Takopi's Original Sin

Takopi's Original Sin (Japanese: タコピーの原罪, Hepburn: Takopī no Genzai) is a Japanese web manga series written and illustrated by Taizan 5 [ja]. It was published on Shueisha's web platform Shōnen Jump+ from December 2021 to March 2022, with its chapters collected in two tankōbon volumes. An original net animation (ONA) adaptation produced by Enishiya [ja] and TBS Television was released from June to August 2025.

Takopi's Original Sin
First tankōbon volume cover, featuring Shizuka Kuze
タコピーの原罪 (Takopī no Genzai)
Genre	Dystopian[1] Horror[1] Science fiction[1]
Manga
Written by	Taizan 5 [ja]
Published by	Shueisha
English publisher	NA: Viz Media
Imprint	Jump Comics+
Magazine	Shōnen Jump+
Original run	December 10, 2021 – March 25, 2022
Volumes	2
Original net animation
Directed by	Shinya Iino
Produced by	Kei Igarashi (animation) Kotaro Sudo (production)
Written by	Shinya Iino
Music by	Yoshiaki Fujisawa [ja]
Studio	Enishiya [ja]
Licensed by	Crunchyroll SA/SEA: Medialink
Released	June 28, 2025 – August 2, 2025
Episodes	6

Plot

In 2016, Nueinukf, an alien hailing from the Happy Planet, crash-lands on Earth in order to spread happiness to others. After evading capture, it comes across Shizuka Kuze, a 9-year-old girl who is bullied at school and only finds solace with her dog Chappy. Shizuka, noting that it resembles an octopus, names the alien Takopi. Takopi decides to use its planet's Happy Gadgets to help Shizuka, but after seeing her, face scratched and bruised all over while holding Chappy's leash, Shizuka asks for one of Takopi's gadgets and uses it to commit suicide. Realizing the gravity of the situation, Takopi uses another gadget to travel back in time, hoping that it can improve Shizuka's life.

In one of these loops, during a confrontation between Shizuka and her bully Marina Kirarazaka, Takopi commits felony-murder against Marina using the Happy Camera. The device breaks in the process, cutting off any chance of reversing time again. Desperate to conceal the crime, Takopi, with help of Shizuka's classmate, Naoki Azuma, buries Marina's body inside one of its gadgets before assuming her identity. The ruse quickly unravels: Takopi's imitation of Marina is unconvincing, and a group of workers soon stumbles upon the hidden corpse. Meanwhile, Shizuka exploits Naoki's deteriorating mental state—his spiral into paranoia over hiding the crime, his frantic attempts to save her dog, and the crushing weight of his mother's condemnation after a poor grade.

As the loops repeat, glimpses into the protagonists' broken homes reveal the roots of their pain—neglect, abuse, and isolation twisting their actions into something desperate.

Characters

Takopi (タコピー, Takopī) / Nueinukf (んうえいぬkf)

Voiced by: Kurumi Mamiya (PV, voice comic, anime)^[2][3][4]

A Happian alien from the Happy Planet who resembles an octopus. Takopi's goal is to spread happiness to others through its various gadgets, though its innocent and simplistic worldview is challenged as they confront the complex morality and nature of human beings. It is revealed later that Takopi had first met a teenage Marina. Marina revealed how she believed that Shizuka was responsible for all her misfortune and wanted her dead, prompting Takopi to send itself back in time to fulfill Marina's goal. Takopi lost its memories while enacting Marina's wish and forgot its objective, leading it to befriend Shizuka instead. After seeing its actions were doing more harm than good, Takopi sacrificed itself to reset the timeline and give both Shizuka and Marina a better future.

Shizuka Kuze (久世 しずか, Kuze Shizuka)

Voiced by: Reina Ueda (PV, voice comic, anime)^[2][3][4]

A young girl whom Takopi befriends upon its arrival on Earth. She is the subject of bullying in her school due to her mother's work as a hostess and only finds solace at home with her pet dog Chappy. She commits suicide after Marina had Chappy taken away, only to be saved by Takopi turning back time. As time goes on, she slowly starts to unravel as she feels like she is alone. Eventually, she travels to where her biological father is but learns that he has a new family and decides to destroy his happiness, which Takopi thwarts after seeing its actions did more harm than good. In the new timeline, Shizuka and Marina end up becoming best friends after passively realizing that they are bonded together through Takopi.

