Hajime no Ippo

First, let me say that I\'m not a fan of boxing. In fact, I pretty much hate the sport. Honestly, who likes seeing people getting their head beat in every day?

With that being said, this series is brilliantly done. There\'s comedy, romance, and plenty, plenty, plenty of plot. Follow Ippo as he grows as a person and as a professional boxer. You\'ll laugh, and you\'ll probably cry here or there. The fact that I don\'t even like boxing never came in to play. You\'ll probably find yourself doing some jabs here and there while watching the show too. It\'s that captivating.

The supporting characters are awesome. ... Takamura, Kimura and Aoki are all equally hilarious. Each has a distinct personality that make them all very lovable. They also support Ippo as he meets his trials of boxing and life.

Definitely give this series a try. You won\'t be disappointed with the 76 episodes. In fact, you\'ll probably end up reading the manga because you don\'t want it to stop!

"What? 76 episodes of… boxing? 76 episodes set in a small square ring? Yeah, right."

I had no idea.

What makes this anime special is undoubtedly the characters. How each character is so likeable, so original, and so fully developed that you end up understanding, caring, and rooting for them in the end. How even the ones that only last an episode, even Ippo's opponents can be given such plausible and staggering backstories that you might actually find yourself siding against the main hero for a match or two. And how these characters are just so serious with their lives ... that you really feel it, and you end up believing that such a world could actually exist out there.

You know you love an anime when it drives you to shout, to hold your breath, and to jump right out of your seat. You know you love an anime when the thrill makes your spine tingle so much that you actively root and cheer and punch the air in victory as if you were right there ringside. You know you love it when you marathon through 15 episodes one night, and wake the next morning only to continue watching. And even after 76 episodes and two bonuses, you can't let go. They've already wrapped you up in that world, those characters, their lives, their ambitions, and suddenly… suddenly you're expected to just leave?

No.

You know you love an anime when you're showing it to a friend and you somehow end up watching the entire thing again with him/her. And you still shout, you still laugh, you still find yourself out of your seat punching the air the second, the third, the sixth time you've seen it.

And you can't stop smiling. Because you get to live in their world again.

Hajime no Ippo (Fighting Spirit) is a fantastic Shounen, Sports, Comedy, Action anime produced by one of the greatest studios ever (Madhouse). Even though it doesn’t tell the entire story, the story it does tell is truly amazing, with all its manliness.

It’s about your classic teenage underdog (Ippo Makunoichi) who’s pretty shy and gets bullied and looked down upon, by some of his peers. Then one fateful day he comes across a boxing gym, with a great pro boxer, and soon attains the desire to become a boxer. Sure this set-up sounds very typical for a shounen sports drama but I personally enjoyed this story ... about the underdog overcoming continual obstacles. This formula does get pretty repetitive after a while but the flow during and between matches; helps set the steady pace of the developing story. Shame it had to end though.

Ippo is the character that this entire series revolves around and that is good because he’s a very likable character for the average viewer. It is easy for some viewers including myself to relate to his desire to be reborn and what’s more is that viewers can watch him develop and struggle to achieve his goal. What’s also great is that plenty of time is spent introducing and giving some back-story behind Ippo’s opponent, before the match, which makes things more interesting when his opponent also has a valid reason to win. Furthermore there are quite a few supporting characters to enjoy as well, because some are just truly hilarious.

The quality of the animation may be dated but thanks to Madhouse’s expert animators, it suits this anime adaptation perfectly. There’s even quite a fair bit of detail put into the surroundings. Sure the character designs are very unappealing but what matters in this manly show is the actual boxing, which is animated perfectly. The characters move fluidly but sadly there are quite a few corners cut, especially when it comes to recycling scenes.

The quality of the sound is awesome; above all when it comes to the fighting with powerful SFX for the punches and a thumping soundtrack to go with it. There are also quite a few mellow tunes to go with the everyday goings on but some of them are inferior compared to others.

Overall Hajime no Ippo is a highly entertaining anime series that is able to capture the pure essence of boxing, with some truly memorable bouts. Even though the whole “overcome any obstacle with hard work” thing is getting a bit played out in the shounen genre, it still proved to be an effective plot device in this series. Some may be daunted by the sheer length of this series (76 episodes); nevertheless if you the type of person who enjoys this type of combat shounen anime, then without a doubt you’ll enjoy the experience.

^_^

There are plenty of stories about a young man finding some sort of passion and following it to some sort of logical conclusion, and Hajime no Ippo chooses not to stray from that basic idea very far. Luckily for original creator Morikawa George, not straying far from this premise seems to be the recipe for a successful comic that has lasted more than 1000 chapters week after week since its original Shounen Magazine publishing in 1989. This adaptation by Madhouse and director Nishimura Satoshi is longer than your usual TV anime run, at 75 episodes, but it doesn't quite cover the incredible length of Nishimura's ... original comic. Instead, it opts for a sort complete story in itself, covering protagonist Makunouchi Ippo's career from its inception until his eventual championship.

This works in the show's favor since, despite its length, not much time is wasted. The story progresses in a rather linear fashion from one fight to another, introducing Ippo's opponents one at a time and moving Ippo himself steadily up the ranks of a young boxer. However, since very little of the show is not about Ippo himself, the routine does become a bit stale quickly. By the second or third fight, it is already apparent what the formula Morikawa George is using consists of. Ippo's next enemy is stronger than his last, and he must somehow adapt to this, typically by learning some new technique. And when the fight itself comes, it all boils down to Ippo winning through his sheer tenacity - no matter what his opponents throw at him, he just doesn't give up, and you just know the spectators will feel the need to comment on his never ending stamina between every single round. In all truth, while simple, this is both tiring and unsatisfying, especially since Ippo's opponents are almost always significantly more interesting and endearing than Ippo himself.

