Customer Reviews

Baki the Grappler, Vol. 1: Warrior Reborn

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I already have a two volume collection which I purchased at a comic store about a year ago and it is still in steady rotation for viewing pleasure. If you watched the U.S Manga Version Grappler Baki - The Ultimate Fighter, it does not even compare to this series. If you think it will be expenseive to collect the whole series, believe me it is worth it. This series is insane. 5+ stars Hands down!!!!

This new anime based on the hit selling comic is very enjoyable

and intriguing. After watching the 4 episodes I couldn't wait for the next installment. The animation, characters, soundtrack, and plot are all done extremely well. Baki, a 13 year old take-no-s*hit kind of fighter, is always out looking for the next great challenge which makes this a violent, fast-paced series.

During the viewing I was reminded of another excellent anime series, Fighting Spirit, so if you're enjoying that series then Baki is right up your alley.

This DVD is also available in the DVD starter kit, so it looks like there might be about 6 or 7 DVD's total in this set.

Hands Down this has to be the best strictly martial-arts anime SERIES out now.

Parents, be advised that this series is hand-to-hand and is violent yet not too graphic.

In this volume, we meet Baki a lone 13y.o. in Japan who is on a mission to be the greatest fighter in the world. Living separately from but fully endorsed by his SMOKIN-HOTT mother who is obsessed with Baki's father Ujiro who is indeed, a martial arts monster...get vol.1 and 2 and you will agree.

Animation:

Body musculature is exaggerated...every 3rd episode or so they switch artists and you can really tell the difference. I don't know why they do this but I get really happy when they go back...

Sound:

As always, the Japanese voice acting with subtitles is great. The English voice acting isn't so great, hokey sounding, some comical dialog, and the different from what is being said in Japanese about a third of the time...BUT all that makes it worth watching again.

Music:

Now THIS is one of the things that grabbed me!

It has a Jap-Rock intro, the usual but good background and incident themes and jazzy cool ending theme...but when the action starts, you get a euro-dance track that goes very well. When the action ends a nice lounge house track. All well done IMO.(this made me want the sound track)

Story:

After I got the first "6" volumes, I thought the story would get old... that was until I got a hold of 7&8... Ok we are talking about vol.1 right now. So for story? "Grapples you and doesn't let go!"

Overall:

If you get this by itself you will be crying in a corner saying "WHY OH WHY DIDN'T I GET 2 OR 3 AT A TIME...! ". There are three things that hooked me.

1. Who Baki is going to face.

2. What happens between face-offs.

3. What impossible feat will Ujiro pull off next.

I Highly recommend this set.

For lovers of anime and real mixed martial arts, this cannot be beat.

Incredibly violent, smart and slick, this anime does it right. The characters are well crafted, the animation is good, occaisionally supurb. The great thing is that the whole point of this series is fighting. Totalling 48 episodes, the first half lays the groundwork as to why Baki fights, the second half is an all out no-holds-barred underground martial art tournament with boxers vs judokas, olympic wrestlers vs shaolin monks, gigantic Yakuza vs Russian joint-lock specialist, sumo vs presidential bodyguards, karate vs rabid steroid user, Brazilian jiu jitsu vs Japanese biker-gang leader... 32 total fighters.

Another great thing about this series is that actual martial arts are represented, I've seen armbars, vicious elbows, rear-naked-chokes, kimuras, soccer kicks, various joint lock/breaks, triangles and more.

Also, it's not for kids. Bones get broken, eyes get gouged. One guy stomps another guys face so many times, he walks away leaving messy red footprints while the audience stares in shock. Every time I watch an episode, something happens that makes me say "Oh SH@#!"

This is a must for anyone into physical combat and anime.

Look, to every anime fan expert or other... Baki is a great! Its made by the same people that made dragonball /Z/GT. Now the big dif is that instead of long drawn out battles its hard hitting fast paced action, w/ good martial arts and values in fighting which are important,which the series shows in later episodes. so all who dout, just buy it and see.

The only problem with Baki the Grappler is the animation is pretty crappy but besides that the series is perfect.

Baki is fearless and ruthless and barley a teen. He will stop at nothing and fight whomever until he is crowned the greatest fighter and gets the respect he wants. There are several mysteries about Baki that are waiting to be uncovered like if Baki has a rich mother that loves him and even comes to visit him time from time then why does he live in a neighborhood filled with people that hate him by himself. The fighting is pretty good but Baki seems to get beat up a lot because he's either outnumbered or just plain old beaten fare and square. Hopefully after a while we'll be able to understand more things about the series.

THIS is what I was looking for! So many lame shows have come out this year that I'd forgotten why I even bothered. Baki reminded me what made me fall in love with anime in the first place. Nonstop action, an adrenaline pumping pace, and slick animation. Aside from Fullmetal Alchemist, this is the first must-have title of the year. The second volume can't get here faster!