Marina Kirarazaka (雲母坂 まりな, Kirarazaka Marina)

Voiced by: Honoka Kuroki (voice comic),^[3] Konomi Kohara (anime)^[5]

Shizuka's classmate who is her bully, often mocking her family situation. It is later revealed that Marina is a victim of abuse from her mother, due to her father cheating on her with Shizuka's mother. Later on, Takopi remembers that they met Marina prior to the start of the series and had decided to kill Shizuka by sending themselves back in time as that is what Marina wanted. However, Takopi lost its memories and forgot its objective. Takopi ends up accidentally killing Marina and ends up taking her place. In the new timeline, Marina and Shizuka end up becoming best friends as they passively realize that they were bonded together through Takopi.

Naoki Azuma (東 直樹, Azuma Naoki)

Voiced by: Anna Nagase (anime)^[5]

Shizuka's classmate who tries to support her in any way he can, despite Shizuka repeatedly turning down his help. It is revealed later on that Naoki was being pressured by his mother as she compared him to his older brother Junya who was much more talented than him. Naoki was depressed due to his mother constantly calling him a failure and always expecting him to do just as well as Junya. Naoki eventually learns about Takopi and Marina's death and helps Shizuka by covering it up. Eventually, Naoki and Junya reconcile, with Naoki confessing to killing Marina at Shizuka's persuasion. In the new timeline, Naoki is shown interacting more with his other friends and distances himself from Shizuka and Marina.

Media

Manga

Written and illustrated by Taizan 5 [ja], Takopi's Original Sin was published on Shueisha's web platform Shōnen Jump+ from December 10, 2021,^[6] to March 25, 2022.^[7] Shueisha collected its 16 chapters in two tankōbon volumes, released on March 4 and April 4, 2022.^[2][8]

Shueisha's Manga Plus service published chapters of the series in English simultaneously with their Japanese release.^[9] In February 2023, Viz Media announced that it licensed the manga for English publication;^[10] the series was released as a single volume on November 21 of that same year.^[11]

Volumes

No.	Original release date	Original ISBN	English release date	English ISBN
1	March 4, 2022[12]	978-4-08-883049-0	November 21, 2023[11]	978-1-9747-4034-5
1. "To You in 2016" (2016年のきみへ, Nisenjūroku-nen no Kimi e) 2. "Takopi's Adventure" (タコピの冒険, Takopi no Bōken) 3. "Marina's Kingdom" (まりなの王国, Marina no Ōkoku) 4. "Takopi's Salvation" (タコピーの救済, Takopī no Kokkai) 5. "Naoki's Intervention" (直樹の介入, Naoki no Kainyū) 6. "Naoki's Adventure" (直樹の冒険, Naoki no Bōken) 7. "Takopi's Confession" (タコピーの告解, Takopī no Kokkai)
2	April 4, 2022[13]	978-4-08-883104-6	November 21, 2023[11]	978-1-9747-4034-5
8. "Shizuka's Kingdom" (静香の王国, Shizuka no Ōkoku) 9. "It's Going to Be All Right" (大丈夫になるよ, Daijōbu ni naru yo) 10. "Naoki's Salvation" (直樹の救済, Naoki no Kyūsai) 11. "Shizuka's Japan Tour" (静香の日本ツアー, Shizuka no Nihon Tsuā) 12. "To You in 2022" (2022年のきみへ, Nisennijūni-nen no Kimi e) 13. "Takopi's Original Sin" (タコピーの原罪, Takopī no Genzai) 14. "Naoki's Intervention" (直樹の介入, Naoki no Kainyū) 15. "Shizuka" (しずか) 16. "To All of You in 2016" (2016年のきみたちへ, Nisenjūroku-nen no Kimi-tachi e)

Anime

In December 2024, it was announced that the series would receive an anime adaptation.^[14][15] It was later revealed to be an original net animation (ONA) produced by Enishiya [ja], with TBS Television handling planning and production duties.^[16] The six-episode miniseries was directed and written by Shinya Iino, with character designs and chief animation direction handled by Keita Nagahara, and music composed by Yoshiaki Fujisawa [ja].^[4][17] The series was released from June 28 to August 2, 2025, on various streaming platforms, including Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Abema, and U-Next.^[a] The opening theme song is "Happy Lucky Chappy" (ハッピーラッキーチャッピー), performed by Ano, while the ending theme song is "Glass no Sen" (がらすの線), performed by Tele [ja].^[17] Crunchyroll streamed the series outside Asia.^[19] Medialink licensed the series in the Asia-Pacific for streaming on Ani-One Asia's YouTube channel.^[20]

