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Whether showcasing historically accurate sumo or exaggerated hulking Mma monsters, the best martial arts anime connect combat styles steeped in tradition with ground-breaking visuals. Series like Tomorrow's Joe's emotional boxing bouts and Dragon Ball's surprisingly grounded kung-fu inspiration laid the groundwork for modern hits like Baki and Wind Breaker, but there's no shortage of fighting brilliance in between.

The common thread among the best martial arts anime is a focus that goes beyond the fight, immersing viewers in the minds and motivations of the fighters. Of course, they are the beneficiaries of stellar animation, too—even the oldies innovating in their way. With their excellent execution and stories simmering below the surface-level conflicts, martial arts encounters become more than physical confrontation.

Kenichi: The Mightiest Disciple Features Diverse Forms of Martial Arts Streaming on Crunchryoll

The evolution of "Weak Legs" Kenichi Shirahama from a bullied teenager into a...

Manga, often seen as the gold standard of storytelling, has also now become the gold standard of illegal consumption, officially surpassing TV piracy to become the fastest-growing pirated medium in the world. Unfortunately, this phenomenon is with the U.S. firmly at its back, taking its "the land of the free" motto to its legal limits.

Variety reported on data analytics firm Muso's new piracy report, revealing that manga was the fastest-growing form of piracy in the world in 2024. Muso's data on what it labels as "publishing" piracy, comprising manga and other forms, jumped 56% from Q1 to Q4 2024, from 16.5 billion to 25.7 billion views. For reference, TV piracy grew 36.7% from 25.1 billion to 34.3 billion. Manga piracy accounted for a massive 70% of the entire publishing category in 2024. Furthermore, a statistic to give publishers worry is that while publishing piracy dropped 3% between Q1 and Q2, it ballooned 32% between Q2 and Q3, along with a...

Few anime franchises (if any) are more iconic than Akira Toriyama's flagship series, Dragon Ball. The beloved shonen manga debuted all the way back in 1984, and by the end of the decade, it had spawned two of the most popular anime adaptations — Dragon Ball & Dragon Ball Z — of all time.

From 1986 to 1996, Dragon Ball & Dragon Ball Z aired on Fuji TV, and by the end of the 20th century, the adventures of Son Goku had spread their roots around the world. However, Dragon Ball was far from the only notable series that came out during this 10-year window; in fact, there were many iconic series that aired during the same window as Akira Toriyama's seminal work.

Rurouni Kenshin Helped Define the 1990s Aired: January 10, 1996–September 8, 1998

Of all the anime to debut in the 1990s, few have had a bigger impact on the anime medium than Rurouni Kenshin. Nobuhiro Watsuki...

The 2025 anime roster just got a whole lot better with the announcement of the Gachiakuta anime. Kei Urano’s manga debuted in 2022 and is already grabbing eyeballs all over the world. The upcoming anime adaptation is bound to bring even more attention to the beloved series.

But nothing goes without a hitch in the anime/manga world. This time, it came in the form of a simplistic art style. While simple art is preferred in some anime, Gachiakuta is not the most suitable for it.

Gachiakuta might be falling for the Sakamoto Days trap The action scenes in Sakamoto Days were underwhelming | Credit: Tms Entertainment

Sakamoto Days was one of the most anticipated Winter 2025 anime. Fans had been looking forward to seeing their favorite rotund assassin come to life. However, a huge ball was dropped on their head when the anime actually aired.

Fans were quick to notice that the...

If you happened to catch Misery Signals on their farewell tour, first of all I am extremely jealous. Not just because you got to see one of the most influential metalcore bands of all time, but you also got to see one of the best up and coming metalcore bands around, Trench. Trench brings the heavy and dark, and it may not be a surprise to learn how much of that is influenced, whether directly or indirectly, by the anime they watched growing up and still watch to this day. I chatted with vocalist Jay Breen about anime and how they were able to bring their influences to life in the video for “Divided Between New Skin.” Can you tell me a little about your anime journey? How it started and where you are now? Are there genres you gravitate toward? What is your favorite anime series or movie of all time?...

