Baki is a action thriller anime based in punch-to-punch fights, in its essence. The anime plot isn't really its best part, although we can find some very remarkable moments due to various secondary characters. It isn't much about Baki, in my point of view. The anime is sustained by the great and diverse character design present in the Baki-universe. Almost all the characters have their own unique mysteries, charism, personality and it is all shown in fights. Dialogues, flashbacks. And they are almost all very well design to the purpose of never-ending bloodshed, sense of danger and unpredictability fights. The series has its strong sides in its 80's-90's martial arts shonen design. It is all about fights between fists. Not barehanded, of course, and with some detailed strategies and characters' attributes.
It is very much a stereotype of martial arts shonen, yes. But different, sometimes. Violence really takes a place and is the reason for the violence & profanity tag. Character's abilities are somewhat insane and far beyond human capacities in very specific points so it doesn't really feel like a excess to the audience (I personally think the gore can be hard to hard for most foes as it was for me in the beginning and learned to handle it).
The plot is basically about five death row murderers that felt inside them the urge to find their death in a fight. They escape, at the same time, from differents high-security prison in bizarre and absurd ways. Their design are pretty much revolved in a cloudy bizarre, unique and absurd ways.
The animation is ok, sometimes being kind of lazy but not that much. The muscles are very well detailed and it can be all it is about in insane moments. The openings can be as freaky as the series, but it lacks the image in my opinion
I really enjoyed watching Baki since it is clearly a type of anime that lacks in our modernity. It is visceral. It is about strength, as it can be a encyclopedia and hot-blooded moments.
