HomeAnimeANIME REVIEW | "Sakugan" a Wild Family Road Trip

ANIME REVIEW | "Sakugan" a Wild Family Road Trip

ANIME REVIEW | "Sakugan" a Wild Family Road Trip

It’s wild to think that there aren’t a lot of anime series that focus on parents bonding with their children. In fact, not since a certain mom & son duo went to another world have I seen an anime whose main protagonists are family. Considering the importance of family in Japanese culture, it’s weird that there aren’t a lot of shows that implement that importance in their narratives. So it leaves me feeling good to see a show like Sakugan, which highlights the strengths & weaknesses of family during a chaotic & fun adventure.

Based on the novel Sakugan Labyrinth Maker by Nekotaro Inui, Sakugan follows the intelligent daughter Memepu (Kanon Amane) and her bumbling dad Gagumber (Hiroki Tochi), who live in an underground colony working the grind. Memepu dreams of being a Marker, but Gagumber does his best to put a cork in those aspirations. That is, until a kaiju attacks the colony, leaving some of their friends dead and their city in turmoil. After making some customizations to their mark bot, Memepu and Gagumber set off on a journey to find a mysterious location shown in the daughter’s pendant.

One of the things that makes Sakugan a fun show is its overall attitude. The characters of Memepu and Gagumber are pretty much in-your-face, either in each other’s or the audience’s. There’s a vibe from these characters that feels akin to classic anime heroes from the late 90s/early 2000s. You can imagine Gagumber talking easily to someone like Jet Black or Heat Guy J, with Memepu brushing elbows with people like Renton Thurston or Jim Hawkin. It’s this element that makes this anime feel like a relic, a lost classic that was somehow buried underneath the rubble of Trigun or Evangelion.

The main focus of the show is on Memepu and Gagumber’s journey to this mystery land. They come across other monsters, enter new worlds, and even make a couple new friends in the form of hacker Yuri (Toshiyuki Toyonaga) and the thief Zackletu (Kana Hanazawa). The latter character winds up being pretty interesting, with Zackletu having a connection to Gagumber that takes him by surprise when it’s revealed. And as Memepu dives into these new worlds & places, the more she discovers the hardships and challenges a Marker’s life can bring.

When it is focus on the main storyline, Sakugan can be terrific. Watching as Memepu and Gagumber bond through fun & tough times can be both funny and wholesome. It’s clear that Memepu lacks respect for her Dad, but the more she sees her father in action, the more she realizes how much he cares for her. Yes, he can be a louse and a perv, but Gagumber is still a far better father figure choice than most anime dads! (At least Memepu wants to get in the damn robot, if you get what I’m saying!)

This leads to the giant robot element of this show. At first it looks their bot Big Tony would play a huge part in the story of Sakugan. Instead, it acts more like a vehicle than a use for defense. There are some great fight sequences where Memepu and Gagumber use Big Tony in badass ways, but not as much as one would think. Having said that, when you see Big Tony in action, it rarely disappoints, as it smashes and thrashes its way through kaiju and blockades.

However, one problem with Sakugan is how often it trails off its main story road. Episodes involving toxic pollen and aiding a runaway princess have a couple of narrative beats that are important to the main tale. But one cannot think that these parts slow down the progression of the story to a crawl, to the point where it can be a little bit dull in places. There are enough jokes and heart to keep these moments somewhat entertaining, but it nevertheless drags the narrative down in spots.

Where it never half-asses is in its animation. Heat Guy J and Fairy Tail studio Satelight have crafted a beautiful and lively world in Sakugan. From the cluttery Pinyin to the bright sights of Jolly-Jolly, the places that Memepu and Gagumber roam are filled with such gorgeous detail. The characters also have loads of personality, with facial expressions and body language brimming with a mix of modern style and early Heisei-era OVA quality. And when it’s time to kick ass, the motion of the character, weaponry, mechs, and kaiju flow like a bombastic poem in motion.

But the strength of Sakugan rests on both Gagumber and Memepu, and their respective voice actors deliver with gusto! Amane brings a can-do attitude to a bratty persona as Memepu, as she acts as the brains of the operation. Tochi’s Gagumber sounds more laid-back, but delivers a fiery beam of energy when trouble is brewing. Together both Amane and Tochi deliver a daughter/father dynamic that feels both authentic and — most importantly — relatable.

“Flawless” is the only word you can describe the soundtrack, composed by Tatsuya Kato (Food Wars, Dr. STONE). Its mixture of jazz, funk, and country music results in a score that has its own personality, in the same way Tsuneo Imahori did it for Trigun and Gungrave. Opening theme “Kokotsu Labyrinth” by JAM Project’s Masaaki Endoh is the sound of a good punch in the face, waking up any tired viewers with wild sound and killer vocals. MindaRyn’s end theme “Shine” is a good polar opposite of the OP, bringing a soft J-POP sound that will help anyone to calm down after watching the madness unfolding in each episode.

Sakugan isn’t a perfect action anime, but it checks off more boxes than it doesn’t. The evolution of Memepu & Gagumber’s relationship is the big draw of this show, as it highlights a storytelling arc that isn’t really touched upon in anime much. Even when it stumbles with its narrative, Sakugan smashes its way through with its solid attitude and wild personality!

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Sakugan can be viewed on Crunchyroll and VRV, and has been licensed by Crunchyroll. Episodes 1-11 were observed for review. Promotional consideration provided by Ellation.

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The J-POP king of America, Evan has been bringing the hottest sounds of the Land of the Rising Sun to the English-speaking public since his college radio days. He's also an expert in the gaming, anime, & manga realms, never afraid to get critical when the times call for it. Born & bred in Boston, he achieved his biggest dream yet by making the big move to Tokyo, Japan in Summer 2023! For personal inquiries, contact Evan at evan@b3crew.com. For press/band inquiries, write to us at thebastards@bostonbastardbrigade.com. (Drawing by AFLM of Wicked Anime)