Takopi's Original Sin episode 1 review: A cheerful alien meets a broken world in an emotionally devastating premiere

Takopi's Original Sin episode 1, titled To You in 2016, premiered in Japan on Saturday, June 28, 2025. While it may have flown under a lot of people's radar, it didn't go completely unnoticed by the anime community.

At first glance, it seemed like this would be another story about an alien befriending and helping a child. However, the first few minutes proved that it was anything but.

It began with a bubbly, octopus-shaped alien descending onto Earth to spread happiness. However, it quickly spiraled into an emotionally devastating depiction of childhood trauma, neglect, bullying, and the kind of sorrow no elementary schooler should have to endure.

Disclaimer: This article is based on the author's personal opinion and contains spoilers for Takopi's Original Sin episode 1. Reader discretion is advised.

Takopi's Original Sin episode 1 review: A deceptively sweet start to 2025's darkest anime

A chance encounter ends in tragedy

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Takopi's Original Sin episode 1 opens on a pretty normal note, Takopi, a pink, octopus-shaped alien from the Happy Planet, lands on Earth to spread happiness. One day, Shizuka, a quiet and withdrawn young girl, finds him starved and half-dead inside a pipe at a children's playground.

However, there is something off about Shizuka. Despite her young age, she carried a heaviness and a look of resignation in her eyes that ordinary elementary schoolers typically shouldn't have.

She is the very first person Takopi interacts with since his arrival on Earth, and almost immediately, it is obvious that she isn't doing well. As the episode progressed, it was revealed that Shizuka is being relentlessly bullied by her classmates at school, while also being emotionally neglected at home.

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Despite everything she is going through, Shizuka never complains or raises her voice even once. She doesn't scream for help, nor does she stand up to her bullies. She has given in to all of life's tortures and could only count on Chappy, her dog, for the tiniest bit of happiness.

Being an alien, Takopi is completely oblivious to Shizuka's suffering, at least at first. He eventually understood that she was unhappy, and thus wanted to fix it with his Happy gadgets. It's his job to make people happy after all, or so he believes.

However, what Takopi didn't realize at the time was that his willingness to help Shizuka would eventually result in her death. Halfway through the episode, Shizuka reaches a breaking point, following which she ends her life by using one of the Happy gadgets Takopi had given her.

A sharp contrast in tones

A still from Takopi's Original Sin episode 1 (image via Studio Enishiya), Shizuka in episode 1 (image via Studio Enishiya)

If there's one thing Studio Enishiya nailed with Takopi's Original Sin episode 1, it's the tonal contrast. The vibrant colors, clean lines, and Takopi's goofy design made it seem like the narrative was akin to that of a children's show. However, the reality of the show couldn't be any further from it.

If anything, this show is like watching Doraemon if Nobita was silently enduring real-life abuse and neglect, and Doraemon was completely oblivious to the concept of sadness.

Where Takopi's Original Sin episode 1 shined: Production, animation quality, and voice acting

Shizuka as seen in the anime (image via Studio Enishiya)

From a technical standpoint, Takopi's Original Sin episode 1 was beautifully animated. Studio Enishiya certainly does justice to the manga's deceptively adorable character designs, especially Takopi's vibrant, rounded form.

However, there are subtle animation choices throughout the episode, like the empty, dead look in Shizuka's eyes, or the hollow way she walked, that portrayed just how much she had given up on life. Additionally, the absence of background scores throughout the episode allows the uncomfortable silences to hit as hard as intended.

The voice acting was top-notch as well. In contrast to Shizuka's soft and tired voice, Takopi's voice was high-pitched and playful, making his confusion and heartbreak at Shizuka's death all the more painful.

A haunting depiction of real-world problems

Shizuka in episode 1 (image via Studio Enishiya)

On the surface, the premise of the show is fairly simple: an alien from outer space tries to help a sad girl. However, the story's much deeper than that. It's a harsh critique of how often society fails to protect its most vulnerable.

It also shows just how far emotional neglect, abuse, bullying, and isolation can push a person, a child, no less, that they start feeling that death is the only way out.

By the end of the episode, viewers learn that Marina, the girl who relentlessly bullied Shizuka, is herself a victim of an abusive household. Both girls were products of child abuse and neglect, which resulted in their respective tragic trajectories in life.

Final Thoughts

Takopi's Original Sin episode 1 is a masterclass in narrative deception. It certainly wasn't easy to get through, nor is it meant to be. That said, if there's anything that can be assumed at this point, it's that this anime is shaping up to be the darkest and most emotionally devastating show of the year.