Akagi is based around its titular character gambling his way to the top of the underworld, his enigmatic prowess for mahjong often turning the tide of certain defeat into victory. Akagi is a cold, relentless character. He cares little for money or for his own life. In the heat of the gamble he stops at nothing less than completely crushing his opponent's will to win...
Akagi is the first Nobuyuki Fukumoto manga to get the anime treatment and the anime has been executed surprisingly well. It is with reason that I say, 'surprisingly'. When considering Fukumoto's original, while particulary famous in Japan and Korea, you can't
...
help but think that it would be very difficult to animate it well enough to make it appeal to a wide audience.
Firstly there is the subject matter, Akagi (the anime), as with a number of other works by Fukumoto, basically involves Akagi (the character) playing a couple of games of the Japanese version of mahjong, gambling for keeps. Next Madhouse have kept (thankfully) with Fukumoto's original art style, with all of its unconventional flourishes (read; big noses etc.). And finally, the lead character, Akagi, is not exactly the easiest character in the world to relate to. In short, he is out of this world, nothing short of a true "God of Gamblers".
With all of this in mind it is 'surprising' just how intense this anime is. In the next couple of paragraphs I'll try and breakdown how this anime overcomes all of the above, making it one of the most original, mind-numbingly insane animes in a long, long time.
Firstly the mahjong. I have to admit that when I first started watching this anime I knew nothing about mahjong in general, let alone the Japanese version. The good news is that it doesn't really matter. The basic goal of the game and the rules are subtly explained as the anime progresses, and while it does help learn a bit about the different 'hands' everyone is going for it is definitely not a pre-requisite. You see, mahjong is game based on points so it is always pretty obvious who is in the lead, what kind of a hand Akagi needs to win the game etc. The finer points of mahjong all seem to come in to place as the games progress. The anime's direction involves a lot of internal dialogue. The audience is always privy to each characters' thoughts, allowing them to (conveniently) tell the viewer what kind of tile the character in question is waiting for, the number of points the hand they are going for will land them etc.
Fear not, I can wholeheartedly say that the mahjong in this anime does not form an obstacle in the enjoyment of the anime in any way, shape or form. Like me, you'll probably get really into the game as you watch - The danger associated with having to throw away your tiles (with the possibility of the tile being picked up and used by your opponent as his victory tile) makes the game, and this anime truly absorbing to watch.
The mahjong battles are awesome, leaving you on the edge of your seat the whole time, however the real reason that the mahjong battles draw the viewer in is the interaction between characters, or more specifically, the carefully constructed psychological battles that are played out before our eyes.
The characters cannot be mentioned without some reference to the drawing style, which plays a large role in creating the tone of the series. As with anything Fukumoto, the character designs do take a little getting used to. Yes the characters do possess noses so large that Pinocchio would be put to shame. Yes the characters in general are kind of... angular. Yes there are no busty 2D babes providing you 13 year olds with fan service - Okay, deep breaths, deep breaths... If you watch this anime past the first episode you will (hopefully) realize that these features ARE NOT necessarily bad things.
Firstly the originality really makes it stand out, and as you watch further into the series you begin to realize that the character designs do actually really suit the whole grim, macabre feel of the anime - hey, we're talking about a bunch of men gambling with more than money, with their very lives here - it's not exactly The Brady Bunch... Trust me, by the time the anime ends you will think that the character design presented in Akagi is the ONLY true way you could represent the vile, ugly nature of underworld thugs. Personally, I love Fukumoto's ouevre. The characters are very expressive and the drawing style is perfectly combined with Hideki Taneuchi's brooding score to paint an intensely bleak pictue of the Japanese underworld circa the 1960's. I'm giving art and sound a 10.
Next, on to Akagi the character. He is a prodigy, an enigma - put bluntly, you are going to have a hard time understanding what he is going through. This is both a good and a bad thing. In a way his absoluteness, his superhuman insight wraps Akagi in a veil of mystery and, to paraphase the Fonz, is what gives him 'his cool'. On the other hand, when the anime ends you feel like you still don't really know anything about him at all. His existence in the anime is kind of like that of a mystery film. He reveals a little of his character, answering one question, only to pose two more...