Action, particularly high-octane, explosive battles between characters, is a staple of countless beloved anime series, and the excitement and visual spectacle of the best fight sequences draws many fans into the medium. When it comes to anime’s most memorable clashes, many aspects play a role in making a fight stand out. The stellar animation that creates anime’s best-produced high-budget battles, the clever choreography and thought put into staging tense life-or-death encounters, or the scale of the medium’s most ambitious confrontations that leaves audience in awe.

However, a fight can be much more than simply a flashy exchange of blows. The best battles in anime tell an emotional story through the very struggle they portray - a tale that often ends in heartbreak regardless of who achieves the hard-earned victory. Some of anime’s most tragic moments occur in battle, turning the medium’s best clashes into poignant...

Dragon Ball has earned itself the status of a global cultural mainstay, and one promo just proved its legacy forever. It comes at a great time for the series. 2024 has seen the debut of the new series Dragon Ball Daima, which is getting nothing but a warm reception. Dragon Ball is generating more buzz than it has in years, and for shnen's most influential franchise, that's saying a lot.

The franchise is often unfairly relegated to the status of a nostalgic relic whose age outwears its influence, but 2024 has shown Dragon Ball to be alive and well. It's being capped off with the promo of a lifetime: a popular sports website has pitted Goku against an unlikely foe in a mutual ode between anime and soccer. It's a milestone moment for anime's relationship with soccer, but it's far from the whole story.

Dragon Ball Has Reached The Zenith Of Promotional...

One of the most amazing things about theanimeindustry is how it's constantly changing and evolving. The industry's creatives are always devising new ways to push the medium forward via new animation techniques and storytelling methods. If an anime creator from the 1970swere teleported forward in time and dropped into a modern studio, they likely wouldn't recognize what was going on due to how much the industry has changed in the ensuing decades.

This is also true of anime series, as many retro series wouldn't get past the pitch stage today. Often, this is because the show's content doesn't fit modern sensibilities. However, other shows wouldn't stand a chance because their format or production style wouldn't fit the current anime industry's production pipeline or distribution format.

Tomorrow's Joe Takes Too Long to Get to the Action Streaming on Crunchyroll

Tomorrow's Joe is one of Japan's most beloved and instantly recognizable franchises,...

A legendary shonen sports anime centered around boxing is finally coming to Crunchyroll, allowing audiences to stream the series in full for the first time in U.S. history.

The arrival of Ashita no Joe (Tomorrow's Joe) on Crunchyroll's streaming platform marks the first time that all 79 episodes will be available to stream legally in America. The first season, comprising 79 episodes, made its way onto the site earlier this week, while the 47-episode second season is set to debut on Crunchyroll on Dec. 3 at 4 p.m. Pt. Subtitles are available in English, Latin American Spanish and Portuguese. Tms Entertainment teased the release earlier this month, dropping the first three episodes on YouTube for free.

Related Beloved Series Breaks Its Own Guinness World Record for Longest-Running Anime TV Show of All Time

A massively popular anime series has broken its own world record for the longest-running anime TV show series at over 55 years on air.

An anime classic for the ages is coming to Crunchyroll today as Tomorrow’s Joe , known as Ashita no Joe in Japan, starts streaming on the platform later today! Tomorrow’s Joe Season 1 will be available on Crunchyroll on November 14 at 4:00 p.m. Pt, with Season 2 available on December 3 at 4:00 p.m. Pt. Read on for everything you need to know about the release! Tomorrow's Joe Seasons 1 and 2 Release Date: Season 1: November 14 at 4:00 p.m. Pt Season 2: December 3 at 4:00 p.m. Pt Territories : North America, Central America, South America Sub languages : English, Spanish, Portuguese Synopsis: Rebellious Joe Yabuki wanders the downtown slums. After a street fight with the yakuza to save a girl, his skills catch the eye of former boxing coach Danpei Tange, who offers to train him. Joe rejects, until he ends up in juvenile detention and suffers his first defeat by the hands of Toru Rikiishi.

Ashita no Joe, one of the best and most beloved boxing anime of all time will release its first three episodes to stream for free, as announced by a press release from Kodansha USA. Courtesy of the Anime on Tms YouTube channel, Tms Entertainment is releasing the first three episodes of Ashita no Joe on November 1, 2024, for a limited time. This gives fans a chance to watch the original 1970 anime, also known as Tomorrow's Joe, to get into the series, one of the many benefits of anime continuously becoming mainstream in the present.

Ashita no Joe began its anime run on Fuji TV in 1970, based on the original Kodansha manga from 1968 written by Asao Takamori and illustrated by Tetsuya Chiba. The series has poignant countercultural significance and a lasting influence on anime and manga for decades, including Hajime no Ippo, Kengan Ashura, and the famous cross-counter movement. Now, thanks to Tms Entertainment,...

Hazure Skill "Kinomi Master": Skill no Mi (Tabetara Shinu) wo Mugen ni Taberareru You ni Natta Ken (“Failure Skill 'Berry Master': The Story of How I Became Able to Eat an Unlimited Number of Skill Fruit (That Kill You if You Eat Them)”) , a fantasy light novel series written by Hanyuu and illustrated by Yasutaka Isegawa, is being adapted into a TV anime. A pair of commemorative illustrations (below) have been published for the series: the first is illustrated by novel illustrator Yasutaka Isegawa, while the second is illustrated by Ea Matsukoto, the artist of the manga adaptation for the series. At the time of this writing, no further details about the anime adaptation have been revealed. Yastuka Isegawa illustration Ea Matsukoto illustration Related: Ashita no Joe Manga Gets Deluxe Hardcover Release from Kodansha The original Hazure Skill "Kinomi Master": Skill no Mi (Tabetara Shinu) wo Mugen...

If One Piece has taken the adventure genre by storm, then Baki is the front face of action manga. Every action maniac otaku is aware of Baki, and its Netflix anime adaptations have also garnered quite a bit of attention.

While both belong to the Shonen genre, they could not be more different. In fact, even their manga drawing styles are vastly different. But is one of them superior to the other?

Keisuke Itagaki and Rumiko Takahashi Discuss Their Visual-Centric Techniques Baki throwing a roundhouse kick at his opponent | Tms Entertainment

In an interview with Keisuke Itagaki, Rumiko Takahashi, the creator of Inuyasha and Urusei Yatsura, talked about the primary techniques that she implements in her manga. Her first requirement is that the manga should be easy to read, and interesting for the reader.

Keeping the reader in mind is the most important aspect…I want the reader to feel,...

Anime & hip-hop share history in themes of adversity, the quest for greatness, and oppressed people speaking their truth. Music, especially hip-hop, enhances anime's storytelling & emotional impact. Anime blends with hip-hop elements in soundtracks, showcasing unique creative connections.

Despite their apparent differences, anime and hip-hop share a long and intimate history. Both are rich in themes of overcoming adversity, tales of ordinary people achieving greatness, and instances of the oppressed speaking truth to power. There is a good reason artists like Megan Thee Stallion are big anime fans. While the connection between the two is most obvious in anime themed around hip-hop, it's also observable in the large and growing population of anime shows incorporating hip-hop elements in their musical soundtracks.

While anime is first and foremost a visual storytelling medium, music - mainly in the form of anime soundtracks - has become a vital element in creating mood, influencing emotion,...

Ashita no Joe, a classic sports and fighting manga, is finally getting its English release after 50 years. Kodansha's deluxe hardcovers are coming in December 2024 and will be priced approximately at $59.95. Ashita no Joe's influence on iconic series like Dragon Ball and Naruto makes it a beacon in the manga industry.

One of the most influential manga of all time, Ashita no Joe, has just been announced by Kodansha to receive its first English print. This legendary sports anime and manga series shaped the landscape of the medium and the iconic fighting story will be made accessible to millions of people around the world.

This announcement came as the series enters its 50th anniversary since its ending back in 1973. Although not as popular as many other titles, Ashita no Joe is beloved in Japan and many manga creators draw inspiration from it.

Exclusive: Kodansha Licenses Classic Boxing Manga 'Ashita...

