Baki the Grappler – The anime and manga series

Baki the Grappler is a famous manga written and illustrated by Keisuke Itagaki which debuted in 1991 in the Weekly Shōnen Champion magazine. Divided into six parts, the manga follows the adventures of Baki Hanma, a young fighter determined to become the strongest in the world and defeat his father, Yujiro Hanma, a feared fighter known as "the Ogre".

In Italy the manga and the first anime series are unpublished

The story unfolds through martial arts tournaments, duels and epic clashes, with characters inspired by famous wrestlers, MMA fighters and martial artists. Among the main protagonists are Baki Hanma, a talented fighter who seeks revenge for the death of his mother, and Yujiro Hanma, a skilled warrior with superhuman strength.

The manga was a great success in Japan and has been adapted into three anime series. It has been translated into several languages, including Italian, but the first anime series has not yet been distributed in our country.

Baki the Grappler is a gripping, action-packed story that mixes life-or-death fights, family rivalries and lessons on the tough path of personal growth. Fans of manga and martial arts fans can't miss it!

Source: wikipedia.com

Baki characters

baki hanma – Undisputed protagonist of the Baki universe, he is the son of Yujiro Hanma, known as "the strongest creature on earth". Since the age of three, Baki has dedicated himself to martial arts, training under the guidance of numerous masters. His primary goal becomes to overcome and defeat his father. Baki becomes champion of Mitsunari Tokugawa's rulesless arena at just fifteen years old and is characterized by the use of techniques from various martial disciplines. Over the course of his adventures, he faces escaped criminals, ancient warriors like Pickle, the caveman, and even his own father, in an epic final showdown.

Yuujiro Hanma – Known as the “Ogre” or “the strongest creature on earth”, Yuujiro is Baki and Jack's father. Gifted with an innate talent for combat, he has mastered all known forms of hand-to-hand combat. His strength and brutality are legendary, so much so that he is capable of hurting anyone without hesitation. Yuujiro is a character who inspires terror and admiration, capable of stopping an earthquake with a punch or resisting lightning.

After Orochi – Karate master and founder of the Shinshinkai style, Doppo is known as “Tiger Slayer” and “Man Eater Orochi”. He has dedicated fifty years of his life to martial arts and can compete on equal terms with Yujiro. After being temporarily killed in combat by Yujiro, Doppo returns stronger than before, determined to re-establish his dojo and improve himself even further.

Kiyosumi Katou – One of Doppo's most promising students, Katou believes in unrestricted karate, where everything goes. Working for the yakuza, he hones his skills while fighting against weapons and knives. Although he appears arrogant at times, he has a deep respect and affection for Doppo.

Atsushi Suedou – Karate student at the Shinshinkai dojo, defeated by Baki in a tournament. Later, he tries to avenge Katou's defeat against the escaped criminal Dorian, but is almost killed in a dangerous battle to say the least.

Mitsunari Tokugawa – Manager of Tokyo's underground arena, he is a key figure in the world of Baki. Although he is not a fighter, he has an encyclopedic knowledge of martial arts and fighters. He has ultimate control over every match that takes place in his arena and sometimes bends the rules to add to the spectacle.

Izou Motobe – Jujutsu master and old warrior, begins training Baki for his fight against Junichi Hanada. After losing to Yujiro eight years earlier, Motobe develops new techniques in an unsuccessful attempt to beat him. He returns in the second manga to face the criminal Ryuuko Yanagi.

Koushou Shinogi – Karate expert nicknamed “Cord Cutter Shinogi” for his ability to cut opponents' nerves and blood vessels. Despite the defeat against Baki, Shinogi returns in the manga “Search of Our Strongest Hero” to face the criminal Doyle.

Through these characters, “Baki” explores themes such as strength, courage, perseverance and overcoming one's limits. The series is a compelling journey into the world of martial arts, where only the strongest and most determined manage to emerge.

The anime series

The "Baki" animated series, based on the manga of the same name by Keisuke Itagaki, is a real journey into the world of martial arts, where strength, determination and courage collide in breathtaking battles.