Now I like a piece of entertainment that doesn't completely reveal itself to the audience, making each and every one of us think for ourselves about the story's meaning, about what happens next. With Akagi however, this is taken to the extreme. The anime just kind of ends (mid-match). I know, that this is not really the fault of the animators as the original manga had still not ended its run. (At the time of writing the manga is up to 20 volumes and is still ongoing - the anime version of Akagi ends at the start of volume 13). Having said that though I kind of wished that the animators would have veered from the original manga a bit towards the end, to give it a proper ending.
For me personally it is such a shame that such an epic anime ends with not a bang, but a whimper, and it has a point taken off it for that... I hold out hope that there is a second season (it doesn't look likely though).
While my review does end on kind of a sour note, let it be known that up until the ending this anime is pure gold, definitely a must see. If it is the mahjong or the character design holding you back, I urge you to give it a try - if you dismiss this one on face value you'll only be missing out on one of the most original, nail-bitingly intense anime series around. (No real biggie:)
Alternative Titles
Synonyms: Mahjong Legend Akagi: The Genius Who Descended Into the Darkness, The Legend of Mahjong: Akagi
Japanese: 闘牌伝説アカギ 闇に舞い降りた天才
More titlesInformation
Type:
TV
Episodes:
26
Status:
Finished Airing
Aired:
Oct 5, 2005 to Mar 29, 2006
Premiered:
Fall 2005
Broadcast:
Wednesdays at 00:50 (JST)
Licensors:
None found, add some
Studios:
Madhouse
Source:
Manga
Genre:
Suspense
Demographic:
Seinen
Duration:
23 min. per ep.
Rating:
R - 17+ (violence & profanity)
Statistics
Ranked:
#7342
2
based on the top anime page. Please note that 'Not yet aired' and 'R18+' titles are excluded.
Popularity:
#2023
Members:
104,171
Favorites:
1,303
Available AtResourcesStreaming Platforms | Reviews
Filtered Results: 38 / 39
Sort
Your Feelings Categories Jan 12, 2008
Akagi is based around its titular character gambling his way to the top of the underworld, his enigmatic prowess for mahjong often turning the tide of certain defeat into victory. Akagi is a cold, relentless character. He cares little for money or for his own life. In the heat of the gamble he stops at nothing less than completely crushing his opponent's will to win...
Akagi is the first Nobuyuki Fukumoto manga to get the anime treatment and the anime has been executed surprisingly well. It is with reason that I say, 'surprisingly'. When considering Fukumoto's original, while particulary famous in Japan and Korea, you can't ... Nov 27, 2008
Akagi. Once again, I'm strung into a series by merely the name and a brief introduction summary.Well yes, "Akagi" isn't all that of an awesome name in itself, but where I came upon it it was named "Touhai Densetsu Akagi - Yami ni Maiorita Tensai"; "Gambler Genius Akagi - The Legend who Descended into the Darkness". Well, with reservation for translation. In any case, I acquired an episode to have a gander at what an Anime mainly about Mahjong could be able to offer...and if I'd be able to learn anything in the process.
Story: 9/10 Akagi Shigeru, a thirteen year old daredevil with an unknown background, ... Sep 19, 2007
Mahjong:
For those, who don't know what it majong, it's rather special hazard game, similar to poker, but played with special tiles. There are manzi, pinzi, sanzi, dragon and wind tiles. You must get special hands to win. It's not difficult game and when you play it yourself (either irl or on computer) it's quite addictive. Story and Characters: Basically, there is no standard story. Whole plot is about mahjong games, which take few episodes to resolve. Though there is time flow, it's nothing as standard action story. But this story is all about one person. Shigeru Akagi is his name. Whole story twists around him, each ... Jun 28, 2015
What would you do if you are faced with death? Would you have the guts to make it out alive or would you become numb and frozen in the moment that you stop thinking completely and succumb to death? Well whatever your answer maybe, it seems that Akagi, the series' main focus, always has a way out whether it be a reckless move or a calm and composed one.