Episodes

No.	Title [21][22]	Directed by [b]	Written by [b]	Animation directed by [b]	Original release date [a]
1	"To You in 2016" Transliteration: "Nisenjūroku-nen no Kimi e" (Japanese: 2016年のきみへ)	Shinya Iino	Shinya Iino	Keita Nagahara	June 28, 2025 (2025-06-28)
In 2016, Shizuka Kuze encounters an octopus-like alien named Nueinukf, whom she nicknames Takopi. Expressing its mission to spread happiness, Takopi tries to befriend her but is ignored. After seeing Shizuka bloodied, Takopi offers her a friendship ribbon despite orders not to give its gadgets away. Shizuka takes the gift and leaves, but Takopi worries when she does not return and visits her home to find that Shizuka has hanged herself with the ribbon. Realizing that it failed to understand her pain, Takopi uses the Happy Camera to travel back in time and save her. At school, it learns Shizuka is bullied by Marina Kirarazaka. Takopi disguises itself as Shizuka to reconcile with Marina, only to face Marina's cruelty firsthand, leaving it frightened. Learning the full extent of the girls' relationship, Takopi rewinds time again to stop a bullying incident between the two. This small intervention prompts Shizuka to thank Takopi, saying her life has slightly improved since its arrival, bringing Takopi some comfort. Marina grows angered at Shizuka's change in behavior and returns home, where she is forced to endure her mother's abuse due to her father's affair with Shizuka's mother.
2	"Takopi's Salvation" Transliteration: "Takopī no Kyūsai" (Japanese: タコピーの救済)	Moaang	Ko Nekota	Moaang	July 5, 2025 (2025-07-05)
Shizuka takes her pet dog Chappy out on a walk with Takopi. Marina suddenly confronts them and attacks Shizuka, causing Chappy to bite Marina back and be taken in by animal control. Realizing the altercation leads to Shizuka's suicide and is unavoidable despite numerous time loops, Takopi alters the outcome to inform a despondent Shizuka that Chappy will be in the care of her divorced father. Takopi urges her to attend school the next day, where she is still bullied by Marina, though Naoki Azuma intervenes on Shizuka's behalf. After school, Marina decides to meet with Shizuka at a forest, causing Takopi to believe they will now reconcile. However, Takopi finds Marina ruthlessly beating up Shizuka, blaming her for her family's problems and insisting that Chappy is dead. Unable to handle Shizuka's abuse anymore, Takopi accidentally murders Marina with the Happy Camera. Takopi attempts to turn back time to rectify the mistake, only to discover that the camera no longer works. Shizuka reacts with joy and thanks an unnerved Takopi for killing Marina, calming it. She and Takopi leave Marina's body behind, as Takopi remarks there is no going back.
3	"Takopi's Confession" Transliteration: "Takopī no Kokkai" (Japanese: タコピーの告解)	Rikka	Shinya Iino	Rikka, Hirotoshi Arai & Tsuyoshi Iida	July 12, 2025 (2025-07-12)
Naoki, worried for Shizuka's wellbeing, encounters her and Takopi before discovering Marina's corpse. Naoki demands that Shizuka turn herself in, but after she guilt trips him and craves affection, Naoki helps cover up Marina's murder using one of Takopi's gadgets. The trio bonds over time, with Naoki planning out their trip to Tokyo to visit Chappy. Takopi assists Naoki in stealing the ring of his older brother Junya when Shizuka encourages them, but they fail. Naoki is tearfully reminded of being deprived of affection by his mother, who constantly compares him to the more successful Junya. Meanwhile, Takopi is also tasked to mimic Marina at school and at home, allowing it to witness her parents arguing. As Takopi wonders about its inability to return to the Happy Planet, it agrees to join Marina's father to get closer to Shizuka and Naoki's objective. Marina's mother later lashes out and abuses the disguised Takopi for failing to take her side, demanding that the real Marina return. Takopi privately breaks down in tears and voices regret for killing Marina upon reflecting on its actions and experiencing Marina's life, as a group of workers uncover Marina's corpse the next day.
4	"Azuma-kun's Salvation" Transliteration: "Azuma-kun no Kyūsai" (Japanese: 東くんの救済)	Toya Ooshima	Ko Nekota	Hayate Nakamura	July 19, 2025 (2025-07-19)
