Sakugan (サクガン, formerly titled Sacks&Guns!!) is a Japanese anime television series produced by Satelight. It is directed and written by Jun'ichi Wada, with character designs by Yūji Iwahara, and music by Tatsuya Kato.[2] It aired from October to December 2021.
It is an adaptation of the novelSakugan Labyrinth Marker, written by Nekotarō Inui, which was submitted to Project ANIMA [ja], a 2018 collaboration between DeNA, Sotsu, and Bunka Housou that accepted story submissions from the general public for adaption into anime. Sakugan Labyrinth Marker was the runner-up in the "Science-Fiction/Robot" category.[3]
Characters
Memempu (メメンプー, Memempū)
Voiced by: Kanon Amane[4] (Japanese); Anne Yatco[5] (English)
Gagumber's nine-year-old daughter. Memempu is incredibly intelligent for her age, having already graduated college with seven doctorates. She often sees visions of a towering structure somewhere on the surface in her dreams and seeks to become a Marker to find this place despite her father's resistance. As such, the two are often at odds with each other, with Memempu seeing Gagumber as a bumbling deadbeat.
Memempu's single father in his thirties, a former Marker turned ore miner once known as "Gale-Force Gagumber" who actively resists Memempu's desire to become a Marker and find a way to the surface, seeing her as too young to attempt such a dangerous journey despite her intelligence. His wife, Memempu's mother, left them some time ago. He owns the Mark Bot "Big Tony," a mining machine that can shift between a humanoid form and a tank-like vehicle form that he and Memempu use to explore the Labyrinth. His implanted chip possesses an illegal function known as "Gale," which allows him to briefly boost his reaction speed to inhuman levels at the cost of potential nerve damage.
A notorious thief wanted throughout the Underground who navigates the Labyrinth on a high-speed all-terrain motorcycle. She encounters Gagumber and Memempu in the Italian-themed Jolly-Jolly colony, saving Gagumber's life in exchange for an exorbitant sum of money he later tells her he doesn't have. As a result, Zackletu claims she will follow the father-daughter pair to the ends of the world until she receives her payment with interest. She is the younger sister of Rufus, Gagumber's late former partner.
A hacker who leads the Yuri Team, a group of orphans from the colony AreYaar who were deemed worthless by the colony's government. After Gagumber helps to expose a corrupt official, Yuri develops a new respect for him and decides to follow Gagumber and Memempu in order to spread his "justice" throughout the Underground. Yuri pilots a customized Bot, painted red, that is equipped with hacking and electronic warfare devices such as an EMP weapon. His hands are mechanical prosthetics.
An unflappable agent of the Regulation Bureau tasked with maintaining law and order in the Underground. He also seeks to preserve old knowledge for future generations and has a passion for subjects such as history and nature.
Memempu's friend and "partner," a young Marker who supports and encourages Memempu's dreams and acts much like an older sister. As a Marker, she is officially partnered with her father, Walsh. Tragically, she loses her life when she and her father move out to intercept a kaiju attack, but their death inspires Memempu further to become a Marker.
Gagumber's former Marker partner who years ago was killed by an unknown entity after Gagumber abandons him. His death sobers Gagumber's reckless attitude and causes him to retire from being a Marker. Zackletu is his younger sister.
A legendary and mysterious Marker recognized as one of the greatest of her kind, having mapped a large portion of the known Underground herself. She sends Memempu a pendant containing a map of the Underground to lead her towards the place in her dreams. She has also been following Gagumber and Memempu's group for unknown reasons.