The narrative wants me to root for the hard working underdog Ippo, but it usually turns out that I want his opponent to win. This is because Ippo's enemies are fleshed out enough for the viewer to understand how they've trained for this day and what is at stake for them. These are typically much more convincing arguments for their victory than Ippo's, who is new to the boxing world and is on the losing side of the fight until it eventually comes down to, once again, Ippo simply lasting longer than his opponent despite an overwhelming disadvantage. In particular, I found myself rooting for the Russian boxer Alexander Volg Zangief. The emotional weight of his fights and career was more powerful than anything Ippo ever managed to achieve.

Ippo's romantic life is also given some focus, but it seems more like an afterthought. His romantic interest, Kumi Mashiba, is your typical ideal domestic housewife and devoted fan. Her relationship with Ippo begins with a quick meeting at a flower shop very early in the show and, despite their insistent tendency to meet frequently, it never really progresses very far.

Regardless of Ippo's boring fights, there are moments of interesting boxing action. Specifically, the writing and choreography of the fights seem to become levels better when Ippo is not one of the participants. This shows in two places in the show - a short arc about Ichiro Miyata training in Mexico, and the subplot about Takamura Mamoru earning and defending his title. In both of these the viewer finds more complex characters and detailed, well-thought out fights that capitalize on everything their respective subplots have to offer. If only there was more of these sorts of fights and less of Ippo winning not because he deserves it but because he has to win somehow for the plot to progress.

The animation is a real highlight of the show, at least during the fights. The camera feels loose and free, not restrained by the cheap but easy to animate single angles that usually plague TV anime. The boxers' movements are accentuated by wind effects like they are kicking up dust every time they move, but it is used tastefully so that it only adds to the experience, something that can only be done reasonably in animation. Successful hits look painful, damage to the boxers accumulates as the fights go on. However, outside of fights, the animation becomes par for the course, though still not bad for an early 2000s TV anime. Madhouse pulled off a show that looks ahead of its time. The sounds are of similar quality, always tasteful and adding nicely to the experience.

Hajime no Ippo has moments of brilliance, and it is rarely so extreme that it is unbelievable, but it is weighed down a great deal by a shallow and boring protagonist and a formualic progression.

This is probably the best sports anime I've seen (and I've seen a bunch of them). It isn't gorgeous visually and it isn't original and it isn't unpredictable... and I don't even like boxing. But it's still really really entertaining to watch anyway. And doesn't that say something?

Yeah, yeah, it's got the standard "work hard, have confidence/courage and you'll overcome each seemingly-impossible hurdle one by one" type feel that a lot of anime does (see everything from DBZ, Naruto, Bleach, and to practically every sports anime out there...). And I'm sure there's people out there who are going to find the ... repetitive struggle-struggle-comeback pattern annoying...

But if you like that sort of thing anyway (and don't we all sometimes?), this is definitely worth checking out. Hajime's your prototypical earnest, hardworking, blue collar good guy who's trying to make himself better and, despite a serious lack of confidence, he's pretty likeable.

What I really liked though was the chemistry and the interaction between the characters: the gruff, old cutman; the cocky champion; the teasing senpais; the thugs turned sidekicks... they all just made me laugh. They were over the top, leaned towards the ribald sometimes and semi-abusive, but it comes off as really charming... especially since you really got the feeling that Hajime really needed/wanted those sort of familiar, no-holds-barred friendships. They tease each other and torment each other and it creates this really nice sense of playfulness that's underscored by a strong sense of loyalty and affection.

So, if you'd be interested in a good underdog story with a side dish of male bonding... look no further, Hajime no Ippo's just what you need. =)

Fantastic, Excellent, Superb! - Do not judge by its cover or genre. 10/10!

My review will be kept spoiler free.

Okay, so I know what most of you are probably thinking, "an Anime about Boxing/Sports?! Ugh! Not for me". This would be an extremely bad judgement and you'd miss out on one of the greater Anime's of our time. Whether you are or are not a sports fan, this shouldn't be missed.

I myself am definitely NOT a sports fan, I am however a fight fan, in the respect of video games. For me, Boxing has always been a questionable sport. Its a sport where we as ... people have allowed each other, to beat each other to an inch of our lives, its almost hilarious that as people we are happy with this, for me... This serves as a borderline between Sport and straight up violence, albeit very technical violence. So I was able to allow this to slide into my Anime viewings and have not looked back!

Hajime no Ippo, a story about a young male Makanouchi Ippo who turns a bad scenario into an un-imaginable dream. The story of Hajime no Ippo is simple, its not the kind of story that needs a lot of thought, it's not hiding the fact that it is predictable or isn't completely unique, it definitely has elements of the shounen genre, BUT! For me it differed greatly from some of the more "childish" shounen out there... This isn't a flaw in the least, then you've got your classic love stories, drama and comedy. For the most part, the story is very, very relatable to the movie Rocky and its sequels, If you are a fan of said movie then this is a no brainer to watch this series. If however you haven't seen Rocky or perhaps didn't like it that much, this is still going to be a great watch. Its the kind of story that will have you on the edge of your seat, it will leave you amped up and treating it as a real life event, you might even find yourself cheering out loudly (as was the case for myself). You will find yourself rooting for our protagonist but at the same time isn't going to make his opponents feel like useless side cast who all deserve to be defeated, in fact the show has an amazing way of actually making you feel like the opponents have equal rights to reap glory and you might even feel sympathy towards them, this serves to create a love-hate relationship with them which is rather spectacular.

The Art for Hajime no Ippo could be a draw back for many as it is very 90's and perhaps even a little earlier, its very "shouneny", however after a short while the art style becomes something that you'll appreciate and serves to highlight the ruggedness that comes with Boxing.

The Music/Sound of Hajime no Ippo is actually rather excellent, particularly the first two Openings/Titles of the show. Victory themes play out perfectly and help raise the mood, punches, blocks, impacts are all well recreated and leave a lasting impression. Towards the end of the Anime, the music was a PERFECT accompaniment to the given outcome. All voice actors are perfectly matched for their roles and are totally believable.