The year is 1958, in the dark streets of Japan and in the middle of what seems to be a very long night for Nangou, a neurotic and addictive gambler who is in the verge of ... Apr 15, 2008
Akagi is a Psychological, Sports, Drama about the somewhat unfamiliar game of “Japanese Mahjong”, which manages to capitalize on tension and thrills but it can only be truly enjoyed by the open-minded anime fan (knowledge on Mahjong not required).
The story itself revolves around a deceptively young-looking, young boy (Shigeru Akagi), who is a prodigy at the game Mahjong. The good thing is that you don’t necessarily need to know a thing about Mahjong to watch this; you just need to grasp the basic concept in the first couple episodes. The storyline follows Akagi’s numerous accomplishments in Mahjong, as the stakes get higher and higher. This ... Dec 25, 2010
I have a real problem with this series and it has nothing to do with Mahjong, Yakuza, nor the art. It's the Dragonball Z syndrome I dealt with during the last half of the series.
Let's start back from the top. Akagi was great fun for someone like me that either just learning Mahjong to someone that's a seasoned player. It's got its feet on the ground better than Saki does while still putting the game on a grandiose scale. Now, I can't go far into this review without mentioning how horribly outdated the art is. What makes it better (or worse) is ... Oct 1, 2019
Alright. I can't even do a conventional review for this shit! This is the most confusing anime I've ever seen in my life. It's well directed, well animated, and seems to build decent drama. I just have no earthly idea what the fuck is going on!
Did you think End of Evangelion was a little confusing? Maybe you weren't paying close enough attention and you somehow missed what LCL is. "I wanted to watch this for the robot battles and hot chicks, why is everyone exploding into orange goop now?!" Maybe you're asking stuff like "Is this happening during episodes 25 and 26 in Shinji's head? ... May 17, 2013
Story: With a chin that would make Jay Leno blush and a nose that would leave Corporal Klinger wanting, Akagi is a mysterious 13 year old that tumbles into the middle of a yakuza Mahjong game one late night, where a mediocre Mahjong player is trying to absolve himself of his gambling debts. The entrance of the weird kid, (who is running around in the dead of the night wet as a fish fresh out of water) provides a welcome break for the gambler who is almost at the end of his wits. The story unfolds from there.
Akagi, even though he doesn’t know the ... May 27, 2022
Many years ago I was poking around on WinAmp, looking at the video streams and radio streams that random people were broadcasting. Besides the underground, pirate radios that introduced me to SO MUCH music and the adult content that was rampant I happened on an anime stream.
I was just a teenager, maybe 16 or so, and my experience with anime to that point was whatever was on my family's basic cable so Dragon Ball, Inuyasha, Naruto, Bleach, etc. I clicked into some guy streaming anime on WinAmp and what do I find but these ridiculous looking guys playing some kind of board game I'd never ... Sep 1, 2015
Akagi: A dark sports drama filled with deception, tension, and lots of Japanese Mahjong. Starring the titular Akagi and his rise to fame and fortune as what the narrator describes within the first episode as the "undefeatable genius of Mahjong". Episodes are intense, drawn out experiences of Mahjong games, explaining rules and building tension to the opposing player's next move. Who will win? Who will lose? A tale of underground yakuza and intense betting on the complex game of Mahjong is told within Akagi's 26 episodes.
STORY: 7/10 As stated in the earlier paragraph, the story revolves around a young man by the name of Akagi Shigeru. ... Aug 24, 2008
Akagi's story is more like a story that just goes along when something new happens, but it works out. When I first watched it, I didn't really like new types of art animation but I got use to it and it's great. The characters are pretty straightforward after they are introduced. None of them stray from their main path, they continue to do what they started. Overall I'd recommend anyone to watch this anime unless they hate Mahjong or something.
