Sakamoto Days anime was announced in May 2024 and most fans were looking forward to it. It is a one-of-a-kind hitman story that made its mark as one of the bestselling manga in the shonen genre. The animated adaptation, however, screwed the pooch and while all seems lost, it might not be the case.
Indeed the anime was a lackluster rendition of Yuto Suzuki’s craftsmanship however a live-action might redeem it. The update has most fans divided especially after TMS Studio’s failure. And while the idea seems promising, this news unlocked skepticism among most fans.
Sakamoto Days live-action gets confirmed
Sakamoto Days is wholesome, feel-good, and engaging in more ways than one. It is celebrated for its John Wick-inspired action scenes, side characters as well as unconventional tropes. But what makes it so special is the main character who defies all norms and cliche.
Taro Sakamoto’s characterization is unorthodox especially when we think about the heroes in Shonen. He isn’t as buff as Goku or Baki Hanma but he still is in his prime considering he’s 27. Yes, you heard that right. The retirement doesn’t affect his skills or combat prowess in any case.
Be it pens or chopsticks, he can skillfully use them to his advantage. This is evident in his fights throughout the series. His duel with Mashima and his first fight against the assassins is remarkable. The anime fails to replicate that aura but an upcoming live-action might redeem it.
However, most Redditors had mixed feelings about this update.
Sakamoto Days Live-Action Movie Release Confirmed for 2025
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To be fair, the mixed reactions make sense for the most part. The anime started with a bang and fizzled out completely with its following episodes. But there is no one to blame but TMS studio. It is their failure that unlocked skepticism among most viewers and readers.
TMS’ failure unlocked skepticism among fans
You may not have heard of TMS Entertainment before Sakamoto Days but it produced one of the finest masterpieces in anime. They changed the landscape of the Japanese animation industry back in the 80s through Akira. We all know how it further influenced Hollywood and pop culture on the whole.
But it is indeed disappointing to think that an esteemed studio such as TMS would ruin a hitman masterpiece. From PNG panels to botched pacing Sakamoto Days remains a failed adaptation for most fans. It isn’t an overstatement considering the inauthenticity and inaccuracy.
Sakamoto and Boiled’s fight, for example, was cut short and made inconclusive. Readers were quick to point it out within the first few minutes along with The Order’s introduction. It was bland and lacked aura compared to the character’s portrayal in the manga.
Heisuke too was abandoned by the animators and reduced to a crybaby. It was exaggerated on many occasions. The moment was supposed to be a gag but turned cringy in every sense which makes it more disappointing. No wonder fans are skeptical about the upcoming live-action.
In all honesty, there have been cases where studios have failed immensely with animated adaptations. The pacing, animation, and characters have been abandoned. Yuto Suzuki’s masterpiece, however, deserves a faithful adaptation.
Sakamoto Days anime is available for streaming on Netflix. The manga is available for reading on Shueisha’s Manga Plus app.
This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire
