Product Details

• Format: Animated, Color, DVD, Full Screen, Subtitled, NTSC
• Language: English, Japanese
• Subtitles: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: Unrated
• Studio: Geneon [Pioneer]
• DVD Release Date: January 9, 2007
• Run Time: 92 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B000J4QWLI
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #135,616 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

It took Ippo Makunouchi 76 episodes of the broadcast series Fighting Spirit (2000) to win the featherweight championship of Japan; in this 2003 special, he defends his title for the first time. The challenger is Sanada Kazuki, a rich, suave medical student who boxes as an avocation. He's coached by Dankichi, the master of the "Flying Swallow" punch and the arch-rival of Kamogawa, Ippo's trainer. The outcome of the title match may never really be in question, but the depth of the characters sets Fighting Spirit apart from other battle-oriented anime. Unlike Baki Hanma in Baki the Grappler, Ippo isn't a bully who delights in thrashing others. He begins the TV series as a high school dork who's always getting the sushi beaten out of him by the local toughs: under Kamogawa'stutelage, Ippo reinvents himself. But even as a buffed-out champion with 12 knock-outs to his credit, Ippo enters the ring feeling like a challenger who doesn't know what it means to feel strong. Nor can he summon the courage to tell Kumi he's in love with her. Fighting Spirit remains underrated in America: its stylized action sequences and endearing characters deserve a wider audience. (Rated 13 and older: violence, alcohol and tobacco use, minor profanity) --Charles Solomon

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars DR. FIST, January 25, 2007

By 

Sesho "www.sesho.libsyn.com" (Pasadena, TX USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Fighting Spirit - Champion Road TV Special (DVD)

When the Fighting Spirit tv series ended with Volume 15, Ippo was left holding the Japanese Championship belt in his hands after a brutal contest with Sendo. He's healing quite nicely and becoming a bit complacent when an old rival of Chief's from his fighting days shows up asking for a bout between Ippo and his own fighter. The guy denies any ulterior motives to revenge himself upon the Chief for ending his boxing career decades ago. But it's left unsaid that if his fighter can defeat Ippo, it would be the next best thing to fighting and beating the Chief himself. His fighter, Sanada, is a medical student when he's not in the ring, and has studied not only many ways to heal the human body, but also to destroy it! He uses his medical knowledge to pinpoint his opponent's weaknesses and vital areas to greatest effect. Will even Ippo be over to overcome this emotionless fighting machine that exploits the weakness of the flesh?

This dvd is a welcome continuation of a series that seemed abruptly cut off just as Ippo had begun to achieve his dreams and ambitions. Even after all his fights, he still has yet to understand what true strength is, so he's a bit of a work in progress even now. That's one thing I like about this show and Ippo. He never gets time for his success to go to his head. Ippo is constantly wanting to improve himself and become stronger and comes to the slow realization that everyone will now be gunning for him, the Champion. This quest to become an even better fighter unfortunately doesn't lead to much progress in his relationship with his girl "friend", Kumi, which is a little frustrating to me. The unnecessary delay in revealing his true feelings to her is right out of Rumiko Takahashi. It's ironic too, in the sense that Ippo has such a strong heart and indomitable will but can't even tell a girl he loves her. If you haven't watched the previous fifteen volumes, there's little sense in watching this dvd. If you are a fan of the show, it will be like the tv show never ended.

5.0 out of 5 stars Fighting Spirit champion Road TV Special, July 28, 2008

By 

Eric O. Soto "Krylancelo" (Miami, Florida) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Fighting Spirit - Champion Road TV Special (DVD)

This one came ok, but it doesn't make it better since what i paid more for (2nd complete collection) came with a disc lose in it so pretty much i paid for a Pre-already scratch disc. Which I'm still very angry about.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars the DEFENDING TITLE MATCH YET, January 9, 2007

By 

CLARA A. PULIDOCASTILLO (USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Fighting Spirit - Champion Road TV Special (DVD)

MY HUSBAND AND I LOVE THESE SERIES AND AS SOON AS WE GOT THIS WE SAT AND WATCHED IT. THIS MOVIE WAS GREAT WE CANT WAIT TO SEE WHEN THE NEXT ONE COMES OUT WE ARE EXITED ABOUT THESE SERIES WE HAVE THEM ALL. IF YOU LIKE BOXING YOU WILL LOVE THIS. BUT START AT THE BOTTOM GET THEM ALL THEY ARE WONDERFUL.