Adaptations Baki the Grappler (2001) | Published by Akita Shoten Original run 1991 – 1999 | |
 | ||
Similar One Piece, Terra Formars, Kingdom, Hunter × Hunter, Yowamushi Pedal | ||
Ah baki the grappler anime manga review
Baki the Grappler (グラップラー刃牙, Gurappurā Baki, "Grappler Baki") is a manga series written and illustrated by Keisuke Itagaki. It was originally serialized in Weekly Shōnen Champion from 1991 to 1999 and collected into 42 tankōbon volumes. It was followed by two sequel series; Baki (バキ, officially romanized as "New Grappler Baki: In Search of Our Strongest Hero"), which was serialized from 1999 to 2005 and collected into 31 volumes, and Baki Hanma (範馬刃牙, Hanma Baki, officially romanized as "Baki: Son of Ogre"), which was serialized from 2005 to 2012 and collected into 37 volumes. A third sequel, Baki-Dou (刃牙道, Baki Dō, lit. "Baki: The Way"), began serialization on March 20, 2014.
Contents
- Ah baki the grappler anime manga review
- Plot
- Main series
- Gaiden
- Supplements
- Original video animations
- Anime series
- Video games
- Reception
- References
A 45-minute original video animation (OVA) was released in 1994. A 24-episode anime aired on TV Tokyo between January 8 and June 25, 2001. This was quickly followed by a second 24-episode series, from July 22 to December 24, 2001. The OVA was the first to be licensed and released in North America, in 1998 by Central Park Media, followed by the original manga series in 2002 by Gutsoon! Entertainment (incomplete), and finally both anime series in 2005 by Funimation Entertainment. As of September 2016, the Baki series had sold over 63 million copies.
Plot
Baki is raised by his wealthy and money-obsessive mother, Emi Akezawa, who also funds his training in the hopes that he can be a powerful warrior like his father. Around the start of the series, Baki outgrows traditional training and heads out to follow the path of his ruthless father's training and meets many powerful fighters along the way. Eventually, Baki fights his father and is beaten without a challenge.
After being beaten, Baki travels around the world continuing his training. Years down the road he finds an underground Fighting arena where he fights some of the most powerful fighters of all styles of Martial arts. It is here he truly begins to hone his martial arts skills.
Main series
Gaiden
Supplements
Original video animations
A 45-minute original video animation (OVA) was released in 1994. The story is a close adaptation of the first few volumes of the original manga, in which Baki Hanma fights Shinogi Koushou. It was licensed and released on DVD, under the title Grappler Baki: The Ultimate Fighter, in North America by Central Park Media on December 1, 1998. Manga Entertainment later released it in Australia and the United Kingdom.
An original animation DVD (OAD), referred to as Baki: Most Evil Death Row Convicts Special Anime (バキ 最凶死刑囚編SP(スペシャル)アニメ), was included with the limited edition of the 14 volume of Baki-Dou on December 6, 2016. However, it adapts the arc of the same name from the second manga series, which is titled simply Baki. Created by Telecom Animation Film, it was directed by Teiichi Takiguchi and focuses on five inmates who breakout of prison from around the world and travel to Japan.
Anime series
A 24-episode anime series aired on TV Tokyo between January 8, 2001 and June 25, 2001. It faithfully follows the original manga series. Notably, the anime was produced by Free-Will, a music record label. A second 24-episode series, titled Grappler Baki: Maximum Tournament (グラップラー刃牙 最大トーナメント編) as it tells the story from that part of the manga, aired from July 23, 2001 to December 24, 2001. All of the series' music was written and composed by "Project Baki", and all the theme songs performed by Ryōko Aoyagi. The first anime's opening theme is "Ai Believe" (哀 believe), while its closing theme is "Reborn". For the second series, "All Alone" is used as the opening and "Loved..." as the closing. Baki the Grappler: Original Soundtrack was released on March 27, 2003.
Both series were licensed for a North American English release by Funimation Entertainment. They released both series as one on 12 DVDs, each with four episodes, beginning on June 14, 2005 with the last released on February 27, 2007. Two box sets were released on January 23, 2007 and March 25, 2008, the first included volumes 1-6 (1st series), while the second included 7-12 (2nd series). A set including every episode was released on September 2, 2008.
Funimation's English version was one of the launch-shows on their own television channel, Funimation Channel, which debuted on June 19, 2006. Baki was broadcast on weekends at 11:30pm, switching to the 10:00pm slot on September 4, 2006. Dubbed in English, the episodes were edited for time but do not appear to have been edited for content. The opening theme is the song "Child Prey" by Japanese metal band Dir en grey, who is signed to Free-Will.
In December 2016, it was announced that the "Most Evil Death Row Convicts" arc of the second manga series will be receiving an anime television adaptation.
Video games
There have been a few video games based on the series. A fighting game developed by Tomy was released for the PlayStation 2 as Fighting Fury (グラップラー刃牙 バキ最強列伝, Gurappurā Baki - Baki Saikyō Retsuden) in Japan in 2000 and the United Kingdom during 2003.
Reception
As of September 2016, the Baki series have sold over 63 million collected volumes. Allen Divers and Jason Thompson, both writing for Anime News Network, briefly described the series as "very compelling" and a "demented fighting manga", respectively.
The 2012 comedy film Graffreeter Toki (lit. "Toki the Freelancing Grappler") is based on the March 2011 play of the same name, which in turn was inspired by Grappler Baki.