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Sakamoto Dayshas long been one of the best manga that combines action with humor. Since the manga started getting popular, it has been one of the most anticipated anime adaptations.
The one thing that most of the fans were looking forward to is the animation of the epic fight scenes from the manga. The panels could capture the essence of the fights exceptionally well, so why not the moving pictures?
The series has been critically acclaimed and praised for its intense action sequences and dynamic fight choreography. However, from what has been seen from the anime until now, there seems to be a surprising compromise during the production as the fights seem lackluster.
A flaw in an otherwise promising adaptation
The reason has been revealed to be an applied filter that, while adding a unique aesthetic, seemingly reduces the overall fluidity of the animation unless there is a lot of manpower used to fix the movements.
So, the action choreography during the epic fight scenes with Taro Sakamoto doing one thing one second and a completely different thing in the next would not be properly translated onto the screen due to this filter.
The entire essence of the anime is being risked by the production team, so why would they do this? The answer is simple: Money. Masaki Watanabe, the director of the Sakamoto Days anime, spoke about the animationduring an interview with Anime World Network.
“This is part of the ‘filter’ that is applied during compositing”. “The paper texture is extracted from the shadow areas of the drawing material and applied only to those areas. The texture does not follow the character’s movements, as this would greatly increase the amount of work required.”
The filter in question gives the animation a paper-texture effect used to maintain the manga’s hand-drawn feel; this has been done to give the series a distinct visual identity.
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However, this filter doesn’t move. So it feels extremely out of place when the characters or objects are moving, forget fluidity,it feels like a few frames have been skipped in the middle.
Why does the filter jeopardize the action scenes?
This has led to mixed reactions, with some appreciating the stylistic choice while others argue that it negatively impacts the clarity and fluidity of action sequences.
The paper texture might be a good idea and a reminder of the source of the hit series, but even with the budget cuts, focusing more on the action sequencescould have elevated the quality of the animationto another level.
That being said,this doesn’t mean the adaptation isdoomed. The manga itself is a narrative masterpiece and a wonderful mix of multiple genres. The theme is unique and attractive as well. It can be said that the feeling of awe and wonder has been properly conveyed by the anime until now.
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If the animation team can balance the aesthetic with well-choreographed and fluid fights,Sakamoto Dayscould still go on to be a visually striking and impressive action anime.
TheSakamoto Daysmanga is available to read on Viz Media and the anime is available to stream on Netflix.
Chandra Shekhar
Anime Writer
Articles Published :856
Chandra Shekhar is an Anime Writer at FandomWire with over 800 published articles under his belt. A law student by training but a storyteller at heart, he blends his sharp analysis with a deep love for all things anime. From the old-school Yu Yu Hakusho to the eldritch horrors of Lord of the Mysteries, his knowledge spans decades and genres. When he’s not writing, he’s likely buried in webnovels, silently hoping his favorite ones get the anime adaptation they deserve.
