Five men, all considered some of the most violent and dangerous criminals in the world await death row. Each one locked in high-security prisons across several continents unbeknownst to each other and, as if by sheer coincidence, break out from their penitentiaries and head for Tokyo Japan. Their goal: to challenge the fighting champion of the underground Baki Hanma in the hopes of finally tasting defeat.
Baki is somewhat of an anomaly when talking about the series in depth. On the surface Baki comes across as the stereotypical shounen following a teenage boy training to become the world’s strongest fighter, a label currently held by his
...
father Yujiro Hanma. However, when delving deeper into the story, Baki manages to encapsulate the concept of fighting and the themes that tie with such. The struggles, sacrifices and suffering felt when facing an almost unachievable goal, the unbridled enjoyment of experiencing your passion to the fullest and even the jaded, dreary perception that can set in when constantly at the pinnacle of one’s field of interest – all are just some of the core ideas the series is firmly rooted in and all remain prevalent in this adaptation of Baki.
This version is set shortly after the Maximum Tournament arc, acting as a direct continuation to the past TV adaptations of Baki almost 2 decades ago, but still serves a solid entry point for newcomers of the franchise. The first OP gives enough backstory on its own – Baki wins a fighting tournament and is crowned the world champion, but that title behaves more like a proverbial target on his back, attracting the group of convicts whose unmatched strength had led each to grow bored of life and now seek to challenge the young prodigy. This premise eventually leads to a showdown between the death row inmates and Baki alongside other underground martial artists prominent in past seasons; a 5-on-5 no holds barred match where fights are free to run amok between fighters anytime and anyplace, which would also include various other characters in this battle between discipline and technique against sheer brutality and ability. It’s an arc that easily creates excitement and anticipation as to how such a story will play out, but the execution of this turns out to be a mixed bag depending on your expectations for the anime.
The plot for this arc, while it may seem grand on paper is actually fairly simplistic; progression and development are both dependent on fights between martial artists with at least one character gaining something from each encounter, from a newfound strategy to beat an opponent if they ever fight again to realizing weaknesses that keep themselves from becoming stronger. One would think this approach would make each fight more meaningful and hold more weight, except that when reflecting back most fights in this show came off forgettable and even sporadic, the latter being the result of very poor structure and pacing. Baki has a habit of introducing new characters and flashbacks at random points in the story, with some flashbacks being as long as 10 minutes in the middle of a match. It’s a habit that seriously disengages the viewer from the tension and unpredictability that this arc is founded upon, to an unpardonable extent with how often this is bound to happen. This kind of storyboarding is what constantly brings down my engrossment of the narrative here as it continues onward, meanwhile the eventual outcome of this arc is seriously underwhelming given how each of the five criminals are written off so unevenly. The lack of a succinct structure results in some antagonists being beaten in quick fashion in order to build towards the next arc of Baki and thus required bringing past characters back into the mix to do just that. Narratively, it looked to be full of ideas and potential develop but lacked a clear direction and framework to present the arc in a carefully planned and orderly manner.
The character development for Baki is also lacklustre to an extent. Characters in Baki can often be considered embodiments of their chosen martial arts style, with the values and overarching philosophy of each forging the minds, bodies and souls of their practitioners. Through this understanding the show probably appears to be stacked with many distinct personalities to play with at the writer’s leisure, yet it remains difficult for many to leave a strong impression on the audience. Partly due to awkward plotting as stated earlier, but also apparent is a lack in clear focus and development to keep most characters important. The events are often made out as more vital than the characters taking part in them. This leads to not only a declining interest in the fights as the series continues, but also makes the majority of characters used here more likely to be lost in the shuffle and only used when convenient.
Baki as a whole has always been primarily about Baki Hanma, the protagonist, and his father Yujiro, the strongest creature on Earth both feared and respected by all. These two are constantly integral parts to the overall story as they should be, yet to witness so many side characters be treated so sparingly can be disheartening to say the least. However, my biggest problem with this adaptation when it comes to characters is with its handling of the main character Baki Hanma. This is a problem that I feel is more prominent to those who have followed the series from the beginning and have seen Baki grow from the hot-headed impulsive gifted brat to an exceptional fighter worthy of being called a champion. But in this arc, Baki appears…. different. Not only is his personality more laid-back but his train of thought and subsequent actions at times come off somewhat autistic. It’s a take on the character that I had never envisioned or pictured, not only acting as the cause for several awkward moments, but also frankly feeling like a betrayal of the character that I remembered watching and reading. Baki still receives his own development throughout this arc, moving from a reserved anxious style of fight to the spirited, confident attitude that made him such a force to be reckoned with. Except for when you find out this change and increase of strength is solely due to Baki losing his virginity.
I wish I was making that up.