Characters are definitely the shows major attribute. All the characters are well developed and are unique from one another, whether they are friends or foes. Ippo the star of the show has now earned a spot in my favourite characters ever. The side cast are definitely not in the shadows, Takamura Mamoru is a deuteragonist, he certainly had me in stitches with all his antics, however his insights in the art of boxing are second to none and he KNOWS THIS VERY WELL! This is exactly what drives his ego through the roof and its hilarious to watch. Ippo and the members of Kamogawa Boxing Gym's coach (Kamogawa Genji) is a definite homage to the coach of Rocky Balboa from the movies, however in my eyes is way more well structured and thought out. I could talk forever about the cast, but take it from me, this is the highlight of the show.

Overall the enjoyment of the show is extremely high, I found myself watching this show is large chunks not wanting to stop watching, but due to fatigue and having to go to say... I dunno, Sleep? Would be the only times I stopped. Fights are action packed, you may even shed a tear of joy! Emotions run wild in ways that I never thought imaginable from a genre that I may have missed, from Insights to the boxers feelings during fights to arduous training régimes everything is great! Needless to say, Hajime no Ippo deserves its top spot... Highly recommended.

“There’s nothing to be scared of, because your penis is of heavyweight class.” – Takamura Mamoru

Oops, sorry, wrong quote.

“Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts”. – Winston Churchill

The English name for Hajime no Ippo is Fighting Spirit, and that’s what the show is about: Fighting spirit and the courage to keep on going. Hajime no Ippo was the first anime I discovered when I finally knew what anime was. It set a standard for the sports genre (which is in my opinion criminally underrated) in character development and pure enjoyment. This is my review.

Contains Minor ... Spoilers

Story 8
Hajime no Ippo follows a quiet teen named Ippo whose life just consists of going to school and helping his mother out with their fishing business. One day he’s beaten senseless by fellow school mates but is saved by a passer-by who happens to be a pro boxer. Ippo passes out and wakes up in a boxing gym to which he is tended to by the pro. He becomes fascinated with the sport and decides to become a pro boxer in order to become stronger. When I finished the first episode I thought the story was going to be “The Karate Kid with boxing”. Thankfully I was way off. Hajime no Ippo is about a boy’s goal to become stronger and his road towards the Lightweight championship. The story is really simple but enjoyable. It may not be original but the execution is well done. You don’t need to understand or even enjoy boxing to enjoy Hajime. This is because the story is a nice set up for intense boxing action. Do you really need to understand the rules if you can just sit back and watch two guys pummel each other? The matches were superhuman and intense. The story contains some history on the sport which is a lot more interesting than dull. The story itself contained a lot of funny comedy bits, some drama which was well written and even a bit of romance.

Characters 9
The best thing about a good sports anime is the characters. Hajime no Ippo is no exception. Ippo is a very likeable lead who the viewer wants to see succeed. His ambition and courage brings a smile to your face because you can’t help but to just love the guy. But Ippo isn’t the only character I loved. Every other major character is well written and you’ll be bound to have at least one favourite that’s from the supporting cast. Fellow boxers in the show have devoted their lives to boxing and have their own reasons for fighting. Most of their causes are noble and a lot of times you’ll feel bad for when one of them loses a match. In between matches you don’t feel anxious or impatient to get to the next one because it’s actually enjoying to see what everyone’s lives are like and how they all rest up and train before and after matches. I laughed and cried with these characters, and they were definitely the best part of the show.

Sound 7
The sound of Hajime no Ippo is a mixed bag because the first OP gets you pumped for what’s about to follow and the ED closes the episode off nicely. After that the songs became terrible. Especially the OP’s and I usually just skipped past them (something I never did with the first). The voice acting was fantastic, especially with Ippo and Takamura although the other seiyuus did a fantastic job with their respective characters as well. The sound effects for the boxing was awesome. You’d get a chill down your spine when you hear bones break or blood splat. If the sound effects for the boxing wasn’t so fantastic I wouldn’t have enjoyed the matches so much.

Art 10
The art of Hajime really stands out because it has its own style. The character outlines are really thick black lines and it reminded me of Ashita no Joe but with less exaggerated features and a less retro style. The backgrounds were all right. Honestly I never really paid attention to it because my focus stayed on the characters. The animation used during boxing matches were very fluid and the action was really easy to follow.

Enjoyment 8
Honestly, I really enjoyed Hajime. The boxing matches had me on the edge of my seat the whole time, I loved all the characters and the adored the art. The only thing that disappointed me was the sound. Please don’t be put off by the length of the anime. Those 76 episodes will fly by really quickly, and that probably won’t even be enough.

Overall 8
Hajime no Ippo was great. It was a fun watch and if I wasn’t so skinny I would have taken up the sport as a hobby. Be sure to check it out.

Hajime no Ippo is widely considered one the greatest if not the greatest sports anime ever made! The manga has been running since the 1980s, but it has managed to avoid feeling too stale or repetitive. Everyone simply can't get enough of this series! I will now try to explain what makes Hajime no Ippo so special to so many.

Hajime no Ippo (which I will now refer to as HNI) starts off using the generic sports movie formula. It is about a troubled kid named Ippo, who is always getting bullied and is considered a loser and outcast at school. He comes from a poor ... fishing family and smells like fish bait. One day he is getting his ass kicked by a group of bullies, when a boxing champ happens to pass by and save Ippo by chasing off the bullies. Inevitably, he becomes the wise mentor figure for Ippo and Ippo must train to become stronger and stand up for himself. HNI starts as basically the love child of The Karate Kid from 1984 and the Rocky series. However, HNI does FAR more than just rip off old movies that people have a nostalgic soft spot for. HNI actually has developed characters with realistic motivations. The fights are fun and the mangaka actually knows enough about boxing to make the series rather educational. Although the characters do still use "finishing moves" straight out of Street Fighter, so it doesn't try to be too serious or hyper-realistic.

The only odd and confusing part of the writer's extensive boxing knowledge that he absolutely showers the viewer with is his raging boner for Jack Dempsey. Seriously? The guy that defended his title from a bunch of bums, was in the pocket of the Mafia, and refused to fight black boxers because he was too afraid he would get his ass kicked? THAT is your hero Mr. Morikawa? What about Robinson? Ali? Louis? Armstrong? Fuck Jack Dempsey! I like Wladimir Klitschko more than Dempsey! Wladimir may fight bum opponents and has a "glass jaw" but at least he doesn't shit his pants in terror when a black man enters the room! Wladimir would happily fight any of the past great heavyweights and even though he would get his ass whooped, he would have the fucking balls to fight because he isn't a pretentious coward! Ok, rant over.

