The highly anticipated anime adaptation of Yuto Suzuki’s Sakamoto Days has finally arrived, sparking a debate among fans: Is the anime better than the manga? Both the manga and anime have garnered significant praise for their unique blend of action and comedy, but they each offer a different experience. This article will delve into the key differences and strengths of both, helping you decide which version reigns supreme.
The Source Material: A Beloved Manga
Sakamoto Days first appeared as a one-shot manga in December 2019, before debuting in Weekly Shonen Jump in November 2020. The manga, written and illustrated by Yuto Suzuki, follows Taro Sakamoto, a legendary hitman who retires to settle down and start a family, becoming a convenience store owner. However, his past life keeps catching up with him, forcing him to use his deadly skills to protect his family. The manga is known for its fast-paced action, comedic timing, and unique art style. As of January 2025, the manga has 20 volumes and over 7 million copies in circulation, proving its popularity.
What Makes the Manga Stand Out?
- Pacing: The manga is known for its snappy and fast-paced plot progression. This allows for a dynamic reading experience, keeping the reader engaged.
- Art Style: Yuto Suzuki’s art style is often praised for its fluid action scenes, especially the depiction of Sakamotoās lightning-fast movements.
- Humor: The manga balances its action with a lighthearted tone and comedic situations. It does not shy away from dark themes but mostly remains happy, according to some reviews.
- Originality: Some readers appreciate the unique character spotlights and the creative action sequences that continuously one-up themselves.
The Anime Adaptation: Bringing Sakamoto to Life
The anime adaptation, produced by TMS Entertainment, premiered on January 11, 2025, on Netflix. Directed by Masaki Watanabe, the anime features scripts by Taku Kishimoto, character designs by YÅ Moriyama, and music by Yuki Hayashi. The first season is split into two cours with the second part expected in July 2025, and new episodes releasing every Saturday. The anime follows the manga’s storyline, with some minor changes and additions.
Strengths of the Anime
- Voice Acting: The voice cast has been lauded for capturing the essence of the characters, particularly Tomokazu Sugita’s portrayal of Taro Sakamoto and Nobunaga Shimazaki’s performance as Shin.
- Soundtrack: The anime features a dynamic soundtrack that complements the action and comedic scenes, enhancing the overall viewing experience.
- Enhanced Action: The anime format allows for a more dynamic visualization of the fight scenes, filling in the gaps of the manga with fluid animation. The anime also adds some new scenes to the fights, like the extended opening scene that showcases Sakamoto’s hitman skills.
- Character Introduction: The anime has been praised for how well it introduces the characters, and provides build up to their introductions.
- Accessibility: For those who prefer not to read manga, the anime serves as a great alternative that captures the story well.
Manga vs. Anime: Key Differences
While both the manga and anime are faithful adaptations, some key differences can affect the overall experience.
Pacing and Presentation
- Manga: The manga has a faster, snappier pace that some find more engaging.
- Anime: The anime tends to stretch out some jokes for comedic effect and sometimes has slower pacing, which can be seen as a positive or negative depending on viewer preferences.
Animation Quality
- Manga: The manga is praised for its fluid art and impactful action scenes.
- Anime: The anime’s animation quality has been a point of contention among fans, with some finding it stiff, rigid and not up to par with other modern anime. Some fans have also noted the use of still frames and cuts which is considered excessive by some. However, others have praised the animation for capturing the unique art style of the manga.
Additions and Changes
- Anime: The anime sometimes adds new scenes and extends the length of scenes from the manga, often improving their impact. One of the most notable changes is the cold opening in the first episode, which is not present in the first chapter of the manga. The anime also adds some minor changes to the character introductions.
- Manga: The manga’s pacing is slightly better, and its art is more fluid.
Specific Examples
- Character Design: The anime design for Nagumo differs from the current manga design, with shorter hair in the anime and longer hair in the manga.
- Emotional Impact: Some fans feel that the manga plays certain moments as gags, while the anime focuses more on the emotional impact. For example, the anime portrays Sakamoto’s aging as a change that has made him more wholesome, and more of a dad.
- Skipped Chapters: The anime adaptation has skipped some manga chapters, for example, chapters 2 and 3. However, some scenes from those chapters were used in later episodes.
The Verdict: Which is Better?
The question of whether the Sakamoto Days manga is better than the anime is ultimately a matter of personal preference. Here’s a breakdown to help you decide:
Choose the Manga if:
- You prefer a faster-paced story.
- You appreciate fluid and dynamic art styles.
- You prefer the original, unaltered story.
Choose the Anime if:
- You prefer to experience the story in an animated format.
- You value voice acting and soundtracks.
- You appreciate enhanced action sequences.
In conclusion, both the manga and anime are great in their own right. The manga provides a fast-paced and visually impressive reading experience, while the anime brings the characters to life with great voice acting and an engaging soundtrack. While some fans might consider the manga to be slightly better due to the pacing, the anime is an excellent alternative for those who prefer animation. Some even argue that the anime is already better than the manga due to the enhanced fight scenes and additions to the story. Ultimately, both versions of Sakamoto Days offer a fantastic experience and are worth checking out.
