Audience reviews
20 · Sample from the first available page, separate from the total number of ratings.
_Bubassotto_
It seemed interesting at first, but ended up being just another empty and unimpressive anime. Sakugan had a premise that, at first glance, caught the eye: a charismatic visual style, a curious setting, and the promise of exploring a father-daughter relationship in a hostile world. It seemed like something more emotional, perhaps even intimate, would emerge within an adventure setting. But in practice, it took a very different, and much more generic, path.
Going through the three pillars:
The animation is, without a doubt, the strongest point. The anime has a vibrant visual style, with vivid colors and a design that tries to be expressive and light, especially in the interactions between the characters. The fluidity is consistent most of the time, and you can perceive a certain care in th…
Read at the sourcegrr_mal
The "story" of the show is entirely contained in episode 1 setting the character's journey up and episode 12 pretending to move it forward a bit, in the form of bad guys showing up just to dump some exposition on us and the main characters and then withdraw for no logical reason other than to prolong things as much as possible.
The other episodes could just as well be classified as fillers from story perspective. But looking at it that way is obviously extremely dissatisfying, so instead you're better off forgetting there is a story or goal at all, and just view the show as an episodic slice-of-life or cute-girls-and-mechs-doing-cute-things or something equally nonsensical and noncommittal.
If only I knew and approached it as such, without serious expectations, then the show isn't bad a…
Read at the sourceandiabrudan
Oy, Hollywood, you dropped this garbage on your way to the d̶u̶m̶p̶s̶t̶e̶r̶ cinema.
Sakugan must be the worst anime I've seen this year, and I've seen some big stinkers. Don't let the budget fool you, this thing is the equivalent of "The Acolyte" or "Madame Web". Good for it that it came out in 2021, cause it would be thorn to shreds today. To shreds, I say.
Where do I even begin with this? I guess we have to address the elephant in the room, so we'll start with the characters.
- Memenpu is one of the most unlikeable protagonists I've ever seen. Arrogant, dumb, extremely annoying and a Marry Sue to boot. I haven't seen a "Childcare" themed anime waste so much potential since Usagi Drop.
If you're expecting any heartfelt moments between father and daughter here, you're knocking at the wro…
Read at the sourceCaptainSalty
I really got into Sakugan in its first half especially following the episode about Yuri. However it loses its steam in the second half and has a few things where I scratch my head at the plot holes I can so quite obviously see in front of me. The characters just shrug stuff off because the show doesn't have time to build upon these things. Making lots of tension and conflict feel off. However the premise and world is wonderful and feels fresh. I couldn't help but feel immersed for the first half which felt naturally paced and executed. Characters are super likeable and enjoyable to watch with their very apparent flaws conflicting with each other to create realistic tension and conflict. The world was pretty unique and interesting but sadly the writing of the show needed lots of improvement…
Read at the sourcediet_koma
I like this show but I feel like it should've had more episodes, I'm not talking about a second season (even though it also needs that), I think season 1 should've been around 14-20 episodes. The first two or three episodes are well-paced and invest in Gaganber's and Memenpo's relationship as a parent and child who are complete opposites of each other. Still, by episode 6 it becomes clear this show moves too fast for the themes and ideas it presents. I do hope we get a second season but seeing as it's not too popular I kind of doubt we'll get one unless this show gets a sudden boom in popularity.
Read at the sourceheycoolbook
first of all, i wanna start stating the good:
the art direction:
i liked the mech designs, character designs, the characters that mattered really looked unic, you could telll a lot about their personalities just looking at them. And the world, seemed interesting to look at, but i prefered the outside locations rather than the cities, the cities were nice, but i feel the art direction shined more on the outside designs.
the animation:
it wasn't something that will knock your socks out, but it was a solid work throught out the 12 episodes. the mechs were 3D, but the nice 3D, it blended well enough with the 2D elements.
the soundtrack:
there were a couple of tracks i know i will add to my playlist that's for sure, the op and ed were meh tho (for me at least).
now, that the good it's out o…
Read at the sourcePyro81300
Y’know normally I’d start off a review sorta giving a brief talk about what the anime I’m reviewing is, but that’s the thing with Sakugan. Neither I nor the anime itself have a clear vision of what it wants to be. The things I can say that are in Sakugan are mecha, adventure, familial themes, commentary on corrupt governments, kaiju, mystery, drama, SoL, and more, but the anime itself never really keeps to one main idea and you often ask yourself “why is this even an element in the show in the first place? ⅓ of the eps might as well be filler, ⅓ are semi related to the overall plot but feel disorganized in execution and not well paced, and the last third actually being the main plot but are still wack in execution and pace and just have some questionable writing overall.
