Why SAKAMOTO DAYS Is Disappointing Fans

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Summary

  • SAKAMOTO DAYS, a popular 2025 anime, disappoints fans with subpar animation.
  • Possible production limitations hinder visuals and action sequences in the adaptation.
  • Lack of sakuga moments in SAKAMOTO DAYS is a likely reason for negative reception from fans.

2025 is eagerly awaiting the anime adaptation of Yūto Suzuki’s widely acclaimed manga, SAKAMOTO DAYS. This highly anticipated series has won the hearts of its fans with its captivating art, compelling storyline, and side-splitting humor. Many believe that it will pave the way for the current generation of shōnen titles, following the “Post-Big Three” era and the first digital age of Shōnen Jump.

In just four years, SAKAMOTO DAYS has become one of the modern epoch’s most commercially successful series, selling over 7 million copies. However, despite its acclaim, the anime adaptation seems to have garnered a negative response from fans, with many expressing a clear sense of disappointment. The reason for this might be…

SAKAMOTO DAYS Plot and Background

Basic Information About the Anime Adaptation

SAKAMOTO DAYS is a series that centers around Taro Sakamoto, a former prominent hitman who exchanged his dangerous criminal life for marriage and parenthood. Now carrying extra weight, he’s content with his small convenience store. However, even though he wishes to lead a peaceful life, remnants of his past keep luring him into resuming his old ways as an action hero.

Yūto Suzuki’s initial manga series is now being serialized in Shueisha’s Weekly Shōnen Jump magazine since November 2020. As of January 2025, it has been compiled into a total of 20 volumes. This work is an expansion of a one-shot comic called “SAKAMOTO”, which was previously published in Shueisha’s Jump Giga magazine.

In May 2024, it was announced that TMS Entertainment would produce an anime adaptation titled “Undead Unluck”. Masaki Watanabe will direct, while Taku Kishimoto (from Magi: Adventure of Sinbad) is handling the series composition. Yō Moriyama is responsible for character designs, and Yuki Hayashi, known for his work on My Hero Academia, is composing the music. The series premiered on Netflix on January 11, with the English dubbed version also being released every Saturday simultaneously.

The actors in this production are led by Tomokazu Sugita, famous for his portrayal of Gintoki Sakata from the series Gintama, taking on the role of Tarō Sakamoto. Nobunaga Shimazaki, recognized for his performance as Baki in Baki, plays Shin Asakura. Ayane Sakura, who voices Ochaco Uraraka in My Hero Academia, is Lu Shaotang, and Nao Tōyama is cast as Aoi Sakamoto. In the English version of the show, Matthew Mercer lends his voice to Sakamoto, Dallas Liu plays Shin, Rosie Okumura makes her anime debut as Aoi Sakamoto, and Rosalie Chiang voices Lu Shaotang.

What’s the Beef?

The Reason Why Fans Are Unhappy With SAKAMOTO DAYS

If you’ve been following the online discussions since the initial previews for the SAKAMOTO DAYS anime dropped, you might have come across passionate fans voicing their disappointment over the animation quality they feel does not meet their expectations. Some opinions were more reasonable, while others leaned toward the extreme with some already suggesting a remake of the series. For many fans, the action scenes in the trailers and later in the anime haven’t lived up to their standards, particularly due to the perceived rigidity in movement, which they argue is far from the fluidity displayed in other popular Shōnen Jump adaptations. Furthermore, these viewers believe that the series’ visuals do not match the quality established by the original manga. In a nutshell, the anime has sparked a lot of disagreement among fans.

As an observer, I can’t help but notice the immense pressure that comes with adapting beloved source material, especially popular ones like Junji Itō’s horror manga works, into an animated series. The history of adaptation woes is long and well-documented among anime fans, and the latest attempt to bring these terrifying tales to life has understandably sparked some concern.

The primary worry seems to be centered around the visuals, with many believing that a tight production schedule might be to blame for the series’ inability to meet viewer expectations. Given the industry’s notorious work culture, this isn’t entirely unexpected. However, it’s important to note that there have been voices defending the series and its production committee, pointing out aspects of the anime that are commendable.

In essence, the adaptation of Junji Itō’s works into an animation has stirred a mix of apprehension and hope among fans, reflecting the complexities involved in bringing such intricate stories to life on screen.

In simpler terms, ‘Sakuga’ is a term used to describe scenes within an animated series or film that have significantly better quality animation. These enhanced moments often serve either to emphasize a crucial plot point or to add excitement and dynamism to the action.

– Serdar Yegulalp

What Exactly Are “Good” Visuals Anyway?

The Gift and Curse of a Post-Madhouse Landscape

Although individual tastes in beauty and aesthetics may differ significantly among people, there are often shared aspects that can link their perspectives. Unfortunately, modern anime production has seen a growing interest in the behind-the-scenes aspects from fans, a trend largely influenced by Madhouse’s 2015 adaptation of Yusuke Murata’s manga adaption of ONE’s One Punch Man, which has garnered immense popularity, success, and visual appeal.

This anime wasn’t the first to feature outstanding animation and visuals, but it significantly contributed to the surge of fan interest in “sakuga” – a term derived from Japanese animation production, often used in English-speaking communities to highlight impressive scenes in shonen anime adaptations, particularly those that dramatically emphasize a point or enhance action. As explained by Serdar Yegulalp on liveabout.com, “sakuga” showcases moments when the quality of the animation significantly improves within a series or movie.

Is the Criticism Valid?

Decent But Ultimately Lacklustre Animation and Uninspired Choreography Hurts the Series

In contrast to many other anime, SAKAMOTO DAYS is unique for not incorporating a familiar aspect that fans have grown accustomed to in their anime-viewing journey, regardless of its relevance to the storyline. Fans were quite critical of the motion-manga style chosen for the adaptation of Kosuke Oono’s The Way of the Househusband, instead of the more common full animation. Although it’s a comedy manga with minimal action sequences, and focuses on everyday life, the visuals complement the narrative well. However, due to its unique approach, the series was often criticized as being static or a “slideshow,” despite having an interesting animation style evolving within it.

In the world of SAKAMOTO DAYS, where action and humor are skillfully blended, similar to Spy x Family, it’s crucial to contrast the ordinary, everyday scenes with intense, spectacular fight scenes. Unfortunately, the TMS adaptation fell short in this regard, which is a common criticism among fans regarding its visuals. Given that a production of this caliber successfully captures a distinctive atmosphere and visual style that suits the quirky nature of SAKAMOTO DAYS as a story, it might have been more well-received several years ago. However, today’s audiences demand more than just decent quality. The upcoming second part in July offers hope for the series to enhance this aspect over time, as it has otherwise been an engaging addition to the Winter 2025 lineup.

SAKAMOTO DAYS is available on Netflix. New episodes update on Saturdays.

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2025-02-23 23:55