Manga publisher Kodansha has revealed plans to publish the iconic boxing manga Ashita no Joe in English for the very first time. The manga, penned by Asao Takamori and illustrated by Tetsuya Chiba, will be released under the title “Ashita no Joe: Fighting for Tomorrow“.

The English translation will be released physically in eight oversized hardcover volumes and digitally, and is scheduled to be published starting December 2024, with an Msrp of $59.95.

Toshihiro Tsuchiya, Publisher at Kodansha, emphasized the timeliness and importance of bringing Ashita no Joe to English-speaking audiences, stating, “Kodansha believes that the manga market is maturing, as well as looking for past manga classics that have never been translated into English. This work is a true masterpiece that Japan is proud of. This year marks the 50th anniversary since its completion in 1973. Because of this, we think that now is the best time to bring Ashita no Joe:...

Kodansha has announced via publishing industry newswire ICV2 that for the first time in the English language, it will publish the legendary Ashita no Joe boxing manga—written by Asao Takamori and illustrated by Tetsuya Chiba—under the title Ashita no Joe: Fighting for Tomorrow . The release will consist of eight individual hardcover omnibus volumes that will be released starting in December of this year, as well as a companion digital release. The manga celebrates its 50th anniversary this year in Japan, which marked a cultural and popular shift in the way Japanese society viewed the sport of boxing and manga itself, especially between the working class, college students and even political groups. Pricing for each individual volume is set at $59.99 each, and further details, such as bonus content and cover design, will be released in the future. Crunchyroll currently streams Ashita no Joe tribute series Megalobox and Megalobox 2 , describing...

Anime is one of the most popular artistic mediums in the world, and with each passing year, it is introduced to hundreds of thousands — if not millions — of new fans. Franchises like Dragon Ball, Naruto, and Pokémon have become synonymous with animation over the past few decades and played a large role in establishing the medium as a legitimate art form.

Because so many anime series focus on combat or, at the very least, violence, there are dozens of iconic anime fights throughout the medium's history. Even though some classic shows may not benefit from the impressive visuals of modern animation, they've still produced fights that are as good as any in anime history.

Related 10 Anime Match Ups Every Fan Would Love To See In a perfect world, anime fans could see their dream match-ups come to life with epic battles between their favorite characters. Rikiishi Gives His Life To...

Anime is an incredibly versatile medium, pushing the limits of creativity and blowing fans away with some of the most stunning visuals of any form of animation. Anime houses a plethora of styles and themes, often catering to very specific demographics. One of the most famous of these is shonen, which plays home to a majority of anime titles.

Shonen anime have evolved a lot over the years, and as a result, the demographic’s visuals have changed too. Though shonen harbors many different styles, it’s best-known for its striking visuals, strong character designs, and fluid animation. From the classic style of Tomorrow’s Joe to the technical marvel of Demon Slayer, the most aesthetic shonen series exude these characteristics and helped shape the demographic into what it is today.

Read Our Review 10 Most Influential Shonen Heroes, Ranked For better or worse, these heroes have resonated with fans worldwide and...

“And the lightweight world champion is…Yu! With one weight division conquered, K sets his protégé's sights on the next target: junior welterweight. This inevitably pits Yu against Yuto Takeda, a tenacious boxer who earned his belt through nothing but hard work—the antithesis to Yu's natural talent. Will Yuto prove to be the first force powerful enough to derail Yu's unstoppable path of destruction…?” (Ize Press)

on Amazon by clicking on the image below

Combat sports are considered among the first competitions that humanity engaged in, with both wrestling and various martial arts integrated into every culture. The stories around sports have deep roots as well, often following a familiar structure of underdog stories or deserved champions dominating their discipline. Indeed, there have been variations as a desire for more complex stories around professional competition has developed, but it is seldom one that entirely breaks the mold.

Many manga series in Shonen Jump deserve anime adaptations as they offer unique and compelling storytelling. Martial Master Asumi explores realistic and down-to-earth fighting, filling a void for a potential anime adaptation. Sakamoto Days also has exceptional, albeit less realistic, fights, that scream for an animated version. Show-ha Shoten! showcases the entertainment industry and has the potential to capitalize on the trend set by popular shows like Oshi no Ko.