With Marina's murder being made public, Naoki panics that he, Takopi, and Shizuka will be discovered by the police. He fast-tracks their trip to Tokyo and gradually breaks down from the stress, while also hiding it from Junya and their mother. Naoki recounts how he felt unloved by his family growing up, which is exacerbated by his failed attempts to protect Shizuka from Marina's bullying. After Shizuka starts giving him attention following their cover-up of Marina's murder, Naoki does everything he can to sustain this remaining affection. Shizuka later tells him to turn himself in to the police, absolving herself from blame while promising she will wait for him. Junya notices Naoki's stress and assures him he will listen to his concerns; Naoki, feeling affection from his family for the first time, cries and confesses his involvement in Marina's murder. The police believe Naoki was coerced, and they connect his involvement with testimonies of Marina's odd behavior in school courtesy of Takopi mimicking her from their classmates, which implicates Shizuka as the culprit. As Takopi suggests they also come clean, Shizuka instead tells Takopi they will be traveling to Tokyo without Naoki.
5	"To You in 2022" Transliteration: "Nisennijūni-nen no Kimi e" (Japanese: 2022年のきみへ)	Hirotaka Mori	Ko Nekota	Zi Yi Zhuo	July 26, 2025 (2025-07-26)
Takopi and Shizuka arrive in Tokyo, only to discover her father started a new family and Chappy was never there. Believing the family ate Chappy, Shizuka resolves to murder them to retrieve his remains. Takopi begs her to stop, but she sees this as betrayal and knocks Takopi unconscious. While unconscious, Takopi recalls its forgotten past: in 2022, it befriended teenage Marina, who suffered severe abuse from her mother. Marina dated Naoki, but his attention shifted towards Shizuka after she reappeared, leaving Marina emotionally isolated. When Naoki did not show up one day, Marina's mother, suspecting their relationship, abused Marina again which prompts her to kill her mother in self-defense. Blaming Shizuka for everything, Takopi decided to kill her, while Marina committed suicide. To fix things, Takopi used the Big Happy Clock of the Happy Planet to travel back in time, while the planet's matriarch erased its memories of Marina. Regaining consciousness, Takopi is overwhelmed by confusion after remembering Marina's suffering and its past choices. Takopi returns to the spot where it first met Shizuka and Marina, reflecting on morality and the pain they all endured as Naoki stumbles upon it.
6	"To All of You in 2016" Transliteration: "Nisenjūroku-nen no Kimi-tachi e" (Japanese: 2016年のきみたちへ)	Directed by : Shinya Iino & Masayuki Sakoi Storyboarded by : Shinya Iino	Shinya Iino	Keita Nagahara, Hirotoshi Arai, Toya Ooshima & Moaang	August 2, 2025 (2025-08-02)
Takopi tells Naoki about Shizuka's suffering, but Naoki can not help as his family is struggling after his confession. He nevertheless thanks Takopi for giving him and Shizuka moments of happiness and returns the Happy Camera. Several months later, Takopi finds Shizuka still searching for Chappy. Takopi pleads with her to stop and apologizes for not understanding her pain. Shizuka finally breaks down and cries. Comforting her, Takopi decides to use its life to power the Happy Camera and reset time, granting the children a second chance. Takopi thanks her before sacrificing itself. The timeline rewinds to Shizuka's first meeting with Takopi, though Takopi is no longer physically present. Still, faint memories linger as Shizuka and Marina are able to face their trauma and reconcile tearfully after finding a sketch of Takopi. Naoki also feels drawn towards Junya and emotionally distances himself from the girls. As it fades away, Takopi hopes the trio will grow up to be happy adults despite their difficult childhoods. Six years later, in 2022, Shizuka and Marina are best friends, teasing each other about their dysfunctional families while shopping for stationery. There, they notice a pen set resembling one of Takopi's gadgets.

Reception

Takopi's Original Sin won the Excellence Prize at the 51st Japan Cartoonists Association Awards in 2022.^[23] The series ranked third in the 2023 edition of Takarajimasha's Kono Manga ga Sugoi! list of best manga for male readers.^[24] The series ranked ninth on "The Best Manga 2023 Kono Manga wo Yome!" ranking by Freestyle magazine.^[25] It was nominated for the 16th Manga Taishō in 2023, and ranked 10th out of 11 nominees;^[26] it has been nominated for the 27th Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize in the same year.^[27] The manga was nominated for the 54th Seiun Award in the Best Comic category in 2023.^[28]

In February 2022, it was reported that the series surpassed the 2 million views per day on the Shōnen Jump+ platform.^[29] The first volume sold 41,277 copies in its first week,^[30] and the second volume sold 198,505 copies in its first week.^[31] By May 2022, the manga had over 1.2 million copies in circulation, including digital versions.^[32]

See also

• The Ichinose Family's Deadly Sins, another manga series by the same author

Notes

1. The series premiere was listed as launching on various streaming platforms at 24:00 on June 27, 2025, which is effectively June 28 at midnight JST.^[18]
2. Production staff information is taken from the ending credits of each episode.