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Kagurabachi is a unique manga that captured the attention of many fans. Not only does it have a unique art style, but the protagonist’s tale and the narrative itself are extremely compelling.
There are many anime that got adapted from original manga sources. Of them, we recently saw the legendary assassin series, Sakamoto Days get an an anime adaptation after a long wait.
When it was first announced, the fans were thrilled—until they saw the first teaser. The episodes did nothing to help it, the way the fans had pictured the anime would be in their minds wasn’t the way that was actually happening.
WhyKagurabachiwill be a hit or miss
Kagurabachibeing adapted sounds like good news, definitely, but what happened toSakamoto Daysis a reminder that maybe the technology isn’t sufficient to give the adaptations the respect they deserve without losing some of its key aspects.
For instance, the manga of Sakamoto Days was known for its dynamic paneling and fast-paced action was clearly difficult to animate faithfully. Moreover, an attempt to “respect the art style” resulted in an underwhelming animation quality that felt stiff rather than fluid.
I really don’t know what to say anymorepic.twitter.com/wjzVUl9IHX
Due to a filter that is way too expensive if it covers fast-moving imagery and action choreography, the entire vibe of the series got dampened, and it went from a masterpiece of a ‘retired assassin’ series to just another action slice of life.
This disappointment highlights a common issue:not every manga’s art style is easy to adapt into an animation. For a manga, a panel is enough to capture a moment, but that won’t work in an anime. With Kagurabachi’s growing popularity, this unfortunate case might be repeated.
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Kagurabachistands out in the manga world because of its stunningly detailed artwork. The intense shading, contrast of the dark colors, and seemingly dark, otherworldly designs of characters and weapons are not your everyday animations.
ShouldKagurabachibe adapted right now?
It will be very difficult to animate it without incurring a massive budget. IfKagurabachifollows the same path asSakamoto Days, making ‘compromises,’ it might not translate well into an anime.
ForKagurabachito succeed, it would need a top-tier animation studio, one that is not onlycapable of delivering high-quality fight choreographyand detailed backgrounds but also ready to spend a lot of money.
This is how a masterpiece of an anime likeDandadanwas born. IfKagurabachiis adapted, due to it being a ready masterpiece already, there seem to only be two outcomes: either it is awkwardly animated likeSakamoto Days, or it becomes a masterpiece likeDandadan, there is no in-between.
IfKagurabachiis handed to a less experienced or rushed studio, the quality will suffer.Sakamoto Daysis already facing this issue, as its animation doesn’t capture the fluidity of the manga’s fights.
Shonen Jump Might Make Kagurabachi the Next One Piece to Solve a Glaring Problem Eiichiro Oda Won’t Be Able To
Instead of rushing into an adaptation, it might be better to waituntil the right studio with the right budget is available. It might not get a second chance, and who knows how long until a reboot if it fails? Fans can only buckle up and wait patiently.
Kagurabachimanga is available to read on Viz Media.
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.