2024 will be a great year for Shonen Jump fans, as many manga from the magazine are receiving anime adaptations. However, there are still a myriad of other titles in Jump's various publications that deserve an anime adaptation of their own. These series range from long-running titles to newer series that have already made a big impression and show a lot of potential.

In recent years, Shonen Jump has unfortunately canceled many great manga before they had a chance to be adapted into an anime.

Anime films can have incredibly lengthy runtimes, with some reaching as long as 168 minutes, ranking them as some of the longest animated films of all time. Longer runtimes can add to the reputation and depth of already great films, allowing for more developed stories and character arcs. The longest anime film of all time is 2019's In This Corner (and Other Corners) of the World, with a runtime of 168 minutes, showcasing the film's commitment to exploring complex themes and relationships.

One major factor that effects films, animated or otherwise, is their runtime. A film's runtime can be seen as either a positive or a negative depending on how well the story develops, and regardless of quality, a film having an especially long runtime can end up as a neat bit of trivia, and it can even be used to sell the film to certain people.

How long a film's runtime...

Sports manga have always had a cultural impact, with series like Slam Dunk and Haikyuu!! influencing the popularity of basketball and volleyball in Japan and neighboring countries. Despite the rise in dark fantasy shnen in recent years, the success of Blue Lock and other sports manga shows that the genre is getting attention once again. New sports manga are incorporating other genres like coming-of-age and romance, making them even more appealing to a wider range of readers.

Shōnen sports manga have always been a cornerstone of the medium, and recent sales data proves that success is only growing. Great series like Ashita No Joe and Ace No Diamond are influential series that are quite popular, but with the increase in dark fantasy shōnen in recent years, like Jujutsu Kaisen and Chainsaw Man, the genre has been getting less and less attention.

2023's best-selling manga has reignited hope that this...

An adaptation of Keisuke Itagaki's Baki the Grappler manga and a continuation of the 2001 series by Group Tac, Netflix's Baki debuted its second season on June 4, 2020. While the first season of the streaming service's anime covered the "Most Evil Death Row Convicts" arc, a brutal saga that saw five high-profile criminals head to Japan in hope of tasting defeat, the second season revolves around a Chinese martial arts tournament that attracts the world's strongest fighters.

Baki is a brutal martial arts anime that does not pull any punches when it comes to its fight scenes. Although there are very few series quite like it, other anime do exist that should be able to scratch the itch left by Netflix's series.

Updated on October 11th, 2023 by Louis Kemner: This list of excellent combat anime like Baki has been updated to adhere to Cbr's current publication standards and includes five...

As one of the most thrilling sports out there, boxing anime makes for some of the best action in the genre. After American sailors introduced boxing to Japan in the nineteenth century, the sport quickly took off. Now, it remains a popular combat sport in Japan, alongside wrestling and other martial arts.

Boxing anime combines the inspirational tone of most sports media with the exciting combat scenes of an action anime. Underdog heroes come rocketing up from nowhere to challenge the champions and make a name for themselves. It’s a dangerous sport that they give their lives to, but their time in the ring is all worth it.

Megalobox

The 2018 successor (if not quite remake) of the 1980 classic Ashita no Joe has proven just as entertaining as its predecessor. The future of boxing is Gear, mechanisms worn by boxers to increase their power. Tired of throwing fights for money,...

Plenty of shonen anime series have an inspiring and relatable message about an underdog pushing themselves to succeed despite the odds and make something of themselves. In some series, it's highly resonant and meaningful. For example, the magic-less hero Mash Burnedead from Mashle: Magic and Muscles is on track to become a world-changing hero and prove a vital point in a Voldemort-style world.

By contrast, some of the "underdog who could" characters in Naruto were written that way as well, but fell flat. Rock Lee the taijutsu expert was meant to be Naruto Uzumaki without the jutsu and become someone great through sheer hard work, only to get sidelined and have his character arc stall out. Rock Lee had nothing to prove as it turns out and he didn't change the world. Contrarily, Mash Burnedead succeeded in changing his world – pulling off the underdog turned savior storyline that Naruto never did with Rock Lee.

