Winter 2025 Preview: Sakamoto Days

summation

• The highly anticipated adaptation follows the story of a former assassin whose family life is threatened by his past coming back to haunt him.
• It is an action comedy heightened by its premise and strong expressions, especially in the character design of the main character.
• The animation crew is impressive, from prolific screenwriters to talented designers and fantastic composers.

Every few years, the anime community gathers in anticipation of a certain kind of adaptation that mixes intense action with silly, wholesome comedy and usually centers around one OP lead. These are like animations One Punch Man, Mob Psycho 100or spy x family (Let's be real, Yor is scary powerful) And now, Sakamoto Days It's the latest action show to receive similar hype.

Based on the manga by Yuto Suzuki, this shonen series follows the story of Taro Sakamoto, who was once the world's greatest assassin but left that life after meeting his next love. After getting married and having a daughter, Sakamoto gains weight and runs a convenience store, but discovers his past and puts his comfortable life at risk.

Not Just Another Retired Assassin

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john wick

There is a backstory, but much less tragic inciting incident.

Much of the logline is familiar, but the nuances can be found in the presentation and are immediately apparent when you watch the trailer. Compared to Sakamoto's striking and conventionally attractive appearance in his prime, his plump figure as a loving father creates an attractive dichotomy. The fact that he retains much of his incredible abilities in combat only adds to the comedy. that john wick There is a backstory, but much less tragic inciting incident.

Sakamoto (CV: Tomokazu Sugita) has made enemies and the bounty on his head is difficult for the denizens of the criminal underworld to resist. If his former rivals and partners are in it for the money or they don't believe he's really out of the game, they're after him. And since Sakamoto's wife Aoi (CV: Nao Toyama) makes it clear that if he kills again, their marriage will end, he has to get creative with how to neutralize his enemies.

killer convenience store employee

Thankfully, he is not alone and he will gradually be joined by fellow assassins at the convenience store who become allies and comrades. Shin Asakura (CV: Nobunaga Shimazaki) is Sakamoto's long-time partner and a young assassin with supernatural powers. Next are Lu Xiaotang (CV: Ayane Sakura), a member of the Triad, and Heisuke Mashimo (CV: Ryota Suzuki), a low-level assassin and sniper who owns a pet parrot, Pisuke.

Staff during the Sakamoto era

director and writer

Sakamoto Days The animation is being produced by the same studio, TMS Entertainment. lupine the 3rd, Dr. Stoneand undead bad luckJust to mention a few. The director will be Masaki Watanabe. battle spirit Studio Sunrise and Bandai Namco Pictures produced the series, and he also directed a 2022 episode. Dragon Ball Super: Super Heroes. His other credits include Code Geass Exile Akito Film and 2006 adaptation bartender.

The writer responsible for the adaptation is Taku Kishimoto, and if you're not familiar with his name, you're undoubtedly familiar with his work. He is an incredibly prolific screenwriter in the field of animation, credited with the series composition of recent shows such as: blue rock, king's rankand even one pieceA remake by Wit Studio that caused a worldwide sensation. Kishimoto also Patriot Moriarty, Haikyuuand rubbing out.

Behind the scenes of art and music

Yō Moriyama's resume as a character designer for TV animation is particularly impressive. Throughout the 2000s, he was a key animator on projects such as 2004. monster And for the first time ever naruto movie. He was director Takeshi Koike's character design assistant. lupine the 3rd He produced the film and also illustrated the backgrounds for Koike's 2009 cult hit. red line. Perhaps most interestingly, he was the manager in 2018. Megalo Box This is the sequel in 2021.

Moriyama may not be in the director's chair here, but his resume speaks volumes about the work. The animation director hasn't been credited yet, but it would be great if it were him. Speaking of works, Yukiko Maruyama is accelerating her work as an art director. My Hero AcademiaThe latest season, the third overload movie, season 3 Konosuba.

It's not just Maruyama My Hero Academia However, the soundtrack will be composed by Yuki Hayashi, whose career we surveyed in February, so he's a veteran employee. Hayashi is inspired by epic orchestras, intense rock music, and a mix of different genres that have now firmly established him as one of the leading anime composers. No matter how hard the animation works to build hype, the music will work just as hard.

There is only one month left

The animation is divided into two parts, the first part will be broadcast for the first time on January 11th, and the second part will be broadcast in July. It is reported that the first season of the TV animation will have a total of 22 episodes. Netflix is ​​streaming the series globally.

Comic fans wanted to see it. Sakamoto Days It's been adapted for a long time, and for many, the trailer has become everything they dreamed of. Diving into the staff behind the adaptation only makes it more interesting. Even at the cost of making the next months much more painful in the meantime.

Sakamoto Days It will be available to stream on Netflix from January 11th.

Source: ANN