The anime adaptation of FromSoftware's acclaimed action game Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, titled Sekiro: No Defeat, has been met with criticism for its two-hour theatrical film version. Released in Japanese cinemas and set to stream globally on Crunchyroll as a limited series, the film adaptation is described as a disjointed and unsatisfying experience that fails to capture the soul of the original game.
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, released in 2019, marked FromSoftware's collaboration with Activision for a departure from their usual Souls-like formula. Set in ancient Japan, the game featured fast-paced samurai combat and a solemn narrative centering on the one-armed shinobi Wolf protecting Kuro, the heir to the Ashina clan, whose immortal blood makes him a target for those seeking to prolong conflict. The potential for a compelling anime adaptation was recognized, especially following news of an anime project being revealed at Gamescom.
The film attempts a distinct visual style, departing from the game's grittiness for a more abstract and painterly aesthetic reminiscent of ukiyo-e and sumi-e art. This visual approach aims to present the story as a legend passed down through generations, often resulting in stunning imagery.
However, the adaptation follows a path that reshapes the existing story to suit its new medium. While the game's narrative structure necessitates keeping the focus on action to maintain pacing, the anime has the opportunity to explore quieter character moments. Sekiro: No Defeat dedicates significant time to the relationship between Wolf and Kuro, exploring the consequences of Kuro's immortality. Despite this, the film compresses the game's extensive content, resulting in moments that feel like disconnected vignettes lacking the connective tissue to tie them together. Action sequences, while present, often lack impact, with battles concluding too quickly and rarely posing a significant threat.
This compression also affects the game's antagonists, who are often introduced and dispatched with little backstory, diminishing the gravitas of these encounters. For viewers unfamiliar with the game, the narrative beyond Wolf and Kuro's relationship can be confusing and difficult to follow. Long-time fans may find the film to be an inferior retelling of a beloved story, missing the opportunity to truly enhance the narrative through a new medium.
It remains to be seen if the upcoming limited series format on Crunchyroll will address the pacing issues and lack of exposition present in the theatrical film. The series, with more time to develop its story, may offer a more complete and satisfying adaptation. However, the critical reception of the film suggests that the current adaptation may not resonate with either newcomers or existing fans of Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice. The film, as it stands, feels like an incomplete story, with rare moments of cohesion serving only to highlight what could have been.