It’s been one hell of a bumpy ride for Sakamoto Days anime, especially with the ongoing criticism from fans. Be it animation or pacing, the episodes had fans throwing brickbats at the creators. And while the criticisms are very much plausible, the series deserves a second chance because of this very reason.
It is in no way comparable to Solo Leveling’s towering popularity, yet TMS Entertainment proved that they are not to be taken lightly. While the previous episodes were slipshod, the anime did a 180 with the recent episode. In all seriousness, the anime might just make its promising comeback.
Sakamoto Days anime showcases its silver lining
Sakamoto Days is truly a one-of-a-kind hitman manga that lives up to its hype as a bestseller. It defies cliches and tropes and reimagines them through the characters, and the protagonist is one such example. Fatties might be stereotypically funny, but Yuto Suzuki paints them as badass in his manga.
Taro Sakamoto, for example, is unbecoming of a hitman in terms of his rotund figure and build, as some suggest. But does that stop him from being a completely iconic hitman? By no means, especially with him retaining the skills and abilities from his prime, be it physical combat and shooting.
Things went downhill for the anime, especially with the past couple of episodes. It almost seemed haphazard, with the animators cutting off major scenes from the manga. What seemed like a lost cause isn’t the case, especially with the recent episode that raised fans’ hopes for good.
On r/anime, fans discussed Episode 7, and the responses were pure gold.
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From Seba’s introduction and his invisibility skills to the bike fight, everything was brilliantly executed. This also applies to the action scenes that were seamlessly done, along with Shin’s warped speech, which seems coherent. For readers, this episode is a total win and is promising in many aspects.
But here’s a catch to that as well, considering its constant comparison with Solo Leveling. While Suzuki’s series is a bestseller, its anime cannot compete with Chugong’s manhwa, and it doesn’t have to. What is certain, however, is the latter’s towering influence in the anime community.
Solo Leveling’s towering presence in the anime community
Solo Leveling isn’t a mere coveted project for A-1 Pictures but a pride and joy in every sense. The series has gained a global fanbase of both readers as well as viewers with its soaring popularity, which is evident with it being ranked the third-highest-rated anime. But that is not all that is there to it.
With manhwa adaptations, it is either a hit or a miss, and Solo Leveling is no exception to it. Its first season, for example, was dull and lackluster, as pointed out by several fans. The criticism was a turning point as well as a wake-up call for the studio to up their game.
The second season took the animation up a notch with quality, and well-done arcs, which further validate its success and growing popularity among readers and viewers. This pretty much explains its towering presence in the anime community as a whole.
By and by, there is one thing we should know and understand, and that is Sakamoto Days isn’t a mere lost cause. There is hope and light at the end of the tunnel,l and Episode 7 is solid proof of that. Fans need to give the series a second chance and have more faith.
Solo Leveling is available for streaming on Webtoon. Sakamoto Days 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