HNI manages to find a rare middle ground in anime. It isn't a cutesy "moe" that overflows with established anime tropes and cliche's. However, HNI isn't DESPERATELY trying to win at the prestigious Cannes film festival and doesn't have a following of insufferable snobs that mostly don't even like it, but they say they do because they think it makes them sound smart. Unlike some other anime series I can think of. You know the ones. HNI manages to appeal to everyone from the basic casual to the seasoned elitist. It uses time honored story telling techniques, but also shows some innovation, fun, and heart. It is an all around good series and one that everyone should check out!

Bonus section: SPOILERS AHEAD!

One flaw that the series has that I find hilarious is that the writer unintentionally makes Ippo one of the greatest assholes in anime history! In order to make Ippo's opponents well balanced and not generic "heels", the writer gives almost all of them far nobler reasons to compete than Ippo. Ippo just loves to fight, but he will be fighting against someone trying to win money for a needed operation or to save an orphanage! Even though Ippo cares only about the fighting and not the money, Ippo still never shares a red CENT of his prize money or endorsement money with any of the people that desperately need it. He let his good friend's mother DIE of preventable illness because he blew thousands of dollars on a party. What a fucking prick! Ippo is so cold he even gives Johan Liebert the chills! In Yugioh, Yugi gives the money from Duelist Kingdom to Joey so his sister can have an operation. Ippo would have laughed in Joey's face and spent the money at a strip club! Can you think of another anime hero that would be that selfish? Yusuke from Yu Yu Hakusho is SUPPOSED to be a selfish asshole and even he would have given up the money if Kuwabara needed it. Even anti-heroes are nicer than Ippo. Lucy from Elfen Lied has committed MASS MURDER against innocent civilians, but if she wasn't in a blind rage and was in her rational state of mind, she would give up all the money in the world for a close friend in need, because she has a warmer heart than Ippo and is a better human being! At least we get to see Alexander knock Ippo the FUCK out in season 2. Ippo deserved every bit of that and much more!

Ippo Makunouchi... the most evil villain who ever lived.

This anime is perfect. If not perfect, then damn near close. It's easy to be skeptical, sounds ridiculous, I know. Over 70 episodes and still gets straight tens? Well believe it, it's real. The sounds and music are epic, memorable, and perfectly on point. The art mixed with the sounds gives real weight to the punches. The characters are nearly all unforgettable and unique. Lastly, the story is so well put together and balanced that I frequently reminisce about the first episode, decide to watch it, and the next thing I know I've re-watched the whole series. ...

Everyone should know what Hajime no Ippo is all about by now. That said, this is my fourth time watching it, and I have developed a bit of a different take on the series. Prepare for a plot summary review of Hajime no Ippo: the story of the rise of the greatest villain in anime history.

*SPOILERS AHEAD*

This is the story of Ippo Makunouchi, a second year high school student who has been bullied for his entire life. Downtrodden to the point where his biggest wish is to know what it feels like to be strong. Then one day he finds his chance when he is introduced to the world of boxing.

He starts off his career strong, by breaking the spirit of a kid who has been training his entire life. Ippo comes in as a complete amateur and wallops him. Defeats him, ultimately surpasses him, and forces him out of the country. Effectively starting a lifelong rivalry that he isn't even fully aware of. Watch Ippo as he moves on to bigger and better things, destroying boxers one by one. Crushing the actual dreams of others so that he may further his dream of being strong and having fun boxing.

Watch as a humble soldier comes to Tokyo to win money to repay his impoverished Japanese second family for all they have done for him, only to be trounced by Ippo and sent back with nothing. Marvel at Ippo's tenacity as he wins the Eastern Rookie Tournament by destroying a man's only hope of making a decent living and paying for his sister's college tuition after their parent's died in a terrible accident, then prepare for your heart to be set aflutter when Ippo later decides he wants to bang that opponent's aforementioned sister. See the exciting clash of the East and West Rookie Champions as Ippo travels all the way to Osaka to flatten the region's hero and make little children cry. Cheer for Ippo as he faces down and ultimately defeats his toughest opponent yet, a Russian national who detests violence but fights against all odds so that he may afford to nurse his sick mother back to health. All of these fights are just stepping stones, though. Merely checkpoints along the road to his ultimate goal: Facing a man who lost his dreams, his unborn child, and the respect of his wife... in an attempt to take away his title belt and, with it, his pride.

All because it fills him with joy. All because for him, it is fun. He has found that it is what he wants to do in his life more than anything else. And because he feels like the crushed dreams of the people he has defeated are now carried in his fists, making him stronger.

Hajime no Ippo is a series that was very inspiring to me.

The plot begins with a regular, average high school student that's just trying to get through with life and school while trying to help out his mom with their family-owned business. Almost everyday, punks in school always bullies him after school. That changed one day when a pro-boxer came and saved him from receiving more punches and kicks from these punks. From that, Ippo (the main character) strives to become a pro-boxer just like that guy. He suddenly becomes motivated to be a boxer in the future. Throughout this series, he constantly trains and ... do 'roadwork' in order to maintain his physical strength and stamina. Every now and then, a boxer from a different gym (or a different country) arrives and challenges Ippo to a match. So all those 'roadwork' really does help out alot. The story is great, which fulfills what I think a sports anime should be in the first place. It basically explains how anyone can achieve their goals by working hard to get it.

