It's like John Wick, but funny and animated.
On January 11, Netflix premiered the anime comedy action movie Sakamoto Days. Shortly before the show's release, the manga of the same name, which has been published since 2020, reached 7 million copies.
The series was produced by TMS Entertainment, the studio responsible for Dr. Stone. We'll tell you why you shouldn't miss one of the best titles of the winter.
What Is Sakamoto Days About?
Sakamoto is a legendary assassin who has achieved incredible success in his profession. But one day the hero meets a woman and falls in love. Gradually, Sakamoto leaves the deadly craft, gets married, becomes a father, opens a grocery store and gains weight.
Peaceful life goes on as usual, until one day Shin Asakura, an esper and former colleague of Sakamoto's, appears on the threshold of the family store.
It turns out that Sakamoto can't just quit his job – the man has been wanted by killers all along. Now the man must remember the old days and protect his family at all costs.
The Anime Does a Great Job of Telling the Story of a Retired Killer
The cliché of the retired assassin is often used in movies: from John Wick to Ninja Kamui. But Sakamoto Days is not a serious, pretentious action flick that focuses on brutal action scenes, but rather a light-hearted comedy.
The comedy genre allows the authors to take an ironic look at the world of assassins, giving the title a relaxed atmosphere. In addition, the main character's physique often undermines the vigilance of his opponents, creating many comical situations.
The ninja brothers fight him half-heartedly at first, only to realize too late that they have to fight for real. And Sakamoto defeats them using kitchen utensils and even a refrigerator as weapons.
Sakamoto Days Is a Good Replacement for the Just-Completed Dandadan
The second season of Dandadan won't be released until summer, and Sakamoto Days is more than capable of making the wait bearable. The jokes here are not as vulgar and daring, but rather kind and absurd. But that is not bad, because humor should be different.
In July, the second season of Sakamoto Days will be released together with Dandadan. So the titles will have to compete with each other, not replace each other.
Sakamoto Days Is a Bright and Light-Hearted Shonen Title
In classic shonen style, a loyal team of diverse personalities gradually gathers around the protagonist. First there is the telepathic mercenary Shin, who sincerely admires the legendary killer. Then the characters save an orphan girl named Lu, the daughter of one of the Triad families, from trouble.
And then Heisuke Mashimo, a low-ranking sniper killer with a pet bird who was essentially homeless before meeting Sakamoto, joins the group. Over time, the characters grow closer and become a tight-knit family, each member willing to do anything for their loved ones.