Between expectation & reality - Why "Top Form" didn't quite convince me as a Dakaichi fan
As a big fan of the anime Dakaichi, I was really looking forward to the Thai adaptation Top Form. I watched the anime every day for two months - that's how much I have taken this anime, the characters and especially Takato to my heart. Maybe that's why my expectations of the adaptation were not only high, but also very emotionally charged.Characters that don't quite hit the spot - especially Akin
One of the biggest problems for me is the portrayal of Akin (Takato). Don't get me wrong Boom is a great actor and a perfect fit for takato. In the anime, Takato was a professional through and through - cool, ambitious, proud - but at the same time wonderfully quick-tempered and internally chaotic. This contrast made him lively and charming. In Top Form, however, Akin increasingly comes across as a completely different character: less like a celebrated actor with a strong presence, but rather overwhelmed, childlike and incongruous. His personality fluctuates depending on the scene, which makes it difficult to take him seriously or empathise with him.
Jin (Junta) is also difficult to categorise. On the plus side, he's not abusive, which is something I strongly criticise in anime. That's a step forward. But unfortunately a lot of Junta's aura is lost in the process - he seems rather passive in the adaptation, without the gentle but determined energy that made him so special in the original.
Good chemistry and a strong cast
What Top Form succeeds at, however, is the chemistry between Akin and Jin. Despite the weaknesses in the characterisation, you can feel a real connection between the two, and their silent moments are some of the strongest in the series. Boom as Akin in particular is a very good choice for me. Even though the script sometimes treats his character inconsistently, he manages to convey Takato's vulnerable and proud side in a credible way.
A small but very successful detail is that the series has retained the popping angel wings - a charming visual quote from the anime that always brings a smile to my face and builds a nice bridge to the original.
Missed opportunities and confusing decisions
What particularly disappointed me was the omission of some iconic scenes: Takato's monologue on stage, giving back the key card, the scenes with his grandmother- all these moments that convey depth and emotion in the anime are missing in top form. Instead, there is a new storyline about an abusive fan - a fundamentally important topic, but one that is resolved in a strange way. Akin almost "apologises" to the stalker and bursts into tears - a scene that was emotionally and logically incomprehensible to me.
What I did like, however, was the moment when Jin comforts Akin after the incident and the company is concerned about protecting Akin's privacy - and it's not primarily about their relationship. That was a quiet, powerful moment.
A topic with potential - but the realisation is lacking
I was hoping that Top Form would be a reworked version of Dakaichi - one that toned down problematic aspects of the original but retained the essence. The story of two celebrated actors who have to choose between love and publicity has great potential. Unfortunately, top form too often falls short of this potential.
Instead of a consistent reinterpretation, the series often seems discordant in tone and characterisation. I find it particularly unfortunate that Takato's manager Sasaki, who brings a humorous lightness to the anime, takes on a completely different, serious role in the adaptation. Ayagi, who in the anime functions as a contrasting, somewhat awkward "antagonist", also loses much of his originality.
Conclusion:
Top Form has moments that touch me - and I can see that the makers wanted to try something new. But as a fan of the original, I find it difficult to get involved with this version. The characters seem half-baked, iconic scenes are missing and the emotional depth of Dakaichi falls by the wayside.
I would have liked an adaptation that looked critically at the original but recognised its strengths: well-written characters, genuine emotional conflict and a balance of humour and melancholy. Instead, Top Form feels like an attempt to be too much at once - and loses the heart of the story in the process.
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