The first series, consisting of 24 episodes, was broadcast on TV Tokyo between 8 January and 25 June 2001, produced by the Free-Will record label. “Grappler Baki: Maximum Tournament” follows, a second series of 24 episodes which airs from July 23 to December 24, 2001, narrating the maximum tournament described in the manga. The soundtracks for both series were provided by “Project Baki”, with Ryōko Aoyagi performing the opening and ending theme songs.

In North America, Funimation Entertainment acquired the rights to both series, releasing them on 12 DVDs and later in two box sets, making “Baki” one of the Funimation Channel's flagship shows.

In December 2016, a new anime adaptation covering the “Most Evil Death Row Convicts” story arc from the second manga was announced. Directed by Toshiki Hirano and produced by TMS Entertainment, this 26-episode series, simply titled “Baki”, debuts on Netflix in 2018, offering a fresh and modern approach to the saga. The openings and endings are performed by well-known artists such as Granrodeo and Azusa Tadokoro, adding a touch of liveliness to the series.

Netflix renews “Baki” for a second season in 2019, continuing to explore the protagonist's challenges through the “Great China Challenge” arc and the story of Alai Jr., with new creative teams adding depth and dynamism to the narrative.

In 2020, it was announced that “Hanma Baki – Son of Ogre” would be adapted as the third series, serving as a sequel to Netflix's second season. This series, released in 2021, continues Baki's adventures with new battles and increasingly exciting challenges, supported by an energetic soundtrack and musical themes created by leading artists such as Granrodeo and Generations from Exile Tribe.

With the renewal for a second season of “Baki Hanma,” the series continues to expand, exploring new character depths and introducing ever more formidable adversaries, keeping fans glued to the screen.

The "Baki" series is thus confirmed not only as a pillar of Japanese animation dedicated to martial arts, but also as a narrative of personal growth and internal confrontation, where the fights are metaphors for deeper battles, between aspirations, fears and characters' desires.

Data Sheet

Gender: Action, Martial Arts, Spokon

Manga

• Author: Keisuke Itagaki
• Editor: Akita Shoten
• Magazine: Weekly Shōnen Champion
• Target: Shōnen
• 1nd Edition: October 1991 – Ongoing
• Tankōbon: 149 (in progress)

OVA

• Regia: Yuji Asada
• Film script: Yoshihisa Araki
• Music: Takahiro Saito
• Studio: Knack Productions
• 1nd Edition: 21 August 1994
• Duration: 45 min

Anime TV Series (2001)

• Regia: Hitoshi Nanba (ep. 1-24), Ken'ichi Suzuki (ep. 25-48)
• Film script: Atsuhiro Tomioka
• Studio: Dynamic Planning
• Network: TV Tokyo
• 1st TV: January 8 – December 24, 2001
• Seasons: 2
• Episodes: 48 (complete)
• Relationship: 16: 9
• Duration ep.: 24 min

Anime TV Series “BAKI” (2018-2020)

• Regia: Toshiki Hirano
• Film script: Tatsuhiko Urahata
• Studio: Graphinica
• Network: TV Tokyo
• 1st TV: 25 June 2018 – 4 June 2020
• Seasons: 2
• Episodes: 39 (complete)
• Relationship: 16: 9
• Duration ep.: 24 min
• 1st Italian TV: 18 December 2018 – 4 June 2020
• 1st Italian Streaming: Netflix
• Italian dialogues: Dominique Evoli (translation), Anna Grisoni (adaptation)
• Italian dubbing studio: SDI Group
• Italian Dubbing Director: Pino Pirovano

Anime TV Series “Baki Hanma” (2021-2023)

• Regia: Toshiki Hirano
• Film script: Tatsuhiko Urahata
• Studio: Graphinica
• Network: TV Tokyo
• 1st TV: 19 October 2021 – 24 August 2023
• Seasons: 2
• Episodes: 25 (in progress)
• Relationship: 16: 9
• Duration ep.: 24 min
• 1st Italian Streaming: Netflix
• Italian dialogues: Dominique Evoli (translation), Anna Grisoni (adaptation st. 1), Laura Cherubelli (adaptation st. 2)
• Italian dubbing studio: Iyuno•SDI Group
• Italian Dubbing Director: Pino Pirovano

The “Baki” saga stands out for its intense action and depth of martial arts storytelling, accompanied by a series of unique characters and breathtaking battles that have captured the attention of fans around the world, both in the manga and manga versions. in the different animated iterations.