Media
Anime
The anime was originally scheduled to premiere in 2020, but was delayed to October 2021.[12] The series aired from October 7 to December 23, 2021, on Tokyo MX, MBS, and BS11.[13][14]
The opening theme song, "Kо̄kotsu Labyrinth" ("Enchanted Labyrinth"), was performed by Masaaki Endoh, while the ending theme song, "Shine", was performed by MindaRyn.[15]Crunchyroll streamed the series outside of Asia.[16]Bilibili streamed the series in Southeast Asia.[17]
On October 28, 2021, Crunchyroll announced the series will receive an English dub, which premiered on November 18.[5]
Gagumber chases his daughter Memempu around town in the underground colony of Pinyin and falls for one of her traps in order to prove her worthiness to become a Marker, but Memempu gets trapped herself leading to a shouting match between them. The next day, Gagumber and Memempu go on an excavation and are successful in finding ore using the sensor Memempu built, but the two argue again. Afterwards, the two hang out with the Marker Walsh and his daughter Lynda on the night of the festival. Memempu returns home and receives a mysterious package from the legendary Marker Urorop and analyzes the pendant inside it. The next day, Memempu meets up with Lynda and explains to Gagumber that she believes that the pendant contains a map and that the image from her dream is at the destination. Afterwards, kaijus invade Pinyin and the four manage to escape it. Lynda orders Memempu to stay with her father as she and Walsh get in their mark bot. The mark bot explodes, killing Lynda and Walsh and getting Memempu to finally understand why Gagumber is against her becoming a Marker. Afterwards, Gagumber agrees to go on a journey with Memempu to that location in the pendant.
Memempu and Gagumber get into their mark bot and are being pursued by a kaiju. Despite cutting its own cables that normally causes a kaiju to die, the kaiju continues to chase them around Pinyin. They get cornered by two kaijus, but manage to escape them. Memempu comes up with a counterattack after noticing that the kaijus are coming after them. The two lure the kaijus out of the colony and dig a pit with their mark bot, causing the kaijus to fall into a pit filled with flammable ore. Memempu throws a bomb into the pit to destroy the kaijus. Afterwards, the two mourn Lynda and Walsh, and then set off on their journey inside their mark bot that Memempu names Big Tony.
3
"BRAINS&HEARTS"
Hidekazu Sato
Mariko Mochizuki
Hidekazu Sato
October 21, 2021 (2021-10-21)
Memempu and Gagumber have a disagreement over where to go next as Gagumber wants to stick with the familiar and established route, but Memempu wants to follow the pendant that means venturing through a dangerous route to get there. Memempu gets her way as the two head for the colony Jolly-Jolly. Without doing a survey, Memempu digs a shortcut with the Big Tony towards Troll's Palm base camp. Shortly after arriving, the ground shakes and Gagumber suspects that a kaiju is headed their way. After getting some rest, the kaiju arrives at the camp and while Gagumber deals with the kaiju, Memempu goes down the trench created by the earthquake. Memempu gets chased by a swarm of small kaijus and locks herself in a storage crate. As the small kaijus break through the crate, Gagumber arrives on the Big Tony to rescue her and they outrun them, and then parachute to safety. The two end up arriving at the entrance to Jolly-Jolly where they are greeted by Merooro.
4
"LADIES&GENTLEMEN"
Hiro Ōki
Shingo Nagai
Hiroki Ikeshita, Jun'ichi Wada
October 28, 2021 (2021-10-28)
Gagumber and Memempu are arrested for violating the rules of the labyrinth, but are given permission by Merooro, an agent with the Bureau of Regulations, to go sightseeing in Jolly-Jolly. While touring the colony, the two get separated with Gagumber ending up at a bar. There, Gagumber meets up with Zackletu, and the two talk about flirting with each other before Memempu arrives to interrupt their conversation. A mafia then arrives and starts shooting as the two learn that Zackletu is a thief with a huge bounty on her. Gagumber fights the mafia to allow Memempu and Zackletu to escape, but gets captured. Gagumber is interrogated before Zackletu arrives to rescue him. Gagumber and Zackletu go on the run and end up surrounded by the mafia, but Memempu arrives on Zackletu's motorcycle to escape. After Zackletu departs vowing to chase after Gagumber until she receives her payment for saving him, Merooro arrives to let Gagumber know that his punishment will be increased.
5
"NO WORK, NO LIFE"
Tomo Ōkubo
Toshizō Nemoto
Tomo Ōkubo, Jun'ichi Wada, Manabu Nakamura
November 4, 2021 (2021-11-04)
Memempu and Gagumber are escorted to Windy Hill by Merooro to carry out their punishment of hard labor for the trouble they caused in Jolly-Jolly. After arriving at Windy Hill, a lush area full of grass and trees, Memempu sees a barren wasteland nearby inhabited by the endangered vultures and notices that no wind is blowing through the area. Merooro takes Memempu and Gagumber to the wind-producing machine that has been leaking animus and Memempu decides to repair the machine despite the dangerous conditions. The three put on protection suits and venture towards the problem area, but are blocked by the shifting structure of the machine and end up taking a rest break. Sometime later, Memempu shows Merooro the pendant and notices that the lines represent the flow of animus, allowing her to locate source of the animus leak. Together, the three repair the machine and get it running again. As the three are about to leave, a stream of animus spills on Memempu while protecting a vulture nest, but Memempu is unharmed due to the suit's protection. Having completed their work, Merooro releases Memempu and Gagumber to continue their journey.
