Takopi’s Original Sin’s cruel twist isn’t just for shock value – it makes a vitally important point

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Warning: This article contains references to suicide that some readers may find distressing.

Don’t let the cutesy visuals fool you. Takopi’s Original Sin is out to deceive us from the get-go.

Initially, the tale unfolds as an upbeat account about an alien named Takopi hailing from Planet Happy. However, the narrative takes a grim turn as Takopi lands on Earth, finding himself in a heartrending situation trying to rescue a 9-year-old girl trapped in a fractured home environment.

Struggling under the weight of bullying, abuse, and neglect, it seemed impossible for Shizuka’s life to deteriorate further. However, her situation took an unimaginable turn for the worse when she resorted to using one of Takopi’s Happy Gadgets as a means to end her own life.

15 minutes into the premiere episode, there’s a chilling scene, one of the most intense ever depicted in animation. To make matters worse, Takopi’s innocent demeanor amplifies the terror, making it all the more unsettling.

Although Takopi tries to rectify the disaster by using time travel, another mishap occurs just a single episode later. During this incident, Takopi unintentionally kills Marina and destroys his Happy Gadget. Since he can’t go back in time now, it appears that Takopi’s regrettable action has become an irreversible mistake, much like the “original sin” mentioned in the title. However, if only that were really so.

Following our discovery that Shizuka’s fellow students have faced similar hardships, such as a boy named Naoki and surprisingly Marina, the bully who was killed by Takopi, episode 5 starts off unexpectedly cheerful. This could be a sign that things are only going to become more complicated.

Accompanied by Takopi, Shizuka journeys to Tokyo in hopes of encountering her father and reacquainting herself with her beloved canine companion, Chappy, who was cruelly taken from her previously. However, upon her arrival, she learns that her father has formed a new family, consisting of two daughters and another dog. To make matters worse, he feigns ignorance about Shizuka’s identity.

Under the protection of a bridge, Shizuka proposes to Takopi that they utilize one of his Happy Gadgets to slice open her father’s recently formed family in search of their missing dog Chappy, who she believes might be inside them. Indeed, Shizuka seems to have lost all sanity, and when Takopi refuses her proposal, she becomes violent, preparing to strike him with a rock – a method reminiscent of how he had used his camera to take the life of Marina in previous episodes.

At this moment, it’s as if a puzzling fog has descended, making the situation seem mysteriously complex.

The narrative moves to Shizuka’s hometown where we encounter an earlier version of Takopi, who has recently arrived on Earth, rather than the one we are familiar with. Interestingly, this Takopi already knew Marina in 2022, before he crossed paths with Shizuka. However, this Marina bears scars on her left cheek, a result of abuse from her mother.

Ever since her father departed, Marina’s daily life has transformed into a relentless nightmare. Yet, encountering Naoki in this particular circumstance provides some relief. Interestingly enough, even her mother appears content that Marina has found a companion. However, this harmony is disrupted when Shizuka re-joins school. It transpires that Naoki has long been infatuated with Shizuka, causing him to swiftly abandon Marina and devote his time to her instead.

The harshness of the situation is heightened by the fact that this rejection takes place on the very day when Marina’s mother had prepared a special meal to welcome Naoki. When Marina informs her mother about Naoki not being able to come because he has found someone else, the situation spirals out of control. Eventually, Marina’s mother turns violent and attempts to harm Marina. However, just as she is about to kill her daughter, Marina successfully stabs her mother with a piece of broken glass.

Here comes Takopi, finding out that Marina’s mother has tragically passed away, which he believes was orchestrated by Shizuka. Overwhelmed with a desire to rectify the situation as usual, Takopi contemplates traveling back in time to prevent Shizuka from living, hoping this action could improve Marina’s life.

However, during this course of events, he unintentionally erases his memories. Consequently, when he encounters Shizuka later on, he no longer intends to harm her, contrary to his original intentions which involved killing her for Marina’s sake. The Takopi we first encounter in the series is the one who appears gentle and benevolent. In reality, he had come to Shizuka with the intent to murder her, but the situation unfolded differently than expected.

It wasn’t until Shizuka revealed her aggressive side and assaulted him in the tunnel, that Takopi recollected everything. This is why our narrative jumps back to an earlier moment, as it was during this time that Takopi’s memories originated.

Indeed, it turns out that the seemingly innocent character who extended every effort to assist our troubled protagonist was, in fact, orchestrating her demise from the start. What makes Takopi’s transgression particularly sinister is not his accidental killing of Marina, but his deliberate manipulation of time to ensure he could murder Shizuka intentionally.

This innovative, daring turn in the plot is so unprecedented and transformative, it redefines everything previously understood about this story and overturns established norms entirely. The audacity of Takopi’s Original Sin alone warrants praise. Few, except for readers familiar with Taizan 5’s original manga, could have anticipated such a development.

In a surprising turn of events, this plot twist seemed unforeseeable at first; however, upon reflection, it fits perfectly within the logic already set up in this fictional world due to the well-established rules.

Unexpectedly, I found myself struck by a profound sense of sorrow and disarray, more so than I anticipated from this already heart-wrenching series. Yet, it wouldn’t be fair to suggest that this narrative was crafted solely for shock value. Instead, the raw power in the shock, the gut-wrenching response to the unfolding events, serves to amplify its potent messages about the intricacies of happiness and the vicious cycle of abuse. It’s a testament to the creator’s skill, using tragedy to illuminate truth.

Published in December 2021, Takopi’s Original Sin portrays a troubling child suicide crisis, which unfortunately has escalated in reality since then. In 2024, Japanese authorities reported an unprecedented number of child suicides, with bullying frequently identified as a significant factor. This underscores the urgent need for us to stay informed about current issues and recognize our role as adults in addressing this persistent tragedy.

In numerous instances throughout this narrative, tragic events transpired that could have been avoided if the adults responsible for these children had fulfilled their duties and provided them with the care they deserved. From negligent parents to abusive ones, as well as teachers who failed to act or simply didn’t show concern, Takopi’s Original Sin is a tale of adult mismanagement.

It’s not their fault that the children behave badly. They are just repeating the abuse they have suffered, as a means to deal with the intense pain they’ve experienced. Even Takopi, who lives on Planet Happy, learns aggression from this cycle of trauma when he behaves harshly towards his mother in episode 5. Yes, it seems that human-like cruelty extends beyond our world.

Discovering Shizuka’s real purpose behind his visit has me reflecting deeply on my own identity and actions. I’ve always strived to bring joy, but I’m realizing that happiness isn’t something that can be imposed upon others, regardless of my good intentions. It seems everyone battles their personal demons, including this adorable extraterrestrial who symbolizes happiness, yet has unintentionally deceived us all.

If you require assistance or guidance regarding matters discussed in this piece, consider visiting Samaritans, CALM, Rethink Mental Illness, or Mind for support.

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2025-07-29 18:11