The highly anticipated anime adaptation of Yuto Suzuki’s Sakamoto Days has finally premiered, and fans are eager to compare the anime to its manga source material. The anime, produced by TMS Entertainment, debuted on January 11, 2025, and is being streamed globally on Netflix. The initial episodes have generated a lot of buzz, with many praising the adaptation’s faithfulness to the manga while also noting some key differences. This article delves into a comparison of the first two episodes of the anime with the corresponding chapters of the manga, highlighting what was kept, what was changed, and what was added.
Episode 1: “The Legendary Hitman” – A Faithful Start with Some Enhancements
The first episode, titled “The Legendary Hitman,” largely adapts the first chapter of the Sakamoto Days manga. The anime kicks off by showcasing Taro Sakamoto in his prime as a legendary assassin, demonstrating his incredible skills and setting the stage for the series.
Extended Introduction of Taro Sakamoto
One notable enhancement in the anime is the extended introduction of Sakamoto’s hitman days. While the manga also depicts this, the anime adds fluid animation and new sequences to provide viewers with a deeper appreciation for his capabilities as an assassin. This extended action sequence allows the animation studio to flex its muscles and gives new viewers a clear picture of just how powerful Sakamoto was before his retirement.
Introduction to Aoi and Sakamoto’s Retirement
Following this action-packed opening, the anime transitions into Sakamoto’s life after retirement, mirroring the manga’s depiction of his meeting with his wife, Aoi. The anime perfectly adapts the manga panel showing Sakamoto’s reaction as he falls in love. Sequences showing his retirement, marriage, and life with his daughter, Hana, are directly taken from the source material, including the visual of Sakamoto several years later, sporting a considerable weight gain.
Shin Asakura’s Introduction
The anime also introduces Shin Asakura, a character who plays a significant role in Sakamoto’s current life. The anime builds up his introduction, showing him in the background during Sakamoto’s hitman flashback and also adding a few minor scenes. This includes the scene in Sakamoto’s store where a child is messing around with a customer; the anime extends the scene to add to the comedic effect. The anime then largely follows the manga for Shin and Sakamoto’s first conversation, with some minor alterations.
The First Chapter’s Faithful Adaptation
Overall, the first episode is a very faithful adaptation of the first chapter of the manga. It captures the essence of the story, including the unique blend of action and comedy. TMS Entertainment has been commended for the well-executed action sequences and for successfully capturing the charm of the source material. The episode acts as a great introduction to the world of Sakamoto Days for both manga fans and newcomers alike.
Episode 2: “Taro Sakamoto vs. Bacho and Son Hee” – Skipping Chapters but Staying True to the Core
Episode 2, titled “Taro Sakamoto vs. Bacho and Son Hee,” takes a different approach, skipping chapters 2 and 3 of the manga. This has raised some eyebrows among fans, but the anime manages to integrate some of the skipped content into later episodes.
Skipping the Bus Incident
Notably absent from episode 2 is the second chapter of the manga, which features Shin and Sakamoto saving Aoi from criminals on a bus. The anime instead goes straight to the introduction of Lu, another key character. However, the anime does include the moment where Aoi threatens Sakamoto with divorce if he kills again, drawing from the skipped manga chapter, while a flashback of Christmas from that chapter appears later in the second episode.
Officer Nakaze’s Absence
Episode 2 also omits chapter 3, which focuses on Officer Nakaze and her kidnapping. These omissions show that the anime is not a panel-by-panel recreation but rather an adaptation that is willing to adjust the order of events.
Sakamoto’s Promise and Lu’s Introduction
Despite skipping some content, Episode 2 maintains its core focus. It delves into the reason for Sakamoto’s retirement and his promise to Aoi, establishing his character’s motivations. The episode also introduces Lu Shaotang, a character who quickly becomes important in the storyline. The introduction of Lu also leads to the major action set piece of the episode.
The Introduction of Bacho and Son Hee
The main conflict of the episode revolves around the introduction of Bacho and Son Hee, the twin assassins. The anime showcases Sakamoto’s superhuman strength as he fights to save Lu, incorporating intense action sequences with fluid animation. The fight between Sakamoto, Shin and the twin assassins provides more context to Shin and Sakamoto’s relationship, and further demonstrates Sakamoto’s abilities despite his long retirement.
Shin’s Internal Conflict and Sakamoto’s Rescue
Episode 2 also includes a new scene where Shin reflects on his orders to kill Sakamoto, adding more depth to his internal conflict. The anime adds a few elements to extend the fight sequence, and the scenes of Sakamoto searching through his arsenal of weapons before rescuing Shin are directly adapted from the manga.
Reorganized Narrative
The second episode makes it clear that the anime is not afraid to deviate from the specific chapter order of the manga. However, despite these changes, the core narrative and character development remain consistent with the source material. TMS Entertainment has done well in adapting the story while maintaining the tone and excitement that Sakamoto Days is known for.
Key Differences and Similarities
Here’s a summary of the major differences and similarities between the anime and manga for the first two episodes:
Similarities:
- Faithful Character Portrayals: The anime does a good job in portraying the characters with their personalities and distinctive traits accurately depicted. The humor is very much present as well.
- Core Story Elements: The main plot points, including Sakamoto’s retirement, his relationship with Aoi, Shin’s introduction, and the conflicts with rival assassins, are all present in both the anime and manga.
- Action Sequences: The action sequences, a crucial part of the series, are well-adapted in the anime, keeping the intensity and choreography from the manga, sometimes even adding on to it.
Differences:
- Pacing and Chapter Order: The anime rearranges the manga’s chapter order, skipping chapter 2 and 3 in episode 2.
- Added Scenes: The anime adds scenes, such as the extended introduction to Sakamoto’s assassin days and Shin’s contemplation, to enhance the overall experience and animation.
- Omitted Scenes: As mentioned, the bus incident and Officer Nakaze’s kidnapping are skipped, although it’s possible these might be integrated later in the series.
Conclusion: A Solid Adaptation with Room to Grow
The anime adaptation of Sakamoto Days has made a strong start with its first two episodes. While there are some changes in pacing and chapter order, the core essence of the manga is maintained. TMS Entertainment has done a commendable job with the animation and has successfully captured the humor and action that make Sakamoto Days so popular. The anime has not gone for a panel-by-panel adaptation and it’s not afraid to add scenes to enhance the viewer’s experience. It will be interesting to see how the anime continues to adapt the manga in future episodes. So far, fans of the manga and newcomers alike can enjoy the anime for its faithfulness and unique storytelling style.
