Summary
- Sakamoto Days anime vs manga: manga slightly better due to pacing.
- Animation quality questioned compared to manga’s fluid art.
- Anime introduces characters well with great soundtrack and voice acting.
The new Sakamoto Days anime was just released in early 2025, and the hype for the series has never been higher. With the beloved manga finally receiving an adaptation, many fans are eager to see if it lives up to the source material. For many, this can be one of the scariest things a new anime release can face, especially with the sheer amount of bad adaptations there are out there. Though only a couple of episodes have been released thus far, despite the anticipation, Sakamoto Days is off to a strong start.
However, is the new Sakamoto Days anime better or worse than the manga? While many long-time fans would be quick to say the manga is better, especially with the sheer amount of amazing content it has, for new fans of the series, this question may be a bit more difficult, especially if they started by watching the anime first. Still though, although it’s still early in the lifetime of the Sakamoto Days release schedule, there is a clear answer to whether the manga or the anime are superior.
This article will only be comparing the first episode of the anime to the first chapter of the manga.
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Sakamoto Days Is Already An Iconic Series
The Hitman Manga Is Beloved By Many
Sakamoto Days is a new 2025 anime that follows the story of a former hitman, named Taro Sakamoto, who chose to quit his former business and settle down to start a family. After this, elements of Sakamoto’s past start coming back, forcing the former assassin to use every skill and weapon in his arsenal in order to protect his family. This series features some incredible assassin-based combat, fluid visuals, beautiful art, and a strong sense of humor making it an instant classic among fans, who refer to it as, “the John Wick of Anime.”
Sakamoto got out of shape.
However, although it has just released, the actual anime for Sakamoto Days has already started to receive some negative attention. Already, many fans are claiming that the animation for Sakamoto Days isn’t high quality, especially compared to the fluid art of the manga. Although it’s hard to compare the two mediums, many fans expected more from the series, hoping for the fight scenes to reach the incredible standards set by Jujutsu Kaisen and modern One Piece.
The Sakamoto Days Anime And Manga Are Nearly Identical
The Manga’s Pacing Is Slightly Better
- The Sakamoto Days Manga Is Fast-Paced And Snappy
- The Anime Drags A Bit And Has Some Spotty Animation
Between the first chapter of the manga and the first episode of the anime, Sakamoto Days is a nearly one-for-one adaptation. Not a single scene in the manga was left out of the anime, and everything was kept in its full glory. While in the manga the plot was a bit faster-paced and snappier, an advantage of the medium, the anime definitely stretched out some jokes for more comedic effect. While this isn’t necessarily a bad thing, it can be a bit annoying for some viewers.
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The manga for Sakamoto Days, for the first chapter, includes some excellently drawn action scenes. Due to the way the panels work, the characters, especially Sakamoto, feel lightning-fast and very deadly. The anime captures this idea very well, keeping the pacing of fights fast and impactful. However, at times, the art of these scenes in the anime is a bit worse than in the manga, though this is once again more of a fault of the anime art form rather than the production team.
The Soundtrack And Voice Acting Help Elevate The Sakamoto Days Anime
The Anime Does Some Great Things The Manga Can’t
Lastly, both the first chapter and the first episode of the new anime Sakamoto Days do a great job of introducing the characters of the series, however, the anime, with its accompanying soundtrack, does make the whole experience more satisfying. Additionally, the voice acting for the show is a great addition, bringing the characters from the manga to life well. Although the manga is great, not having elements like these is a dealbreaker.
It’s been a while, Mr. Sakamoto. – Shin
In the end, while both the anime and manga of Sakamoto Days have been great so far, the manga is a bit better than the anime. However, for those who don’t enjoy reading manga, anime is an amazing alternative so far that captures the story well. Plus, when it works out its animation issues, the Sakamoto Days anime may be even better than the manga.
A 2025 anime, Sakamoto Days is an action-comedy based on Yuto Suzuki’s shonen manga, which debuted in 2020. The series follows Taro Sakamoto, a retired hitman who has been enjoying the family life for years. He spends his days running a small store alongside Shin, but his peaceful existence is regularly interrupted by ghosts of the past.