The main story st…
Read at the sourceBiobulletM
Sakugan first episode sets up a grand adventure full of danger and mysteries with a really clear goal: find a place that appears in one of the MC dreams, all while dealing with the father-daughter of the MCs.
While the gist of their relationship remains sort of there during the whole series, everything else dies after episode 2. The monsters become a joke and just a background threat with no mention of the anomaly they were in episodes 1. The death-level danger gets replaced with cartoon-like violence. As for the mysteries of the world, the series sidelines that by instead focusing on the human cities, while new mysteries are thrown-in later on, they are also vaguely hinted minutes after making mention of them.
There is some character development, but it doesn't really feel organic as it…
Read at the sourcebotaz
Characters:
Let us start strong, the characters, each of them are unique, have different personalities traits and flaws. They all represent something in the world. Most of them have certain values they try to fullfill. Voice acting is great and makes them seem like real people.
9/10.
Art:
The art is absolutely amazing, everything look alive and the art style is great. The only flaw, but that can be said about most of Mecha animes, are mech's themselves or maybe i just don't udnerstand how they should look like. I was in love in the art and it was one of the main reason for me to watch the anime. Fight animations aren't as good but, we don't see a lot of that.
9/10.
Sound:
The sound track is great it's not the best since it's repetetive, but over all it is enjoyable in it's moments. The…
Read at the sourcemonsta666
Story/characters:
The opening for this series throws quite a lot at the viewer as it sets its stall in establishing its premise not to mention showcasing action and some dramatic moments right at the end. It is solid but there are some concerns as some of the CGI used is of questionable quality. The second episode also follows with more action set-pieces but again the weak CGI is there for all to see. It actually made me a little apprehensive going further but if you have fears of this CGI animation stifling your enjoyment, I can gladly say that this fear is largely unfounded as the computerised imagery is toned way more after the first two episodes.
The next segment after these episodes is what I consider the weakest part of the anime as while the show wants to highlight the sense of ad…
Read at the sourceHazbyn
Sakugan may not be a masterpiece, but it was an enjoyable ride, even if I started watching it when it was about to finish.
The story follows Memempu, who seeks to become a Marker in order to see the image she constantly sees in her dream, and her dad, Gugumber, who initially tries to stop her from leaving the colony in which they live, only to follow her soon after.
During their traject, they meet Zackletu and Yuri, who join the father-daughter team.
I have to say that the protagonist group personalities are engaging and contrast from one another, having the smart yet naive Memempu, the lazy and caring Gugumber, the strong-willed and depressed Zackletu, and the childish yet clever Yuri.
Masaaki Endoh sings the opening for the anime and fulfills a compelling job by creating a catchy an…
Read at the sourceKosar42
Ignore the other crap reviews this is an anime worth watching. I hate how this site has a minimum word length for reviews. that one simple sentence encapsulates all I wanted or needed to say. Yet It cannot be post here because oh noes its too short. It doesn't dive into the op/ed soundtrack and how germane it is #whotheFKcares I'm here for the show not the introduction and ending music I skip whenever possible because I can't be bothered by the repeated waste of my time. Honestly who doesn't hit skip intro when watching say Netflix or click next episode, I apply the same manually to anime; when the intro starts i click 1:30 farther ahead and when the ending starts I click the next episode. Also this review doesn't criticize the animation, Its not top end nearly realistic and is far from be…
Read at the sourcesomecarrot
I felt like writing a review because I was genuinely disappointed by an anime for the first time in a long while, and while I have a lot to say, I'll *try* to keep it short.
I went in expecting something Made In Abyss esque, and the first episode did perpetuate that, a world wider than you can see with mysteries you will unturn. And then... well that was kinda it.
As the show progressed, you barely learned about the world and its characters. Mainly just the characters, which I found either pointless or annoying with the only exception being Gagumber. He's a genuine dude trying his best, he's seen the world and bases his decisions on experience. He's witty, charming, and enjoyable to see on screen. It's a shame that the focus is his daughter instead.
Memenpu is a child genius... who a…
Read at the sourceVaguelyweebish
Sakugan is an example that shows that no matter how good a story's worldbuilding mixed with top-tier production values is, good characterization is the absolute base necessity for it all to mesh together. After all, stories are supposed to be about PEOPLE; but Sakugan seems more concerned with smashing together as many cool elements as possible while doing the absolute bare minimum with character writing.