If you were to read Baki in its manga counterpart, one of the first aspects that would catch your eye would be the artstyle. There is a keen eye for detail in not only making each technique such a crucial part of the series, but in making the character designs such exaggerated portraits of strength in the human anatomy. A clear expression of weight and power through this absurdist aesthetic creates a strangely beautiful sense of art that further pushes Baki from the standard shounen manga series. If you were to watch this version of Baki, the visuals would easily be the first part that grabs your attention. But unfortunately, the visuals here are kind of trash. It is certainly an improvement from previous installments, but comparing it to the quality of its contemporaries, this has so many glaring issues. Designs have a habit of appearing out of perspective on different angles, animation for the most part is cheap and the juxtaposition of 2D and 3D animation is so god awful it is near impossible for viewers to take most fights seriously. It also doesn’t help that the fight choreography makes the battles come across more turn-based than a Pokemon game. For one of the most jarring experiences I have ever had for watching an anime. I’m honestly surprised how I can say a show with so many technical issues can still be tolerable, but here’s the crazy thing: I actually enjoyed the show.
Earlier I called Baki an anomaly, and this entry in the franchise is no different. Baki (2018) is honestly an insane show that should not be so entertaining to watch, from both faults in production and writing. But here we are, with a series seemingly unbridled in taking action and martial arts to the irrational, all whilst taking itself absolutely seriously. This level of sincerity is almost palpable through every episode and makes it difficult not getting drawn into the bizarre logic of Baki, no matter how grating the lack of fluid animation and coherent writing may get. In this arc, Baki takes the leap of embracing its own ridiculousness to evolve into a genuine spectacle for the eyes that is hard to not take notice of, and with the finale acting as a teaser to a possible continuation of the story, I expect that the best of Baki is still yet to come.
Alternative Titles
Japanese: バキ
Information
Type:
ONA
Episodes:
26
Status:
Finished Airing
Aired:
Jun 25, 2018 to Dec 17, 2018
Producers:
None found, add some
Licensors:
Sentai Filmworks
Studios:
TMS Entertainment
Source:
Manga
Genre:
Sports
Demographic:
Shounen
Duration:
24 min. per ep.
Rating:
R - 17+ (violence & profanity)
Statistics
Ranked:
#28212
2
based on the top anime page. Please note that 'Not yet aired' and 'R18+' titles are excluded.
Popularity:
#540
Members:
456,938
Favorites:
2,803
Available AtResourcesStreaming Platforms | Reviews
Filtered Results: 15 / 84
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Your Feelings Categories Dec 16, 2018
Five men, all considered some of the most violent and dangerous criminals in the world await death row. Each one locked in high-security prisons across several continents unbeknownst to each other and, as if by sheer coincidence, break out from their penitentiaries and head for Tokyo Japan. Their goal: to challenge the fighting champion of the underground Baki Hanma in the hopes of finally tasting defeat.
Baki is somewhat of an anomaly when talking about the series in depth. On the surface Baki comes across as the stereotypical shounen following a teenage boy training to become the world’s strongest fighter, a label currently held by his ... Jan 1, 2019
You have to answer only one simple question in order to know whether or not you would enjoy Baki, since what the series offers is really simple. The question is: Do you enjoy violence and nonsense? It is genuinely the only thing that this series has to offer and the only thing that can keep you consistently entertained here. There is nothing else this series can offer you. If you want an engaging story about martial arts and how to develop as a person through martial arts or how to overcome the odds, not what you are going to get. If you want various character
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Nov 15, 2018
This new baki gets a 6/10 overall.
The story seems washed up. 5/10 Art is good in the NSFW scenes, until they start using CGI mid fight. 6/10 Sound is good, the music in the fight is over used but it always seems to pump me up. 6/10 New characters are introduced, but some have similar stories which makes them seem redundant. 6/10 Enjoyment is subjective, and despite all the reasons listed above, it somehow manages to get a 7/10. Suspense is built ( sometimes ) which makes it a bit enjoyable to watch in the afternoon. Overall 6/10, would recommend if you just want to see some pain olympics. Apr 26, 2020
I really enjoyed the original Baki series that aired back in 2001 but nothing ever quite matched that level of quality.
This series is no exception unfortunately. When I realized that Netflix was involved on this project I didn't think anything bad. Quite on the contrary, I was certain that they would invest good money on sound, animators, seyuus, story, ... the whole production. I couldn't be more wrong. I mean, the official english subtitles aren't always accurate and that's something I'd expect from a fansub group, not from a huge production like this one. Art: character design is not consistent at all throughout the ... Nov 13, 2022
Baki - 2018
Anyone who knows Baki or has read the manga knows what they are getting into. The story of Baki is not about martial arts, rationality, logic, explanations, or good fights. It's all about the silliest and most bizarre scenario possible that you can write while making a fight. That's about how Baki can be put into words. Is your face gone? Don't worry, band-aids will take care of it. Your hand is gone? Let's stitch it up! Did you lose 40 liters of blood? Don't worry, just a drop! Have you suffered a fatal injury or are you even dead? Your doctor is ... Dec 25, 2018
I should first state I have never seen anything relating to Baki before this series, it does not explain much about the past of these characters and I am ok with that. We get bits and pieces and overall the characters are different enough to enjoy them without knowing much about them.