The art on this one was also different from the typical anime that I've seen. The world on Hajime no Ippo rotates around the boxing gym where Ippo and the crew trains, his house where their family-owned business is also located, and the boxing ring itself. The thing that I can say right off the bat are the FIGHTS themselves. How awesome was it when I see smoke coming out behind the back of the boxer that just got owned by a gut punch? VERY. It's like watching an atomic bomb go off several times, but this time behind someone's back. Seeing their faces get pounded is also something, and you might start thinking that I'm a sadist (hey it's boxing, that's what it's about). Every fight on this show was really exciting to watch, and the animators also did a great job putting detailed environments. Hajime no Ippo have that old-school feel to it where the city is one that's just any other one, except that it has the boxing gym and the stadium where all hell breaks loose. Another thing that really caught my attention was the huge setting sun behind Ippo, which shows how determined this guy is on becoming what he wants to be, a better boxer.

The three opening songs on this series were all great, and somewhat hilarious too. Understar always makes me laugh for some reason. Inner light, on the other hand, is really one that's inspiring. That's what I listen to everytime I do my own 'roadwork' running around the neighborhood. 'Tumbling Dice' was also great, even though it didn't really have lyrics accompanying it. The ending music were also great. I have to say that they were also good ones. Now, with the voice actors... Ippo's voice is really something. His verbal stutters every now and then is really funny. It's like he's always unsure about what he's doing. The voice acting really did a nice job in Hajime no Ippo. Kohei did a very nice job with Ippo's voice, that's for sure. Takamura's voice along with the rest of the crew were also good, and had the humor in them. Even the drumroll that separates the first half of the show to the last half was something that's worth mentioning. Those electric guitar parts where Ippo's pumped up about the next fight are also great. The sound effects comes just at the right time.

And then there are the characters... Hajime no Ippo is composed of people that varies in personalities. Maybe all animes have those also, but this series really emphasizes on each one's character. Mashiba is this scary-looking guy that always seem to scare Ippo in every way and every time he thinks about him. There's Takamura and his over-confidence about himself that makes him the 'boss' of the gym. Ippo himself portrays an average guy that leads a simple life. His funny actions and wimpy attitude changes drastically ones he's on the ring. His true strength really shows in that ring, while outside, he's a very humble person. He doesn't show off like other people would (Takamura, yea you!). All of the characters in this series are really memorable. One just can't forget about them.

With all the excitement that this show offers makes the enjoyment of watching it over the top. After each fight, I would anticipate to see the next fight even before a new challenger (notice the pun for the new season here hehe) appears again. Even when the crew is not fighting, just doing roadwork, it's really fun to watch. It really motivated me to run myself. I usually enjoy playing basketball at the park, but when I watched and finished this show, I even started to have fun running as well. Seeing my little sister doing jump ropes, I borrowed it from her so I can try it out too. Hajime no Ippo really made me like new stuff that I would just ignore in the past. That jump rope is an example.

In the end, this show is really worth watching. 76 episodes seemed long at first when I started it, but all 76, movie, and an OVA went by as if it was just a 12-episode show. It makes me wanting more. The new season is out, so I have something to be busy over again. Hajime no Ippo is something I would recommend to sports enthusiasts, as well as people that are into action animes. This show will surely deliver punches that will make you stand up just so you can also cheer for Ippo as he tries to climb to the top!

Hajime no Ippo is seriously one of the best anime I have ever watched. It combines my favorite aspects of anime: Action, Story, Comedy, and a great cast of characters. Ippo's growth throughout the story is flawless and smoothly done.

Story-
I loved the story in this show. Unlike other shounens this one isn't about Getting Revenge or stopping some superhuman villain from destroying earth. Nor is this just a typical sports anime. The whole story is to show you the growth of Ippo and how he changes throughout the anime. Although i must say it isn't the most original storyline; it does have the usual ... introduction to new stronger opponents which triggers a "training spree". It's very similar to Rocky in that way. There are some very emotional parts in the show that keeps watchers hooked and more attached to the characters.

Art-
The art style is very 'Clean' and 'Crispl'. Over time, the art style changes very subtley so that it looks more modern near the ending episodes. The character design and environments are great. During the fights are when the art style is brought to its fullest. It gives you an adrenaline rush like no other. You really see the power and pain of the characters.

Sound-
The sound is the only thing i dont give full points too because it's a bit outdated. Its still great though, and it really goes well with the current situations. During the fighting scenes the music goes perfectly along with the art to give you a rush like sensation.

Character-
Like i said earlier, the character designs are great and the growth of each one is flawless. Ippo's and Takamura's characters have a lot of depth, given their background storys. Each character has a unique personality and you'll become very attached to them.

Overall-
Ill say it again and again, i love this anime. I've watched it about 3 times now, and it never gets old watching it. I just wish that they ended it better than the way they did.

Hajime No Ippo Review Review
There are no spoilers in this review
Never have I ever thought that I could find an anime which has ever got me as pumped up as my personal favourite, Initial D. But it's happened. Hajime No Ippo impressed me greatly and got me so pumped up for a sport I had no interest in. I've come out of it with a respect for fighting athletes of all sports. I think highly of this.

Story
The story is pretty average once you think about it. A rise to the top from someone unexpected. It's important to make such a person ... likeable otherwise people will despise him and his ideals. I have to say they really hit the nail on the head with Makunouchi. A really charismatic character in his own way. They really focused on what was important and that was Makunouchi's fighting spirit.

This coupled with some of the most cringe worthy humor and romance and great fighting scenes made for a blood pumping anime that could get any testosterone driven male excited. It's a simple formula but effective.

I'm glad I took a chance on watching it. It was well worth the time.

Tech
With a badass opening sequence and a classic artstyle I love Hajime No Ippo's tech side really appealed to me. The older style visuals are something I greatly enjoy. The visual quality was superb, the animation was smooth and the audio wasn't bad. Some of the sound effects were lame but the music made up for it and created the atmosphere well for the fights. Good visuals and audio complement the story and the characters well and served great to their purposes.

Characters
The characters were all well done. Some of the designs impressed me greatly. I was disappointed with some of the females. Allot of the females in the show looked similar to each other. Maybe that's more realistic or not, who knows?
As to the fighters of the show, they all were interesting to see. From the point fighter Kenta to the hard hitting Ryo there was no shortage of variety. DIfferent styles, different strengths, different appearances, different levels of intimidation each character made each fight more interesting. I think this was one of the stronger points of Hajime No Ippo.

