During the weekend, Netflix unveiled the introductory scene for Sakamoto Days, scheduled to premiere on January 11th. Surprisingly, this announcement has stirred concerns among fans regarding the animation’s quality instead of excitement.

Among the most eagerly awaited animates not just for the Winter 2025 season, but for the entire year, is Sakamoto Days. This anime stands out as one of the biggest successes from Shonen Jump currently, given that shows like My Hero Academia, Jujutsu Kaisen, and other prominent titles have recently concluded.

However, fans, particularly those in Japan, have voiced apprehensions about the trailers. The show, “Sakamoto Days,” revolves around a retired hitman who desires a peaceful life, but it’s an action-filled series where Sakamoto’s past repeatedly resurfaces, endangering his family.

Critics are expressing concerns that the previews for the show don’t emphasize enough action scenes, instead focusing too much on everyday life moments. This has led to speculation that the animation might not meet the high expectations set by the promotional buzz.

As a devoted fan on Reddit’s bustling anime community, I’ve noticed that many top-rated comments about the latest opening sequence have been less than favorable. Users are expressing their disappointment by suggesting that the new video seems to echo their earlier concerns about TMS Entertainment’s handling of the series, implying a lack of proper care and attention.

The user commented, “I’m approaching this without any prior knowledge, but the opening is remarkably low-key and unenergetic.

Another person chipped in, “Considering I’ve read the manga and am a huge fan, my response is yes, I concur. My feelings are neutral.”

Or

A second voice joined the conversation, saying, “Given that I’m a devoted reader of the manga, I share your sentiments. To be honest, I feel neither excited nor disappointed.

Another individual chimed in, “I think the tune is solid, but there’s something lacking in the visual aspect of the animation. It doesn’t stand out enough to grab a novice viewer’s attention, in my opinion.

Why is Sakamoto Days’ opening sequence so important?

It’s common for opening sequences to be among the first impressions viewers get when a show debuts, making them like a showcase for a series. Yet, it’s quite common to encounter anime with openings that are highly praised, despite the overall series being considered mild or even subpar.

Production houses recognize the importance of captivating viewers from the start with engaging opening sequences. They invest considerable resources into these segments, which are typically created ahead of time and appear consistently throughout episodes (though slight modifications may occur between episodes). Due to this advanced production process, these openings often showcase superior animation compared to the main episodes. In the case of anime, episodes are usually produced weekly while the series is airing, making it challenging to maintain such high-quality standards consistently.

In its current popularity among Shonen Jump series, Sakamoto Days anticipates premium animation quality (if not the best, certainly high-quality animation considering the pressing deadlines). It’s definitely troubling if the opening sequence falls short of our hopes.

Some viewers arguing that the opening lacks sufficient dynamism may not be too far off base. Compared to series like Jujutsu Kaisen, Solo Leveling, or Demon Slayer, this opening has less action and movement. For an anime of such high anticipation in 2025, it might have been more impressive if it had a bit more pizzazz.

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2025-01-06 23:34