The first 3 episodes are great in my opinion, the animation is good the story is intriguing and I want to watch more. As the show progresses you realise for a show named Baki, Baki does not fight much. As it gets later in the series it falls of dramatically though episode 8 onwards animation ... Mar 25, 2019
Yeah, I think I'll drop this show at 13. I was fine with how mediocre the show was, when I thought it was 13 eps. But Christ when I reached the end, of what Netflix has out currently at 3/25/2019, and only two of these bad guys had been beaten and Baki had done FUCK ALL, I was not about to sit through another 13 eps.
I'm sure the mal description is fine, but the the story is just, a bunch of badass, deadly criminals fight a bunch of badass, deadly not criminals. That's really all it is. Don't let any other analysis try and ... Aug 2, 2020
Netflix Baki is the third season of the grappler Baki franchise that has been in the works for years. The plot continues directly after season 2 where we have Baki as the champion of the underground tournament, and Tokugawa informs him that five death row inmates from around the globe have escaped and are headed to Japan to taste defeat for the first time ever, they are hoping that our young grappler Baki can make them taste defeat once and for all. While the show has been in the works for years now the end result is dissapointing, the plot and narrative are nonexistent [as
...
Feb 17, 2021
Note: This Review acts as a Review for the entirety of Baki thus far, as I feel pretty indifferent about most arcs.
Baki is just the perfect Anime/Manga if you want to turn your brain off and just enjoy some Gore and over-the-top fighting scenes. The writers are fully aware of that not everything should be taken seriously but the trivia knowledge you get about a lot of different fighting styles and how they developed in the course of history is still pretty interesting. In fact, Baki got me quite hooked on martial arts like Muay Thai where I previously didn't have any interest in. ... Nov 9, 2020
Baki is another martial arts anime, and I'm kind of a sucker for them. Just simple violence and a simple plot.
The 2D animation is nice, and the 3D animation is used quite heavily for animating fights. Although characters looked quite robotic in their "default stance." My biggest gripe, although nit picky, are how these 3D animators don't know enough about martial arts in my opinion. It annoyed me how these are the "greatest" fighters in the world, but they don't know they should NOT drop their arm(s) while doing a high roundhouse kick. Many times a character would throw a kick, for example their right ... Dec 2, 2022
Baki is a very unusual show. The story is that 5 of the most dangerous criminals, all on death row, decide to go to Tokyo in search of someone who can defeat them. It's a very interesting hook for a story, but it has a lot of issues that start becoming more apparent the further into the show you get.
The main problem I'd say the show has is a bloated cast of characters with no main focus on any one of them. More characters get introduced faster than others are defeated, causing even more bloat later on. Baki is not only not the main focus, ... Feb 1, 2019
I'm not sure if this anime is supposed to be as funny as I found it, but it was funny nonetheless. If you're looking for total nonsense to fill the dull void of a sensible world, look no further. Here you'll find crazy animation, crazy characters and a crazy, violence-filled plot. It's not an anime you can take seriously or get too invested in and when it does attempt sincerity i.e. the romantic subplot, it fails quite ridiculously but that is exactly its charm (though I wonder whether said subplot was an attempt at all considering the level of hilarity involved - Baki likens her
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Jan 4, 2025
It's a wild show. They got the most ridiculous things happening, and straight up lies about physics/science to try and back it up. It's quite entertaining, but a lot of fights kinda just drag. It's basically taking turns basically killing the other person, then they retreat and do it all again a few more times.
During the show, I felt like I was supposed to know a lot of these characters already. I admit, I never saw the previous Baki series, and I suffered for it it seems. New characters are contently coming up, and it feels like we're supposed to already know them from the ... Sep 11, 2023
Right then, this one was a shame. It's started with much promise, lost its way and finished in a little bit of a mess. That's the summary here is a little breakdown.
What really does shine in this show is the music. It's excellent. Less of a score and more of a series of bangers that appear at the perfect moments. Even the intro music is great. It add a great deal of excitement to fights that honestly, the further you get into the show, are really anything but exciting. The music at times really keeps the show afloat. Animation wise, it seems to be in line ... Mar 25, 2025
English.
A pretty interesting first part, in my opinion. If you've already seen the previous anime about this protagonist, you'll love this new one. It has the same aesthetic of strength and martial arts that many will love, along with a bit of a crazy and unreal story that fans of the series will love. Now, if you want to start with this anime, watching Baki isn't a bad idea. All the fighters are explained, and while you won't understand many things, it's not entirely necessary. The plot here is one where different fighters from around the world go to Japan to lose something they've never experienced, ... |