Conclusion
Not much else to be said other then if you're willing, give it a try. You might be surprised. I found myself unable to stop watching it after I saw episode 1. It did well to keep me hooked. It's a bit long and you won't be able to get it all in one sitting but if you like it, you will just speed through it.
The last fight of the show was absolutely amazing.

Score 10/10

Have you ever watched an Anime where watching each episode made you so excited that you couldn't help but jump around like a maniac? Yeah, Hajime no Ippo did that to me. Don't think I've ever been filled with so much energy as I have with this.


Story(9/10): Our main character, 16 year old Makunouchi Ippo has been bullied for as long as he can remember. One day while he was getting beat up by his high school bullies, comes along a boxer called Takamura, who saves him from the bullies. Takamura then proceeds to take him to the gym where he trains, and from here ... on out begins Ippo's glorious journey in the field of boxing.
What I really liked about the story was that the passage of time is realistic, no timeleaps or anything. We see Ippo's determination in getting better through countless hours of running, practising in the gym, shadow boxing and sparring, which is his daily routine. From first spar match to him getting his boxing license and then finally becoming a pro boxer, we get to see him grow as a boxer right before our eyes.


Art(9/10): The art for its time is pretty damn good. Sure, the faces sometimes look odd, and sometimes the hand and movement animation seem plastic, but those are just small little things.
The Animation shines during a fight. You can feel the impact of each blow as they land on target, gradual sweating throughout the matches, realistic wounds and so on. The newer seasons clean up the Animation by quite a bit, but the general feel stays the same as from this season.


Sound(9/10): I have no complaints in the sound department. Various sound effects from punching, blocking and running are done to near perfection. The voice actors also did a splendid job in giving a soul to each of the characters. As for the OPs and EDs, they're mostly good.
My favourites being ''Under Star'' and ''Yuuzora no Kamihikouki''.


Characters(10/10): The main reason why I love this Anime so much. Each and every single character has great backstory behind them and you can't help but root for them. Each fight being tougher than the last, it's hard not to cheer for Ippo when he perseveres.
My favourite character other than Ippo is definitely Takamura. He's brash, arrogant, a pervert. But damn, he's a genius in the ring. There wasn't a single moment where I wasn't astounded by his brute strength in the ring. Aside from him, I love Aoki and Kimura a lot too. They're Ippo's senior but they're good in their own right. They also provide for the comedic relief in the Anime, especially Aoki(can't beat the Frog Punch!). Ippo's coach, Kamogawa, who is the owner of the gym deserves special mention as well. He's a veteran and highly likable, and makes sure everyone does their training regularly. Finally, each opponent of Ippo are really likable. My favourite being Sendo and Vorg. His fights with both of them are the best of the whole series.


Enjoyment(10/10): I haven't enjoyed an Anime this much in long, long time. I honestly can't really find faults in it. Right from the get go, it caught hold of me by the collar and never let to. I was subjected to a roller coaster ride of emotions and great action. In short, I LOVE IT!

Overall(10/10): If you haven't watched this Anime already, then WATCH IT! This Anime is so good, that it'll be a shame if you haven't watched it. Definitely one of the best Anime I have ever seen and honestly, in the Sports genre, I doubt anything can top it.

I like boxing now!

I never really was a fan of boxing but I still knew some famous boxer such as Mike Tyson, Muhammed Ali and Robert Helenius (Very strong heavyweight Finnish Boxer with 29 wins and 3 losses) so I was really going in blind into this show. Well, mostly due to me seeing the fight between Kamogawa and Anderson. But all I can say it was worth the watch. If you have not seen this show and you are into fighting or boxing then this is the show for you. This show was a blast to watch and offers feels, epic action, good characters, ... good story and much much more. I watched this show in about 18 days.

Story: We start our story with Makunouchi Ippo our mc helping her mom with work. After school he gets in trouble with some bullies and proceeds to take a beating. Our hero Takamura comes into rescue and scares the bullies, so Ippo wants to start boxing. It isn't so easy since he has to do a hard task beforehand. Very shortly we see Ippo already developing. After Ippo joins the gym he gets trained by Kamogawa, Aoki, Kimura and Takamura. Under their tutoring Ippo transforms into the ideal Boxer, even though he still has flaws. His first victory was against Miyata who is rumored child prodigy. So after ippo having enough age he gets his boxing licence. We get a rookie tournament with a lot of hype moments and fights. Also a lot of good rivals for Ippo such as Volg, Mashiba and Sendo. More on them later. After Ippo becoming a rookie of the year he wants to become the featherweight champion but that is a hard task. We see more epic training and epic fights while Ippo is getting closer to his goal.

Characters: Makunouchi Ippo is a wimpy kid at the beginning since he is afraid to punch people and he never has punched anyone even though he is fully capable of doing so and his strength is beyond human. Even when becoming a professional boxer he still acts very nervous around other fighters and is very nice person overall. Mamoru Takamura is Ippos inspiration to become a boxer. He is the middleweight champion and strives to become the world champion but it will probably happen in the later seasons. He is very strong as expected. His personality is very prideful and he acts very mean towards his fellow boxers such as Kimura, Ippo and Aoki but I think in a more of a playful way. Kimura is one of Ippos tutors and he is Aokis best friend... I think. He is very helpful person. He still acts kinda mean towards his friends like every character besides Ippo, but again in a playful way. He is probably weaker than Ippo at this point in time. Aoki is again a tutor and a friend of Ippos. He fights very weirdly since he is very unpredictable. He is a part-timer at a ramen shop since boxing is expensive. He also has terrible taste in women. He is a very funny character and probably is the comic relief character. Kamogawa is an ex boxer and the owner of the boxing gym Ippo goes to. He knows how to teach and is very active in Ippos training. Volg is a russian boxer titled "the wolf" which is very fitting. He prioritizes strength before anything else. He mostly overpowers his enemies and he is dangerous. Mashiba is Ippos second rival after beating him during the rookie champion finals. Mashiba looks very scary and intimidating. He specializes in flicker jab and the hitman style. He hates Ippo with all his heart. Also he is the older brother of Kumi which is Ippos crush. Sendo has a very prideful personality and was born very strong. He wanted to fight Ippo a lot and he got his wish. The last fight of the season was Sendo vs Ippo rematch which was epic as hell. Sendo can adapt into situations very well and he outspirits almost all fighters. His dream is to crush Ippo.

