Grappler Baki

I never liked this anime and time really hasn't done it any favors at all. I decided to rewatch it only because I recently gave the TV series Baki the Grappler a rewatch. I'm not normally a fan of remakes, but this is one title that really needed it through the 48 episode TV series, because this anime is so bland to the point it can barely even fall back on its action.

Yuji Asada did a very poor job directing this anime. There is pretty much no story and the plot is non existent. Before some crazed fan decides to leap and shout out the ... short run time as an excuse. I recommend giving Battle Angel a watch to see what a competent anime director can do in a short time. This anime is all about the fight and nothing more which wouldn't be a problem if they were all good.

Baki is competing in a Karate tournament for whatever reason. Then he makes his way off to the underground circuit where he's champion, which explains why he's so tough for people to beat and far beyond black belts in the other tournament he's competing in. There's no real reason on why he's fighting there, these things are all just happening and various characters are making token appearances just to have them. There are at least three characters and a couple of segments that could have been completely removed and the "story" wouldn't have been effected at all. This is just how bare bones it is. Grappler Baki makes Ayane's High Kick look like a masterpiece, and that anime is around the same run time.

Baki is an unlikable character. He was even a bit cocky before his final match against Shinogi Kosho, a martial arts master whose main skill is to pierce his enemies skin with his fingers, and then severe arteries and nerves to cripple them. I found myself cheering on Shinogi to outright kill Baki; and Baki is the main character who's suppose to be liked. This is something that should never happen.

The animation is very grimy. It's very low budget with not much attention paid to the backgrounds. There are quite a few static backgrounds during the matches and a small amount of reused cels. Fortunately, there are times when the action stands out. The fight between Baki and Shinogi is very brutal with some gory, deep penetrations and ripping of nerves. The blows are bone chilling with some high impact. Therefore, there is something to like here even though every fight before this isn't even worth talking about. The BGM really doesn't add much life to this lifeless anime, and I hate the English dub too. Carter Cathcart voices Baki and this guy is annoying. I really hated Baki's shrieks and yells. I wish Shinogi would have just strangled him to death. I recommend the sub which is better but doesn't really help this anime much.

Grappler Baki shouldn't have been made for any reason. This short OVA makes me appreciate the TV series even more despite being unfinished. One can tell that this OVA had a story just screaming to be let out. There was potential every where and I remember hoping this anime would get the series treatment when I first saw it back in the 90's. Overall, I only recommend this title to hardcore anime fans whom must see them all. If you do not fall into that category then skip this completely for the TV series, because you're not missing anything by leaving this alone.

Highs: Some brutal action towards the end

Lows: Nothing else besides the brutal action towards the end

Grappler Baki. Ah yes, I remember this one. I first saw it after renting it from a hollywood videos in '08 (I think). I (litteraly) just recently went about rewatching it for the first time in years. Here's how I'll start this off. Nostalgia is a cruel mistress.

When I first came upon this little movie, I was delighted at sight of it. I remembered the cool fighting scenes and the interesting, yet original fighting techniques being used. Most of all, the main characters Goku-like energy and personality was definatly something I loved ... when watching it. Problem is, when you watch it with more negative and picky tastes then when your younger, your in for nasty surprises.

Character: Since I already made a comment on the subject, I'll start with character. To me the characters are a mostly pitiful bunch. The most entertaining characters were Baki, the big fella, and maybe the "cord cutter". by the way, thats not saying alot. Everyone else had pretty much hollow backgrounds with very little back story filling in the spaces. Heck, there were character development moments that were completely 180 and random. One painfully obvious example is the family development thats shoe horned for baki's case. You could've completely cut out that scene and I would have felt no different towards the movie as a whole. Another example would be how the motorcycle member of the enemy martial arts household from earlier in the film goes from "I'mma kick yer butt" to "Don't give up Baki-kun!" in a matter of a single match. The main problem was that even though there was devinatly character development opputunity, none of the oppurtinuites were taken.

Story: The stories even worse. This branches off what I ended the charater peice on. To clarify, there would be moments where you'd here a supposedly important tidbit of info, but get zero explanation behind the tidbit. Zilch, nothing, nadda. They almost try to give you a sliver of bait and expect you to be ok with it justing cruising about. It gets to the point where you begin waving off anything serious said by the characters. For petes sake, the history bits were more informative then the main story. I don't even fully understand what Bakis fighting for! Is it just to fight? is he trying to prove something? we'll never know (within the boundries of the film).

Art: Just gonna let you know, I have a soft spot for art. If the style of art appeals to me, thats enough to keep me going for another 30 min. (I'm talking old school animated anime art and this movie has just that). The character designs of the cast are very easy and sometimes entertaining to look at. This is mostly due to the heavy detail in the character physical design. Its almost comic book-like (not mangas, the american stuff). Well, the body designs at least (the faces would never pass for comic-like). All and all, it was refreshing seeing such wonderfully intricate muscular designs. (the animation was too bad either)

Sound: the sound was just horrible in some spots.The worst one was the scene showing the girlfriend. The dub was so bad that I couldn't beleive the actors voice was even assosciated woith the character. also, in some parts, the voice acting even gets alittle choppy at ends (It could be the quality of video though)

Enjoyment: The main three factors as to why I somewhat enjoyed this work dispite its MANY flaws was Goku-like cockiness, nostalgia, and most important, the anatomy of it. I've never come across an anime that went into so much detail over the human anatomy(not much, but still more then average for anime). It was a educationally thirlling expriance as a kid and still is today (beleive it or not, there is some truth to what is feature during the matches).


That is all I have to say for today. I'm the Script Weaver wishing you all a great evening!