Back when Shonen Jump was running that manga “The Ichinose Family’s Deadly Sins” that I reviewed last year, the site billed it as “from the creator of Takopi’s Original Sin”. But this year, Spring of 2024, is the first time I’d even heard of Takopi’s Original Sin, or seen it on the shelves. This feels to me like Shonen Jump putting the cart before the horse.
And yes: This series was much easier to follow than “Ichinose Family”.
Somewhere else in the universe lies Planet Happy. This planet’s inhabitants, the Happians, are given the task of traveling the universe and using their incredible technology to make it a happier place. Nueinukf has come to Earth to deliver happiness…but finds himself walled off by ten-year-old Shizuka Kuse.
Christening him Takopi, this girl is completely uninterested in his array of fantastic Happy Items. But, with a life as bad as hers, you’d probably have given up on happiness, too. Living in poverty, her mother is a whore who is never around, her father left, and the meanest girl in school has lost her own father to Shizuka’s mother, making her the bully’s target.
Every major character save Takopi has a darkness in their heart, but far more than I’d imagine the average person does. The bully girl saw her parents divorce and her mother fall into drinking and child abuse, so, while not justified, her own anger and sadness is understandable.
It’s almost a sick, dark laugh to watch as Takopi learns about the darkest parts of humanity, and just how difficult finding true happiness is for us. His species even has no concept of violence, calling it “touching hard”, and only a vague concept of killing.
So, when bully Marina provokes the dog who is Shizuka’s only friend into biting her and being taken away by Animal Control, Shizuka, now abandoned by all, uses Takopi’s “Happy Elastic Dog Leash” to commit suicide.
This being the ultimate expression of unhappiness, Takopi opts to use his “Happy Camera” to travel back in time again and again to try and prevent Shizuka’s death…with dire consequences.
And, while there is a happy ending, do not expect for it to exactly be a “conventional” one.
The simple and cute art style stands out even more than it did in Ichinose, in contrast to the darker subject matter. The whole thing is played for horror as the Sanrio-esque simplistic cuteness of Takopi clashes greatly with scenes of him interacting with dead bodies.
The story also reminds us that everyone’s life is difficult, and that achieving happiness takes work. Whether it be finding a better job, making more friends, or doing better at a sport or hobby, at least some of the outcome has to rest with you. There are no easy routes to happiness, and achieving it can become complicated sometimes, sure.
There is no one path to happiness; it’s different for everyone. But, if there is one, I would say that it starts with empathy.
My own philosophy, which has kept me afloat throughout my many hardships, is that “as long as there is life in my body and a tomorrow on the calendar, there’s a chance for things to improve”. But I myself lack the kind of stick-to-it-ive-ness and follow-through to do my own work to make things better (at least, not when it really matters).
I could actually see myself maybe owning a copy of Takopi’s Original Sin at some point in the future. It’s almost a form of melancholy art, like Ruth B’s “Lost Boy” or that “Fast Car” song.
Give them a listen, and give Takopi’s Original Sin a look, too.
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