The Soundtrack of this show is beyond nice. There are a lot of good parts of the ost and they all fit very nicely into the show. The openings were cool visually and musically. They all had cool visuals and banger songs. Still the first opening is my favourite and we do hear the first opening play in the background in some fights.

I never believed I would enjoy boxing this much but I do. This has been an adventure of cool fights and such. If you enjoy action and have few days to spare I recommend to watch this show.

Well i normally like to watch boxing, but when somebody told me to try watch this anime because i love all kinds of anime, then i thought why not it cant harm.
and i really dont regret watching this anime, it is more fun to watch then normal boxing because you get into Ippo´s life and watch him train and hang out whit his new freinds from the boxing club.

the Anime is not just a great sports anime, but it is also a very funny, since one of his freinds Mamoru Takamura a great heavyweight boxer makes always fun of him.
there is no chance of that ... you can watch the anime whithout laughing once =D.

the story is like the most animes, it starts whit a weak person that becomes very strong. when you watch the anime you think you know what is going to happend next but you dont and it suprisses one all the time.

Well the last thing i can write is that it is one of the best sports anime i ever have watched and i hope this reveiw has helped you, convinsing you to watch the anime
so ENJOY :)

I base my reviews on my feelings, my thoughts and my enjoyment referring the specific series. So this is not a overly professional critic's review.

Let's start off with the story, no, let's not. The summary is already made by another person right on the series' page. But yet, the plot. The plot's pretty similar to most shounen's. They find something that attracts they're interest in some way, and go all the way for that. Yet, this isn't an everyday's (basic) shounen. This really sticks out, the obstacles Ippo and the other characters go through are daily stuff most people are facing, problems in they're career, ... love, (at the start) bullying, family, friends and other daily stuff. Although lives are different, most things are still the same, just in a different setting.

The art is somewhat, not modern, but it's not that classic look anime had once in the day, but it's do-ablo, in the start somewhat less than after the start. The animation in the fights is sometimes normal, and sometimes yet utterly suprising, on those suprising moments, it's just so fluent and fast, truly amazing work they did, and of course, this improves as the series continues. So is the sound, it's starts off in a rather bad quality (for 1 or 2 episodes, at least in my opinion). But they improve that rather fast, the background music is wonderful and always on the right music, which provides clenched fists, goosebumps or even open mouths. In my cases.

The first opening wasn't really my thing, I don't care much for just instrumental openings, unless I like them in .. someway, which I did her after a while (Just like in Cowboy Bebop). The other opening is good as well, just like the endings.

The main character.. He's a really great guy, that's the type of guy who'd you want as your friend, loyal, reliable and fun to hang out with. A great support and a great laugh. So are the other "main" characters, they all have a distinct personality, which all come down on the same thing, yet they're unique in different ways. The support and friendship they give Ippo is truly wonderful (and hilarious).

This action-packed shounen is not only full of amazing action, but also full of loads of Drama, Romance, Comedy, "Slice of Life", and several other small genre's.

Don't let the boxing fool you, I don't like boxing, I don't see the fun in bashing each other faces in. But this guy, referring to Ippo Makanouchi, the main protagonist in this series, will take you on a journey you'll never want to forget, I know I don't.

I recommended this series to alot of people, which started with it, and couldn't stop, even when the anime series was finished, they started to read the manga (even the ones who never read manga or disliked reading manga).

Animation - 5
I absolutely hate the character design of this show. So unappealing, Hajime no Ippo was an eyesore, and honestly painful to watch the faces of the characters speak, cry, get excited or display any type of emotion. However I will give credit to the rendering of bodies and musculature and especially differentiating characters body types. The quality of animation clearly increases as the episodes go by so that, by the end there was much more polish overall in the quality. This is most notable in boxing matches.
Sound - 7
Hajime no Ippo had a passable foley effects and music. The first opening to the ... show was quite catchy and set a good tone for the show. Voice acting was pretty good. There were many variations in color and tone of the actors, and all had a good grasp of what was given.
Characters - 6
Pretty average characters and archetypes of shounen anime are present here. Some are well done, while others are wooden, and maybe offensively sterotypical/two-dimensional. Miyata was a standout character.
Story - 5
Very mediocre story. If you have seen other shounen anime, Rocky movies, or even those generic once a year "see how this team of ragtag individuals beat the odds and triumph" sports movies, you'll know how this plays out, who the viewer is supposed to feel sorry for, and who we're supposed to root for. The problem is the show didn't do a good job of making us feel for any of these characters outside of the ring with the exception of the few romantic elements. I will say the first few fights are scripeted well, but the quickly become formulaic.
Enjoyment - 7
Hajime no Ippo is an average shounen anime that doesn't do much different besides its presentation. The show excels when inside of the ring and production values are high, and with a character like Miyata (though kind of shafted off to the side towards the end) great potential, and sometimes originality is displayed.

Overall, Hajime no Ippo gets a 7/10 from me.

So i was sitting at home, alone, bored, watching some crappy documentory about some weird animals on tv or something... Half a sleep, so i thought ok im gonna pop a DVD of Monster or something in and watch a bit of that.

Watched about 2-3 episodes of that, bored from watching, uhhhggg so bored.... Then i remembered this DVD my friend gave me of Hajime no ippo of every episode in Dubs... I thought... hmm i might as well watch it, i been putting it off so long becaue of old graphics.

So i popped it in, and watched the first episode.

Mind = Blown.... ... I didnt even make a noise, just watched the second episode, then third... "DING DONG" god damit my parents are home, i should be in bed as it was 12 olcock at night....