What's most disappointing about this series is that it had the potential to be the next mecha icon along with landmarks like Gundam and Gurren Lagann. The art and animation mixed with the jazzy, catchy soundtrack offer hours of splendor to drink in, and the mech designs are some of the most distinct and visually pleasing I've ever seen--particularly the series' unofficial face Big Tony.…
Read at the sourcei-like-this
Bring Your Kid to the Labyrinth Day.
Sakugan has been a nice surprise hit of wholesomeness over the fall season wrapped up in the vibe of an good early 2000’s Saturday morning cartoon. Humanity living in underground colonies and giant mecha vs “kaijuu” monsters isn’t an original idea by any means, but that’s not really the core premise. That would be Memenpu, an over achieving daughter with big dreams of leaving the colony and becoming a “marker” (adventurer) to explore the labyrinth and find the place in her dreams, and Gagumber, an over-protective father who’s kind of dumb, drinks a lot and isn’t all that thrilled about his daughter leaving the colony.
What makes this show really stand out from most of falls offering is how well animated it is. For a show called Sakugan is delivers Sa…
Read at the sourceren0080
Slight spoiler ahead. You have been warned.
This is one disappointing anime. It started off pretty promising with Gurren Lagann-esque feeling in it's first few episodes. But it quickly fell off because of how the direction of the story went.
It got too episodic with it's plot which is a turn-off for most people. It also didn't help that with each episode, every cast seems to revert back to their initial personality every time just for them to "develop" at the end of each episode. It makes the cast and their relationship feels fake and forced. It's not a very good way for episodic format.
Another one of this anime's problems is how inconsistent the narrative is. It also left off on a pretty lackluster end with how they f*cked up with their "mystery" aspect. Shouldn't have revealed everyth…
Read at the sourceST63LTH
Sakugan Recap
Memepu is a genius child who follows her father figure Gagumber into the mines to collect minerals. Despite her helpful contributions to the underground colonies, her friends still treat her like a child. It isn't until the day she discovers a map leading her to the location of her dreams; She convinces Gagumber to help in the search of this location after a Kaiju scare in their local colony left many casualties. Will Memepu and Gagumber reach the place of Memepu's dreams or will the conflict between rebels and authority stop them in their tracks?
Story & Characters: 5/10
Sakugan had a really interesting premise which is not uncommon in Mecha/Post-Apocalyptic animanga. However, instead of your typical shounen main character and friends it's a father-daughter crew. It's too…
Read at the sourceAsterlun
Personally, this is my pick for the show of it's season, granted, it was a rough season (outside of Mushoku Tensei's 2nd outing) full of subpar rinse and repeat concepts. So to be honest, there are some flaws with characters not being as fleshed out as I would hope along with the main hook for season 2 coming somewhat abruptly but with basically a 4 hour story in total I think it did it's job. The VAs did a fantastic job with the series and came off like they had fun in their roles with the bombastic soundtrack really helping to elevate their performances and while the CG is passable by anime CG standards, the art style is vibrant and when it needs to shine it doesn't disappoint.
As a Mecha series I don't think it scratches the same itch people who enjoy the genre will enjoy, but as an ov…
Read at the sourceVentusBrawler
So now that Sakugan has concluded airing, did it live up to the high expectations my preliminary review set for it? Kind of.
For people new to Sakugan and wondering whether or not they should watch it, here's a segment from my preliminary review:
"This show is the epitome of wanderlust and ambition, told from the perspective of a father daughter pair. The thing with this show is you don't have to be a mecha or action/adventure junkie to enjoy it. This show simply just does so well at putting into practice the "show, not tell" mantra with character development and storytelling all done in a dynamic fashion, and the OST for this show all around just slaps."
To put it very simply, Sakugan is Journey of Elaina except Elaina is 10 years younger and traveling with her dad, and the setting is…
Read at the sourceAnimeEnjoyer420
Recommendation: An infuriating mess of a story that goes nowhere while pissing you off every step of the way with a horrendously unlikeable cast. This is the worst show that I watched in 2021. Contains spoilers for episode 1 and vague spoilers for the end of the series.
Story: Genius 9 year old Memempu dreams of a tower and venturing out of her colony as a Marker, someone that explores their dangerous underground world in a mech, to find it. Her father Gagumber tries to dissuade her, but ultimately realizes he's fighting a losing battle and goes along as her partner to protect her. Whatever promise you think this idea contains, I can assure you that the show wastes it. It goes off the rails early, with Memempu's friend Lynda and her dad Walsh being incinerated by a random kaiju literally…
Read at the source