Sep 12, 2010
Oh, Akagi... Akagi, Akagi, Akagi... What can I say? This is the first Anime that I have ever seen that dealt with gambling. The means of gambling is with a game called Mahjong. I did not know the fundamentals and basic rules of Mahjong when I watched this. Looking back at it, I certainly wished I had taken the time to learn Mahjong. The reason for this is because all Akagi did was left me with numerous boring moments, frustration, and a bitter taste in my mouth. And maybe, just maybe I could have appreciated and enjoyed Akagi a little bit more, but it's just
...
Apr 8, 2013
To me this anime is by far if not the best, probably the most special anime in terms of story and meaning. Akagi is the anime that fills the gap between what we call rationality and irrationality.
CHARACTER= 10 One of the reasons that makes this anime a masterpiece is the way that the character has been designed. Akagi nows that he will survive somehow and he is playing mahjong by betting everything. To him, a meaningless death seems to be part of gambling. Although Akagi's mahjong plaing style is almost perfect ... Oct 2, 2015
If you've watched Kaiji: Ultimate Survivor and are curious about its predecessor, this review should be what you're looking for.
In terms of art and sound, it matches Kaiji equally; the addition of 'Zawa' would be nice, but it does not make it feel lacking without it. The story is equally good, though for different reasons. Kaiji is about pulling yourself from less than nothing to stand on the same ground as the average person on the street. Akagi is about one man with god-like awareness, skill and luck establishing a legend that only he can. I find it easier to get invested in Kaiji, as it's ... Nov 25, 2011
If u don't know how to play mahjong's game it get a little difficult to follow it. I don't know how to play this board game. (I thought that in this game u must find the two alike, never-mind me tho)
This anime has enough good times. Yeah, make me bored some times but eventually I enjoy it. The sound-tracks amazed me.. and the art of the pic. They have something in-print into them, something I called "time traveling". Nov 8, 2015
It starts out great. The first arc is interesting and the characters and situations feels real, considering. The second arc was basically more of the same but a bit slower and it felt like they didn't really care about it feeling possible anymore. However everything is alright until the last arc when it really falls apart with the introduction of the antagonist. Could hardly keep my eyes on the screen while they explained how insanely evil he is. Maybe it's a bit harsh of me to talk mainly about the last arc but it did go on for quite a bit (13 out of 26
...
Jun 5, 2014
What happens you turn the family friendly mahjong into a living at the edge from fear of death? You get this anime but what truly turns this into a psychological anime is our protagonist's state of mind where he makes his moves.
Story: 9 - Nangou is a compulsive gambler who has accumulated debt over three million yen. In a last ditch attempt to clear his record, he decides to wager his life on a game of mahjong with the mafia. Unfortunately, as the game progresses, Nangou only moves further from the prize and closer to death until his saviour comes but that 'saviour' just might ... Jan 8, 2010
When I first started watching Akagi, I didn't really like the graphics at all in this anime. Everyone looked really similar to being the same and it just wasn't that great. The more I watched though, the more it went with the anime in a whole so I appreciated how everything looked the more I watched it.
After you get a few episodes in, it will suck you in to where you will want to watch the next one. Of course a guy who can look death in the eye and not flinch is interesting enough but using Mahjong as one of the ... Jan 10, 2020
What makes an animated show work so well when it's actually barely animated? That's the sort of question Akagi seeks to answer, and it does so marvelously by displaying the following: iron-tight writing, stellar voice acting, and a real weighty sense of tension and stakes--even if you know Akagi will win in the end.
How does it all work? For one, the writing isn't held back when it comes to the primary conflict of which each arc surrounds--Mahjong. While it would be very easy for a show dedicated to displaying how ridiculously powerful its main character is, the anime shows little interest in letting Akagi win ... May 10, 2022
This tv show is like being able to experience the bliss of fishing from the sedentary placidity of your own home. Had fishing not already stolen my weeping heart from the altar on which I had prepared to eviscerate it and shown me the true divinity of the human experience, I would probably be called Akagi_Lover123. Just last Sunday, in the course of my Lake Ontario sojourn searching for the lake's native Chinook salmon, I was challenged to a game of Japanese-style Mahjong by a passing gull. Though the devious avian employed all manner of unique and varied strategy in its favour, the advanced practical
...
|