6
"JUSTICE FOR VILLAINS"
Tenpei Mishio
Mariko Mochizuki
Tenpei Mishio
November 11, 2021 (2021-11-11)
Gagumber is rewarded for fixing the wind machine, but gambles it all away. Memempu and Gagumber continue their journey, ending up in the colony AreYaar after eluding Zackletu. The two are confronted by Yuri, the leader of a gang of orphans determined to bring justice to the colony knowing firsthand that the equality the president Trevi has been claiming is a lie. They are taken to Yuri's base where they meet up with Zackletu, and having no money the two are put to work to pay off their debt to Zackletu. Yuri explains that Trevi's ideals about equality are contrary to what Yuri experienced because he was discarded when he was deemed worthless, leading Yuri to form his gang. Memempu and Gagumber take part in Yuri's successful heists. However, tension builds within the team when Trevi announces that he will shut down all orphanages in AreYaar, and Yuri's right-hand man Fidelio questions his ideals of justice. Yuri decides to storm the tower to hack into the system, but falls into a trap set by his teammates in order to get him to understand how flawed his idea of justice is. Afterwards, Yuri's teammates tell him that they are satisfied with not going hungry, and after showing some hidden camera footage featuring Trevi doing shady things to the public, the decision to close the orphanages is reversed. However, Yuri becomes a wanted man and leaves his team to take on another job for Zackletu, while she continues to follow Gagumber and Memempu until the pay their debt with interest.
7
"ON THE ROAD"
Hitomi Ezoe
Shingo Nagai
Hidekazu Sato
November 18, 2021 (2021-11-18)
Memempu has the dream at the destination again, this time meeting Urorop in it, as she and Gagumber are traveling with Zackletu and Yuri accompanying them. They take a break at a rest area with Yuri having picked up some strange flowers, and everybody starts acting strange. After resting up, the four continue to travel, and Memempu has that dream in the same place again, this time being warned about the flower's toxic pollen. A couple stops later, everybody except Memempu, who puts on a mask to avoid breathing in the pollen, goes into a trance. After learning about the flowers and the cactus plant that can cure it, they spot that cactus in the rest area. However, the symptoms persist as it turns out the cactus is of a different species that made the symptoms worse. Memempu finds out that the symptoms go away by drinking lots of water and getting plenty of rest. While resting, Memempu has that dream again, this time seeing Gagumber dead. After waking up, the symptoms wear off. Memempu and Gagumber get into an argument about what to do next as Memempu wants to push forward while Gagumber wants to take a detour to rest up. At the next stop, Memempu has that dream again with Gagumber dead, this time hearing a baby crying and seeing the pendant in Urorop's eye. Memempu wakes up and vomits before going back to sleep with Urorop watching them in the distance.
8
"MEMORIES®RETS"
Yoshito Mikamo
Shingo Nagai
Hidekazu Sato
November 25, 2021 (2021-11-25)
The four arrive at the colony Calacalla, where Gagumber used to live when he was partnered with Rufus, to get medical treatment for Yuri. Gagumber explains his story with Rufus at the hospital, and then meets up with his old boss explaining that Rufus died, leaving behind his little "brother" Zack, and Gagumber never returned wanting to forget about Rufus. Somewhere else Memempu tells Zackletu about her dream, and then falls asleep. Zackletu notifies Gagumber that she has taken Memempu hostage and will die if he refuses to confront her. Gagumber arrives and Zackletu reveals that she is Zack and that she pretended to be a boy in order to not become an easy target for bullies. During the fight, Zackletu expresses her anger for abandoning Rufus and starting a family of his own. Memempu then falls off and Gagumber saves her by activating Gale, an illegal chip modification that instantaneously enhances his reaction speed that he has not used since Rufus died. While Gagumber saved his daughter's life, he suffers nerve damage. Afterwards, Memempu tells Zackletu that despite what she did, she still wants to travel with her.
