Hajime no Ippo: A hidden gem in sports anime

Hajime no Ippo is a Japanese boxing manga series composed and represented by George Morikawa. It has been serialized by Kodansha in Weekly Shōnen Magazine since 1989 and collected in over 130 tankōbon to date. It follows the story of high school student Makunouchi Ippo, as he begins his career in boxing and over time obtains many titles and defeats various opponents.


Hajime no Ippo is one of the longest-running and most influential manga series of all time, having sold over 100 million copies and inspiring numerous other boxing anime, manga, and video games. The series is renowned for its realistic artwork and its focus on technique, strategy, and the psychological aspects of boxing. It is also known for its numerous references to real-life boxing matches and personalities.


Hajime no Ippo has been adapted into an anime television series by Madhouse, which ran for three seasons from 2000 to 2002. In 2013, a sequel series, Hajime no Ippo: Rising, was produced. The anime has been released in many countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, and France.

Plot:

Hajime no Ippo follows the story of Makunouchi Ippo, a shy high school student who loves to watch boxing matches on TV but never thought he would ever enter the ring himself. After being attacked by a group of bullies, he is saved by Takamura Mamoru, a professional boxer who takes Ippo under his wing and teaches him the basics of boxing.

As Ippo trains and fights his way up the ranks of the Japanese boxing circuit, he meets a variety of characters who shape his career. These include his rival Sendō Takeshi, his trainer Kamogawa Genji, and his girlfriend, Aoki Masaru. As Ippo's boxing career progresses, he battles increasingly difficult opponents and works his way to the top of the boxing world. Along the way, he learns valuable lessons about friendship, determination, and perseverance.

Popularity(it's under-rated acc. to me):

Hajime no Ippo is one of the most popular and enduring manga series in Japan, having sold over 100 million copies since its debut in 1989. It has won numerous awards, including the Shogakukan Manga Award for shōnen manga in 2000 and the Kodansha Manga Award for general manga in 2002.

The series has also been adapted into an anime television series by Madhouse, which ran for three seasons from 2000 to 2002. It has been released in many countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, and France. The anime has been praised for its realistic artwork and its focus on technique, strategy, and the psychological aspects of boxing.

The series has also spawned numerous video games and other spin-off works, such as novels and audio dramas. It has also inspired numerous other boxing manga and anime, such as Ashita no Joe and Hajime no Ippo: The Fighting!.

Fights & Characters:

Hajime no Ippo is well known for its intense and realistic fights, which feature a variety of boxing techniques and strategies. The series also features a wide range of characters, from Ippo's various opponents to his friends and rivals. Each character has their own interesting battling style and Personality

The series features several memorable fights, including Ippo's first match against Miyata Ichirō, his rematch against Sendō Takeshi, and his fight against the titular character of the series, Hawk.

The series also features many of the real-life boxing personalities who have appeared in the manga, such as Mike Tyson, Joe Frazier, Muhammad Ali, and Roy Jones Jr. These fighters have been referenced and drawn in the manga, and many of their fights have been recreated in the anime.


Ratings & Reviews:

Hajime no Ippo has received generally positive reviews. On MyAnimeList, the manga has a score of 8.84/10 based on over 500,000 votes, while the anime has a score of 8.40/10 based on over 70,000 votes. The series has also been praised by critics, with Anime News Network's Carl Kimlinger giving the anime a perfect score of 10/10.

The series has also been a commercial success, with the anime selling over 4 million copies in Japan alone. It has also been released in numerous countries around the world, further increasing its popularity.

2 comments:

  1. Definitely one of the goats of sports animes

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The fights are also intense & otherworldly.( *︾▽︾)🤌🏻

      Delete