While the Sakamoto Days anime adaptation isn’t necessarily doing anything wrong, the studio, however, seems pretty reluctant to take risks and make changes which is ultimately holding it back. It isn’t doing anything out of the ordinary and just blindly following the source material.
On the other hand, Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End does the opposite, embracing its flaws and pushing the boundaries. It’s always refreshing to see whenever a studio (here Studio Madhouse) willingly experiments and improves on the already existing source.
This very essence of storytelling in anime highlights the importance of a thoughtful adaptation, which builds upon its flaws, and just by doing that the anime can make all the difference in creating a memorable and impactful series. But clearly, Sakamoto Days isn’t doing any of it!
Frieren very much accepted its flaws and built upon them!
To make a fairer comparison, first one should learn what exactly Frieren does better. There have been several instances in the anime, where Frieren acknowledged its flaws and used them to its advantage. The show isn’t afraid to take risks and try new things, even if it means stumbling along the way.
Despite some fans claiming that it has major pacing issues, with forgotten characters, and abrupt action scenes, it does not back off from delivering what it initially intended. Frieren owns those flaws, and instead of trying to hide them, it uses them to create a unique viewing experience.
It willingly experiments and pushes boundaries, even if it means facing criticism. And that’s exactly what any adaptation should do.
But look at Sakamoto Days! It simply feels like a lazy adaptation that’s more interested in copying manga panels than creating a compelling show in general. Frieren’s approach may not be perfect, but it’s refreshing to see a show that’s not afraid to do new things along with maintaining its faithfulness.
Sakamoto Days has no chance of reaching Frieren’s popularity whatsoever
Frieren quite literally proves how a great storyline can be elevated with just a simple touch of innovation. While the source material was already fantastic, Studio Madhouse took it to the next level by adding its own flair.
Frieren truly is a masterclass on how to adapt a manga into an anime, and it’s not just a vague statement, as it still reigns supreme in the number 1 position in the list of top anime of all time on MAL.
On the other hand, Sakamoto Days is a perfect example of a missed opportunity! Despite having a similarly popular manga like Frieren, the anime adaptation doesn’t have that spark. And the biggest problem is, Studio TMS Entertainment is showing no sign of improving on it!
It’s not like they need to refurbish the entire series; just adding a bit of their own flair and style to the anime would make a huge difference. However, as it stands now, Sakamoto Days feels like a generic adaptation and it’s a shame because, with a bit more effort, this could have been an absolute game-changer.
Both Sakamoto Days and Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End are available to watch on Netflix.
This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire
