“Haven’t You Heard? I’m Sakamoto”, also known as “Sakamoto Desu Ga?” (“坂本ですが?”) , is an anime adaptation of the Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Nami Sato.
Haven’t you Heard? I’m Sakamoto is a show that is able to take the mundane and make it incredibly hilarious. The anime focuses entirely on one character named Sakamoto, who is apparently the Japanese bishonen equivalent of the Fonz, as everything he does his classmates fan over. He’s good-looking, smart, athletic, and in some ways out of this world. However by no means does this guy have any super powers or special abilities, unless you count his apparent lack of self-doubt as one. Instead, Sakamoto’s real talent lies in his ability to improvise his way in and out of situations. From turning bullies to friends to saving a bird from a typhoon, Sakamoto always seems to know how to handle things.
Despite the slow start, this anime has a lot of good features to it. However what makes this anime worth watching isn’t just the absurd plots and smooth animations. Rather, it’s the perspective. All the story-telling is done through the eyes of his peers and people he encounters. What we learn about Sakamoto is never directly through him, but through his interactions with others and their perceptions of him. We never learn where Sakamoto lives, his first name, or anything you could account towards being part of a main character’s backstory unless the supporting characters discover it. It makes for unique story-telling which inadvertently places the spotlight on various other characters in and outside the classroom, giving them a chance to develop their own identities and personalities (as well as their infatuation or infuriation for Sakamoto).
Although there are one or two episodes that may be a bit beyond absurd, the show overall has a good flow and humor to it. In addition, each “episode” is technically made up of two, which helps keep the story moving and maintain a level of intrigue for the viewers. Overall, Haven’t you Heard? I’m Sakamoto is definitely the anime for someone who is looking for a show reminiscent of that nonsensical, “Adult Swim”-style humor seen in western cartoons like Harvey Birdman: Attorney at Law, with the flair and intensity of JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure. Plus, with only 13 episodes, this anime is an easy escape for anyone looking to unwind after a long day’s work.
Overall Rating: 4/5 Soups
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