From then on, all i could thing about that night was the amazing boxing that hajime had started, and the next morning of me getting to watch the next episodes!

Every episode in this anime is filled with awesomeness. So many epic fights, so many amazing training montages, so many comedy moments that i watch again and again and again because they are so frikkin funny.

for example one that is very memorable is the one where hajime na dhis friends are in this kareoke place, and they all go mental and start singing like idiots. Burst out laughing.

At many areas of this anime i had to surpress myself because otherwise i would burst out laughing and everyone would be like "WTF".

The story, although it is long, is very worthwhile. Definatly worth the watch.

Hajime no Ippo, a great anime series not only for those who are interested in boxing, but a whole variety of genres such as drama, comedy and even romance. I picked the anime up only because of my boxing background but got a whole lot more than i expected.

Really this anime has such a simple cliché plot, I mean who hasn't heard of the story of a boy getting bullied who then turns into a beast. Yet the producers were able to tell the story in a such a captivating and motivational way. The story has heavy use of the power of "determination" and "will ... power". But who doesn't love that?, it really gives you a great adrenaline rush when you see a character backed into a corner then suddenly through realization that he cannot lose the match wins with sheer will power. We also learn a lot about boxing, the training he goes through, the hardships, the reward and the sport in itself how its not always the strong who make it to the top.

The art of this anime was really well done, the characters were very realistic. Usually the protagonist in most shounen animes consist of a spiky headed bishounen whos extremely powerful at the start, add a mega hot romantic interest to keep the main character fighting and you've got a typical shounen. However this is not the case for Hajime no Ippo, hes just your average high school boy, there are no woman falling for him at first sight and he is not an extreme force to be reckoned with at the start either. The actual action in boxing matches was exciting to watch, it wasn't TOO unrealistic with fire coming off the fists and didn't have characters emitting super saiyan auras, but they animated good boxing movements showing both the importance of footwork and hand speed. The way they portray shadow boxing is also very realistic, as I too know the feeling when you first start shadow boxing, it looks like shit and its hard to get at first, but as you do it more it looks more fluid and cool.

The sound of this anime oh my gawd, I even use the music in this anime to motivate me in training. The OST's in this anime fill you with emotion, we feel the motivation as we see the characters training hard with montage music playing and we feel the despair as the main character is backed against the ropes as melancholic music plays in the background. The OP is very fast paced and suits the anime well, great for pumping the last reps in your workout :D.

Characters, this is where the anime truly shines. The amount of character development Ippo goes through is just phenomenal, from a kid bullied his entire school life to a professional boxer, surrounded with great friends and fans, he is taken on a journey on what it means to be strong. Also the friends he makes are just hilarious. Takamura, Aoki and Kimura are at the centre of all the comedy in this series. They each have their own absurdly humorous personalities, their pasts are both inspiring and ridiculously fun to watch, but I cannot spoil you'll have to watch it yourself.

I thoroughly enjoyed this anime, its probably not for everyone, especially women who want a bishounen to fan girl over, as well as the constant use of dick humor (yeah you'll have to watch to understand that), if you're a real man you'll enjoy this anime as much as I did.

This anime really is one of the best ones I've seen, offering a perfect blend of sport, drama, comedy and an inspiration plot. I really can't wait for the third season.

What are you doing, stop reading and watch this anime NAOW >;O

"Not everyone who works hard is rewarded, however all those who succeed have worked hard!" — Genji Kamogawa
I was having a discussion with a friend about shounen and how pretty much a lot of the modern day shounen genre seems 60% filler and the main character(S) are unjustifiably over-powered. Shows just seem very lack luster when it comes to an over-all message and
how to deliver it .
I was advised to watch Hajime No Ippo . i hesitated but once
i started watching i got hooked, and all i can say is that this show caught me completely off guard .
If you are looking ... for a solid shounen with some good humor, exciting fights, burning passion , and extremely lovable characters all around..If you are looking for inspiration then just watch this show. Words can't deliver the excitement that i felt and how eager i was for every next episode . Also this series is as REAL as it gets . Don't let the fact that this is a boxing anime discourage you, it's the fact that it's boxing that makes it a unique battle of wills, a battle of men defending their pride and honor .
Who will reach the top ?

I know I'm sounding dramatic but it's too over-whelming of an atmosphere, the tension of every fight, the funny moments, the emotional climaxes; it's an animated reality that many of the legends had to go through .

Anyway let's get to the point . The show is about a kid called makunoushi ippo
that's been bullied his entire life , little did he know he had the potential to become an athlete with all the work that he had to do at his mom's boating business . And as he meets Takamura, the man who is a professional boxer, after a weird after school incident he decides that he wants to become a fighter like the man he met . He wanted to be Reborn as an individual .
"Takamura-san, what is strength? What does it feel like to be strong? "

The Story commences, you get to meet different types of characters . The series also displays
a lot of different fighters and gives you an idea of their own experiences and backgrounds .And it delivers that perfectly .
Every single episode will leave you asking for more .
As for some other aspects i found the Art very satisfactory, the fighting scenes are animated superbly, you can feel the tension and power of every punch, keep in mind this show started airing in 2000 .
I've mentioned this before but this show excels in the diversity of the characters. On a side note the fact that you get to get deeper into fighting techniques like Flicker Jabs, in fighting , peek-a-boo, and many others just tickles my fancy .
I'd also like to mention that i really liked the audio . The training tracks, the opening and ending themes.. i still feel nostalgic listening to them as i do my own personal road work . (yes i downloaded them all !)
There were times i wanted to punch a character in the face, there were times i was bursting with laughter, and there were times was involuntarily tearing up . You get indulged in their world, and you get to see how far determination and will power can take you further , you get to see friendship , rivalry, you get to see true Fighting spirit . It's Truly a memorable show for me personally and i highly recommend you check it out, even if it's not a preferable genre for you .

"Run until you can't run anymore, and then run again. Constant effort is life's greatest shortcut" — Coach Kamogawa

Even the Underdogs have a chance as long as they work hard, believe in themselves, and never give up . \0/~DEMPSEY ROLLL~\0/