9
"END OF VACATION"
Masahiro Okamura, Hiro Ōki, Kazunobu Shimizu
Toshizō Nemoto
Kagetsu Aizawa
December 2, 2021 (2021-12-02)
At the colony Manjumai, Muro leads an attack by the Shibito, an anti-Bureau terrorist group that opposes regulations. Meanwhile, as the four travel to Manjumai venturing through a hot and humid area of the Labyrinth, they make a stop to relax and take a dip in the river. However, a sudden downpour causes everybody to drift and they get washed up on an isolated island. As Memempu attempts to find a way to get off the island while food runs low, Memempu uses the fruits on the island to power up the Big Tony and create an SOS signal. While waiting to get rescued, Memempu and Gagumber have a conversation with Gagumber vowing to stay together no matter what happens. As the SOS goes out, a rescue ship commanded by the Bureau of Regulations arrives with Merooro greeting them.
10
"OH MY TONNY"
Masato Kitagawa
Mariko Mochizuki
Kagetsu Aizawa
December 9, 2021 (2021-12-09)
With the four on board the ship, Merooro explains to them through a video how the Underworld operates and explains that the calamity called the great disaster is coming due to climate change and kaijus appearing in colonies. He also explains that the ship is designed as a sanctuary for wildlife rescued in the great disaster. Gagumber feels dejected after what Memempu said about preferring Merooro to be her father over him, prompting Merooro to tell him that he needs to be a better father. The ship gets attacked by the Shibito while Memempu retrieves her sheep plush she left behind and she encounters Muro. Muro kidnaps Memempu, but she breaks free and is rescued by Gagumber. A kaiju emerges forcing Muro and the Shibito to retreat. Merooro is badly injured protecting Memempu as the ship submerges to get away from the kaiju.
Memempu and company arrive at the colony Dream after the Shibito announced that they will attack that place next. As they prepare to watch an opera concert by the diva Sina, Gagumber and Memempu walk out of the venue and have a chance encounter with the diva herself. Sina is pursued by security and Memempu helps her get away as she refuses to go back. With Memempu and Gagumber marked as criminals for kidnapping Sina, the three put on disguises and go sightseeing around the city before being pursued by security again. The three shake off the pursuers and go hiding at a playground. Sina explains that her dream is to become an artist, but her family would only allow her to become a diva. Memempu and Sina paint pictures together with Sina singing and attracting a crowd. Sina agrees to return to the venue to perform after realizing that there will be dreams that are not meant to come true. After the performance, the Shibito attack the colony and Muro kidnaps Memempu telling her that she is a rainbow child and that she does not know who her real father is.
12
"TO BE CONTINUED"
Tenpei Mishio, Jun'ichi Wada
Shingo Nagai
Jun'ichi Wada
December 23, 2021 (2021-12-23)
As the Shibito cause widespread destruction in the colony, Memempu is attacked by Muro as she declares that she will kill the rainbow children before being stopped by the Boss of the Shibito. Boss explains to Memempu that Gagumber is not really her father and that as a rainbow child, Memempu has the ability to retain images better than a normal human that allows them to remember everything from birth, but Memempu is different from the others. Rainbow Children are genetically altered with a connection to the world, which is the reason animus is not harmful to them. Shibito believe the rainbow children are damaging to the balance of the world and need to be exterminated. Gagumber arrives at Memempu's location and has a mark bot battle with Boss, and despite suffering major damage Gagumber is able to rescue her. Memempu decides to give herself up to let Gagumber go, but Gagumber lets Memempu know that despite not being his real daughter, Gagumber has always treated her that way. Afterwards, Boss retreats opting to let Gagumber and Memempu stay together a bit longer, and the two head to the tower, intercept and drive off Muro. Memepu briefly sees a white haired girl in a wheelchair, seemingly the target of Muro, wheeled into a vault before it closes. In the aftermath of the attack, the four are honored in a ceremony, and then flee the colony as despite being honored for their heroic deeds, they are also wanted criminals. They escape the colony and continue their journey.
Manga
A manga adaptation by Keisuke Sato began serialization in Square Enix's Manga UP! website on August 13, 2021.[22][23]
