When Sakamoto Days was first announced for an anime adaptation, fans were really hyped up about it. A lot of them referred to it as one of the most anticipated new-gen shows, blending action, comedy, and some nice fight scenes that could actually shake up the anime scene. But here we are today, Cour 1 received a lukewarm reception and Cour 2 is set to drop amidst one of the most competitive anime seasons in recent memory, the reality is grim.
If you thought Solo Leveling was a tough competition, then you can just imagine what’s going to happen when Dandadan, Gachiakuta, Kaiju No. 8, The Summer Hikaru Dies, and other highly anticipated adaptations all arrive at the same time. It’s like this wild battlefield where Sakamoto Days, which is already doing badly with a pretty mediocre adaptation, barely gets its time to shine.
The wild storm for Sakamoto Days: A season of heavyweights
One of the biggest hurdles Sakamoto Days has to overcome is Dandadan, a series that has been hailed as one of the most exhilarating supernatural action comedies in recent years. It’s got this incredible mix of absurd humor, great action, and a touch of romance, and Science SARU has given it the full star treatment with its best animation and storytelling.
So when you pit that against Sakamoto Days, particularly because it’s already facing criticism for its animation, it’s going to struggle to catch everyone’s attention for sure. The other strong contender is Gachiakuta, a series that’s been making waves because of its dark story and stunning artwork.
With Bones, a studio that’s also behind Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood and Mob Psycho 100, the adaptation is in good hands. Expectations are through the roof, and that’s a huge issue for Sakamoto Days since both series excel in stylish action and choreography. Without an elite animation team, Sakamoto Days just won’t stand a chance.
Kaiju No. 8 is totally blowing up right now, and the hype for its anime adaptation is huge thanks to some serious promotional push. Made by Production I.G., the show’s got top-notch animation and a solid story going for it. Because it’s so popular, casual viewers, like those who might have thought about checking out Sakamoto Days, are probably gonna lean more towards Kaiju No. 8.
Whereas Sakamoto Days is an action genre, The inclusion of The Summer Hikaru Dies within the same season adds a new hurdle. This supernatural, psychological horror BL series has been gaining headlines with its deeply emotional story and atmospheric tension. And with the demand for unusual plots in anime continually on the rise, The Summer Hikaru Dies could overshadow traditional battle shonen like Sakamoto Days, further diminishing its visibility.
So what’s next for Sakamoto Days?
If you look closely, one of the biggest reasons for Sakamoto Days‘ downfall isn’t just the competition, but the adaptation itself. Well before the announcement of the anime, it was consistently topping fan wishlists for a new-gen anime adaptation.
However, when the anime episodes started rolling out, things quickly turned grim. Cour 1 debuted with inconsistent animation quality, lifeless action sequences, and an overall lack of energy that failed to capture the essence of the manga.
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Therefore, Sakamoto Days‘s failure should be a wake-up call for the makers. While most of its other new-gen titles (Undead Unluck, Elusive Samurai, Kagurabachi) have received solid to stellar adaptations, Sakamoto Days was left to struggle with a studio not having the pedigree needed to make it work.
So, at this stage, if the series hopes to recover, either TMS needs to seriously step up its game, or the rights should be handed over to a more capable studio. Otherwise, all we can do is sit back and watch as it gets overshadowed by the upcoming anime heavyweights.
Sakamoto Days is currently available to watch on Netflix.
This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire
