After a 16-year hiatus, the *Sgt. Frog* franchise is back on the big screen with *New Sgt. Frog the Super Movie: Our Revival and the Impending Global Crisis!*, which hit theaters in Japan on the 26th. On opening day, the film's writer and general director, Yuichi Fukuda, dropped a surprise: the voice cast would feature a reunion of actors from his previous projects, a regular troupe known as the "Fukuda-gumi."
However, by morning, the first wave of reviews from die-hard fans who rushed to see the film began flooding X (formerly Twitter), and the sentiment was overwhelmingly negative. The consensus? The movie might have *Sgt. Frog* in the title, but it reeks of a Yuichi Fukuda film, leaving fans lamenting that it was "not what I imagined" and "not for people who are just fans of *Sgt. Frog*."
The early viewers were mostly loyal fans who had been eagerly awaiting a new movie for 16 years, making their disappointment all the more palpable.
One fan vented their frustration, explaining that while they were initially thrilled about the new movie, their excitement turned to dread upon learning Yuichi Fukuda was the writer. The announcement of a "Fukuda-gumi" reunion, cramming in actors and characters from his live-action adaptations of *Brave Yoshihiko*, *Hentai Kamen*, and *Gintama*, was the final straw.
"This goes way beyond 'respecting the source material,'" the fan wrote. "It completely crosses the line. I just want to ask: What did *Sgt. Frog* fans do to deserve this?"
Another user, after seeing reactions from preview screenings, said they completely understood the backlash. Common sentiments included: "It was totally different from what I expected." "If you're only a fan of *Sgt. Frog*, this movie probably isn't for you." and "This is a bizarre film that feels like it's constantly giving the middle finger to *Sgt. Frog* fans."
Some fans argued that the film shouldn't have been marketed simply as "the first *Sgt. Frog* movie in 16 years." Instead, they felt its true purpose should have been a farewell party for the original anime to pave the way for the upcoming *New Sgt. Frog* series. "Who let the director turn this into a personal class reunion for his own projects?" one fan questioned.
One moviegoer posted their thoughts after a screening:
"If you're a true fan of *Sgt. Frog*, I honestly can't recommend this... The movie is drowning in meta-gags and stuffed with unnecessary scenes. By the midpoint, I had absolutely no idea what was going on. After watching this, my opinion of director Yuichi Fukuda has hit rock bottom..."
"It's a real shame. For the first new movie in 16 years to turn out like this... it's just incredibly disappointing."
Despite the harsh criticism, the same fan noted that this film marks the final animated performance for the original voice cast, as the upcoming *Sgt. Frog* series will feature all-new voice actors. They still recommended seeing it in theaters, but only after mentally preparing for what's in store.
Another fan summarized their post-viewing thoughts:
"Yuichi Fukuda has absolutely no skill in handling crossovers. Even the gags, which should have been the highlight, were just awkward and not funny. The film never explains why characters from Fukuda's other works are even there, making the plot a complete mess."
"The voice acting wasn't as sharp as it used to be, but that's just the passage of time, so it can't be helped. Also, the narrator talks way too much, to the point where it's distracting."
"And there's no way Dororo would ever say something like 'I will exterminate you all!' It's completely out of character. On the bright side, the design for the mechanical character 'Zuboruterute' was actually pretty cool."
Most of the negative feedback, however, centers on the film being an unrestrained showcase of Yuichi Fukuda's self-indulgent style. Fans went in expecting a *Sgt. Frog* movie but felt like they were force-fed a Yuichi Fukuda film instead.
One user found the use of *Gintama* particularly egregious. "It's really uncomfortable how they just threw *Gintama* in there. Is *Gintama* Yuichi Fukuda's personal property? Even if the rights holders approved it, I imagine they were probably pressured into it (lol)."
"Forcing *Gintama* into a *Sgt. Frog* movie is not only disrespectful to *Sgt. Frog*, but it's also disrespectful to *Gintama*. Why do my favorite series always get messed with like this...? The moment I saw the 'Fukuda-gumi' announcement this morning, I lost all desire to see it."
Currently, the reception is highly polarized. Most viewers feel the film is less a *Sgt. Frog* movie and more of a Yuichi Fukuda-verse crossover brawl, leaving many fans who were hoping for an authentic *Sgt. Frog* experience deeply disappointed.
Of course, fans of Fukuda's work might be intrigued by the crossover chaos, and it could even attract a different audience. But with such a rocky start on its opening day, the film's ultimate fate will likely depend on word-of-mouth.