Anime continues to reach new heights thanks to modern achievements like Tokyo Revengers, Demon Slayer, and Spy x Family, but the current slate of top content wouldn’t be where it is today without the decades of development that preceded it.

Post-2000s anime have plenty of advantages and insight that would have previously been impossible. However, an anime doesn’t need to be new in order to achieve mainstream success and there is no shortage of pre-2000s series that continually expire the next generation. There’s a lot to love when it comes to the older anime or a past generation.

Related: 10 Sci-Fi Anime From The '90s Everyone Needs To See

Tomorrow's Joe & Tomorrow’s Joe 2 126 Episodes, 2 Movies

Sports anime have only become more popular since the 2000s and boxing remains one of the more popular activities to receive attention. Tomorrow's Joe, otherwise known as Ashita no Joe,...

The conversations within the anime community haven't always revolved around whichever hottest seasonal series is relevant. The old-school fans still fondly remember when anime was a niche hobby, access to new shows was limited, and every new series was a big deal.

Related:10 Classic Shonen Anime That Prove Old School Is Best

Back then, the medium was dominated by the classics — a handful of well-known shows of different genres each fan was expected to have seen at least once, from nearly forgotten space operas of the late '70s like Star Blazers to otaku culture sensations like Haruhi Suzumiya. Nevertheless, holding onto the medium's humble beginnings today comes with unexpected harsh tribulations.

Updated on May 18th, 2023, by Maria Remizova: Even in today’s oversaturated anime landscape, fans remain loyal to the classic series that introduced most older fans to the medium. Yet, not everything about this nostalgic hobby can be viewed through rose-tinted glasses,...

"Rocky" is one of the most iconic franchises of all time, one that captured the change in Hollywood from the rise of independent dramas of the '70s into the bombastic action films of the '80s. Yet the franchise started losing popularity, never capable of recapturing the awards praise of the original film or the commercial success of "Rocky IV."

Which makes the "Creed" movies kind of a miracle. The first "Creed" is a rare legasequel that actually works, a film that takes what made the first "Rocky" movie special but adds something new while paying off the past. It felt both fresh and familiar. Now in its third installment, Michael B. Jordan takes on the role of director in addition to wearing the fighting gloves, and he brings in some very cool additions to the franchise.

Not only does Jordan bring different aspects of boxing — like the chess...

With several new sports anime like Birdie Wing: Golf Girls' Story season 2 and Mix: Meisei Story premiering soon, fans anticipate the next great show in the genre. Sports anime take the excitement of watching a high-stakes game to their absolute height, since the only limit is the imagination of the writers and animators. The users of the IMDb are rare to give anything higher than middling ratings, but many sports anime achieve some of the highest ratings the site allows for.

Kuroko’s Basketball - 8.3

Star basketball player Kagami Taiga attends Seirin High looking to join a team of strong players, but ends up with Tetsuya Kuroko, whose talent is having zero presence on the court. But when they team up, Kuroko’s impeccable support of Kagami’s strength makes them Seirin’s new secret weapon.

Related: Cowboy Bebop's Ein & 9 Other Great Canines In Anime

The fact that Kuroko’s Basketball...

All The Anime is set to release the complete Megalobox series as a Blu-ray Collector’s Edition set. For those unfamiliar with the series, it was created to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of one of the most iconic boxer’s in anime history, Tomorrow’s Joe (aka Ashita no Joe). Inspired by the action from the classic anime, Megalobox follows “Jnk. Dog” as he climbs the ranks in the sport in order to escape crime, poverty, and ecological collapse.

The box set includes many goodies for fans of the series including:

character profilesbackground/location art,Key Animation Gallery,Supplement sections featuring concept art, background information on the source materials, animation documents, graphic designs, drafts of promotional materials, promotional material galleryan interview with Yo Moriyama (Director / Concept Design)an interview with Katsuhiko Manabe & Kensaku Kojima (Scriptwriters)an interview with Hiroshi Simizu (Character Design / Chief Animation Director)an interview with Jiro Kouno (Art...