoto in his prime as a hitman. This cold open, which isn’t present in the first chapter of the manga, presents a cinematic scene with Sakamoto slicing through henchmen, creating a visual that feels like a hybrid of John Wick and Kill Bill. This introduction provides new viewers a glimpse of Sakamoto’s past before transitioning to his current “dad-bod” persona.
Minor Changes, Major Impact
The adaptation also makes some minor but effective changes to the story. The introduction of Shin Asakura has been given a bit more build-up, with the character appearing in the background during Taro Sakamoto’s introduction. The scene of Sakamoto meeting his wife, Aoi, is also enhanced, with the anime perfectly adapting the manga panel where Sakamoto falls in love. Additionally, the anime adds to the introduction of Lu, showcasing more of the characters and building on key moments from the manga.
The Blend of Action and Slice-of-Life
Sakamoto Days is not your typical battle shonen anime. While it has its share of action-packed moments, the series also leans heavily into comedy and slice-of-life elements. The anime perfectly balances these genres, creating a unique viewing experience. The setting of the anime is firmly rooted in modern-day Japan. It follows Sakamoto’s daily life as a convenience store owner, adding to the humor when he uses his assassin skills in mundane situations. The only fantastical element is Shin’s ability to read minds, highlighting the series’ grounded approach, despite some outrageous situations.
The humor in Sakamoto Days is derived from its unique premise, with the series pushing the boundaries of reality for the sake of comedy. The mundane setting is key to this humor, as all the outrageous things Sakamoto does contrast with his normal, everyday life. The anime is not afraid to be goofy and over-the-top, adding to its charm and appeal.
A Faithful Adaptation with Room to Grow
Despite some initial concerns from fans regarding the animation and voice acting, the anime adaptation has been a success. It’s a faithful adaptation of the manga with extra effort to enhance the overall quality. Though the animation may not be as detailed as the manga, the anime excels in bringing the action and humor to life in a dynamic and visually engaging way. The anime does not stay completely true to the manga, as it skips some chapters and introduces some scenes that are not in the manga. However, the changes are made with the intent to improve the impact of the story.
While some fans have expressed concerns about the adaptation not being able to replicate the detailed expressions of the manga, the anime has managed to capture the essence of the characters and their stories. The voice acting has been consistently praised for its quality, bringing the characters to life with humor and depth.
Release and Availability
Sakamoto Days premiered on January 11, 2025, and new episodes are released weekly on Saturdays on Netflix. The first season will run until March 2025, and then it will take a break before returning with its second part in July 2025. This release schedule allows fans to keep up with the show, while also allowing them to look forward to the continuation of the story later this year.
Final Thoughts
While it’s still early in its run, the Sakamoto Days anime has made a strong impression. The high production quality, the expanded scenes, and the dynamic presentation of action, all make the anime a compelling watch, even if you’ve read the manga. The animation effectively translates the manga’s unique style, and the new scenes provide greater depth and context to the story. The series’ ability to balance action and comedy, while also grounding its characters in everyday life, is remarkable. For now, it appears the Sakamoto Days anime is on track to not only meet, but exceed the high expectations of its manga fans.
