“Cute little alien Takopi lands on Earth. What is his mission? To be taken to our leader? No. To spread happiness throughout the universe! The first person Takopi meets is depressed fourth grader Shizuka. (Or is it…?) Takopi is determined to do whatever it takes to make Shizuka smile again. But his misguided attempts to help her by using his advanced technology to turn back time only result in mayhem and death. What is the truth Takopi can't remember? And what must the pink alien octopus with a heart of gold sacrifice to truly help Shizuka and her friends…?” (Viz Media)
If someone came along and promised they could make you happy, would you believe it? Even if the idea didn't sound too good to be true, it's the kind of impossible goal that would surely take a lot of attention and sacrifice to achieve. Yet that's precisely what Takopi, of “Takopi's Original Sin,” promises to acquire for fourth-grade student, Shizuka, and her friends. Despite their best intentions, at the time, Takopi doesn't truly realize the weight of their words in this dark science fiction manga by Taizan5.
At first, “Takopi's Original Sin” starts as the kind of straightforward sci-fi series that a reader would easily think they can predict with basic knowledge of the genre. It has a classic alien from another world set up that quickly reveals itself to be different from what you expect. Despite Takopi's adorable exterior and overall chipper deposition, the story itself is far darker and more macabre than it appears.
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In regards to appearance, the art of the manga doesn't stand out much at first. Although cute in an almost cartoonish kind of way, a handful of the more intense panels could be harder to make out the details of at times. However, for the story the author is illustrating, the style is not unenjoyable and feels like a smart choice. It's reminiscent of the series “Made in the Abyss” in the sense that its simplicity serves as a haunting juxtaposition to the darker themes of the story and truly compliments the discomfort exhibited by some of the more intense panels.
When accompanied by the art, the story being told makes it easy to find yourself totally immersed in, especially as a science fiction fan. It utilizes several classic genre tropes like aliens and time travel, but the approach feels fresh thanks to how they're seamlessly woven into an eye-opening narrative centered around themes of neglect and bullying. The story doesn't pull its punches when it comes to the struggles these characters are going through, but as their problems escalate, the plot seems to become more compelling as it becomes harder to decipher just where the story is going.
The most frustrating part of reading this manga is how irredeemable the characters often felt at times. To a certain extent, some of their actions have to be taken with a grain of salt because they're children and an objectively childlike alien. Given the amount of grief and trauma they're experiencing, it isn't hard to understand why they continue to make these destructive, manipulative decisions, but there are times when you're left to wonder if they're ever going to learn anything. You also have to wonder why there isn't one responsible adult in the mix, but none of this distracts from the overall narrative.
When it comes to science fiction manga, this is the kind of unique perspective on the genre that makes it fun to read. Tajin5's manga, “Takopi's Original Sin,” will make you uncomfortable, but it's supposed to. It's the kind of story that sticks with you after finishing, rethinking different twists and how they made you feel or what might've happened if characters had other choices. For fans who enjoy emotional rollercoasters or not knowing what will happen next, this manga is a must.
