Episode Guide
synchronicity dark martial arts, they’re finally here, the battle begins, want some more? sergeant katahira’s report, a formidable team a match vs a true fight shaken shinshinkai air duel tiger Slayer candy mr oliva
Baki is an anime that feels like a fighting game. It has no right to be as entertaining to watch as it is, given the flaws inherent with the show. However, there’s a loose story connecting it all together and pockets of characterisation here and there but the real draw comes from the fighting itself. In that respect, Baki is a lot of fun. From hand-to-hand combat to weaponized fights, Baki sacrifices story nuance for an abundance of fighting and if that’s what you’re looking for in an anime, you’re sure to have a good time.
Baki is fresh off his World Championship win. After nonchalantly brushing off a gang of thugs, Baki learns five incredibly dangerous criminals have escaped from prison and are on their way to Tokyo to fight him. What follows are a few episodes used to introduce key characters (heroes and villains alike) before diving headfirst into a dizzying, endless parade of fights and bloodshed for the remainder of the season. The story itself is simply used to justify the fighting, with Baki’s World Championship crown painting a very big bulls-eye on his back.
Netflix UK uploaded 13 episodes of “The Dragonball Z Show” with no mention of whether more are coming or not. If there aren’t, the series ends on a big cliffhanger. While the various fights take up the bulk of run time here, those expecting an epic saga of fights with substance like Dragonball Z are sure to be left disappointed. Most episodes are simplistically constructed, used to show off the strength or weakness of that specific fighter. The fights themselves usually begin with a face off, followed by confident monologues before the eventual fight itself. Most of these resulting in one of the fighters under-estimating the other before regrouping and trying again. ..
While watching Baki I couldn’t help but feel this action-orientated anime felt like a fighting game. The colourful group of characters only further emphasises this, with each given a very distinct, specific skill set. From flame-wielding behemoths to scythe-spinning poison masters, the creators of Baki have done a wonderful job bringing an array of different fighters to the ring. While the aesthetic and design of these characters is unique, beyond the 5 minutes we get during the opening episode, there isn’t a whole lot of development with any of them. The exception here is Baki himself who’s given at least a little time to flesh out his character with both high school and relationships explored through the episodes.
Baki is an anime that is full of absurdity. It starts out with a premise that is ridiculous, but it becomes even more absurd as the season goes on. The fighting is well shot and features a lot of thick blood, which makes it look very realistic. However, I couldn’t take my eyes off of the characters being punched in the face. They are all very interesting and unique, and I enjoyed watching them fight.
