TL;DR: Sakugan is a light adventure anime with mild action, minimal gore, and a strong focus on humor and exploration. While it includes some mildly mature themes (language, suggestive moments, and flawed character behavior), it remains relatively tame compared to darker series. Best enjoyed as a slower, casual watch with some thoughtful discussion points.
Section 1: Sakugan (S1; 12 Episodes) — At a Glance
Anime Summary | Taken directly from MyAnimeList
The “Labyrinth” is an expansive space deep underground where humans live in clusters known as “colonies.” Over the years, the surface has become a distant memory—even perhaps only a fantasy to those who have never experienced its wonders.
Making sure humanity survives the harsh conditions of the underground, a colony’s citizens can take on a variety of specialized jobs. These include “Workers,” who mine precious ore to fuel the colonies, and “Markers,” who journey into the Labyrinth’s surprisingly lush environment to bring back information that eases navigation. However, humanity also faces a threat to its existence—creatures called “kaijuu” whose sizes range from that of a small child to an enormous building, and are hostile to any human they see. Moreover, kaijuu that are large enough can force their way into the colonies, further increasing their threat level.
Memenpu [Memempu] is a nine-year-old college graduate whose inventions have greatly benefitted the Workers in her local colony. Recently, however, she has been dreaming of a place with a neverending ceiling not bound by bedrock. These aspirations fuel her desire to become a Marker and explore the Labyrinth’s vast unknown in search of such a fantastical place. Despite her father Gagumber’s vehement disagreement, a certain incident with the kaijuu jumpstarts a dangerous yet exciting adventure that will surely alter humanity’s course forever.
Genres & Themes
Action, Adventure, Comedy, Mecha, Sci-Fi
MyAnimeList Rating
PG-13+ | Teens 13 and Older
The Anime Momma Rating
PG-13+ | Teens 13 and Older
Section 2: Star Levels
Each category below is rated on a five-star scale:
⭐ = very little present | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ = a lot present
- Action/Violence Level: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (4/5)
- Addiction Level: ⭐☆☆☆☆ (1/5)
- Blood/Gore Level: ⭐☆☆☆☆ (1/5)
- Inappropriate, Heavy, or Mature Themes or Conduct: ⭐⭐☆☆☆ (2/5)
- Alternative Lifestyle Themes: ⭐☆☆☆☆ (1/5)
- Level of Magical Elements: ⭐☆☆☆☆ (1/5)
- Level of Romance: ⭐☆☆☆☆ (1/5)
Section 3: Star Levels — Explained
Action/Violence Level
Sakugan is much more about adventure and humor than it is about constant action—and honestly, that’s part of its charm.
There are fights sprinkled throughout the series, mostly involving creatures called Kaijuu. Toward the end of the series, the action picks up as the team encounters a terrorist group known as the Shibito. But these moments don’t dominate the story—they support it.
You’ll see:
- Mecha battles with gunfire, explosions, and heavy weaponry
- Soldiers using knives and firearms
- Some large-scale destruction during conflicts
- Fist fights (minor)
But overall, the tone stays fairly balanced and doesn’t feel overwhelming.
Addiction Level
This is a steady, take-your-time kind of watch.
It’s not the type of anime that’s going to keep you up all night saying “just one more episode.” I found it easy to pause and come back to—it took me a couple of weeks to finish, and that felt just right.
Good for casual watching, not necessarily for bingeing.
Blood/Gore Level
For the most part, this series is very mild in the blood/gore department.
There are moments where characters are injured—gunshots, some bleeding, coughing up blood—but it’s brief, not overly detailed, often broken up by humorous dialogue, and not the focus of the series.
If you’re sensitive to gore, this one is much more manageable compared to heavier series.
Inappropriate, Heavy, or Mature Themes or Conduct
Alright, here’s where a little discernment comes in 👀
In this series, there’s:
- Frequent cursing
- Kidnapping attempts throughout the series
- One brief (but very) uncomfortable moment in Episode 4 involving a character who uses inappropriate (cough, it’s sexual in nature) items to threaten/torture others
- This is the scene that caused me to increase my rating from ages 10+ to 13+.
Also, Gagumber (our lovable but very flawed father figure) is often shown:
- Drinking
- Gambling
- Looking at inappropriate magazines
- “Chasing tail”
Now let’s talk about the heart of the show—Memenpu and Gagumber’s relationship.
Memenpu is only 9, but she’s extremely intelligent (we’re talking multiple University-level degrees level smart). Because of that, she often:
- Talks down to and disrespects her dad
- Refuses to call him dad/father, or even by his real name (she calls him “Gagumba”)
- Ignores him or yells at him, kicks him
- All of these things are played for comedy purposes
And Gagumber?
- He argues back
- Dismisses her dreams at times
- Struggles to balance protecting her vs. supporting her
✨ This is actually a great conversation opportunity—about respect, communication, and what a healthy parent-child relationship should look like.
There’s also a scene where adults are temporarily poisoned and act erratically (laughing, crying, getting sick), which may feel uncomfortable but is short-lived.
Alternative Lifestyle Themes
A couple of small notes here:
- A flamboyantly dressed male character appears briefly in Episode 4
- In her younger days, side character Zackletu (known as “Zack” at the time) is often mistaken for a boy. She does not correct anyone, and likely lives this way in order to stay safe in a dangerous environment
- Zackletu also drugs Memenpu at one point, in order to kidnap her and lure Gagumber into a fight
That second point actually adds a layer of world-building—hinting at how unsafe certain areas are, especially for children.
Level of Magical Elements
Sakugan leans more sci-fi than magical, but there’s still a unique twist.
We’re introduced to “Rainbow Children”—kids created with special genetic traits tied to the world itself. They’re bioengineered, exceptionally intelligent, and designed for the sole purpose of environmental survival.
Level of Romance
Very minimal.
Gagumber flirts here and there, and there are references to adult environments like clubs—but nothing explicit is shown.
Romance is definitely not the focus.
Section 4: Special Notes for Parents & Guardians
This anime seems to skip critically important parts that were possibly in the manga or light novel. For example, the relationship between Memenpu and Gagumber becomes more complicated toward the end of the series, especially with hints about their past and questions as to whether their memories have been altered. Unfortunately, the anime doesn’t fully clarify this, which can be confusing.
That said, there’s a strong underlying message here about dreams and perseverance.
Memenpu is determined to chase her dream no matter what. Gagumber, on the other hand, represents a more cautious perspective—wanting to protect her from disappointment and danger.
✨ And that tension? That’s real life.
Sometimes dreams are within reach.
Sometimes they’re not.
But there’s still value in trying, growing, and learning along the way.
Final Thoughts
Sakugan is a real adventure.
It’s not perfect. It leaves questions unanswered. And it doesn’t always handle its themes as deeply as it could.
But it does offer something valuable:
🖤 A look at imperfect relationships
🖤 A reminder that growth isn’t always pretty
🖤 And the encouragement to keep chasing what’s been placed on your heart
If you go in expecting a high-stakes, action-heavy anime, you might feel underwhelmed.
But if you go in open to the ride, you just might find something meaningful along the way.
Thank you for reading this review and I look forward to seeing you in our next one. 💛
At The Anime Momma Blog, my goal is simple: Helping parents understand the anime their kids love—guiding families to watch with wisdom and discernment, and grow through meaningful conversation.
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