Baki the Grappler
| Baki the Grappler | |
 Baki the Grappler Vol. 2 (English Gutsoon Edition) |
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| グラップラー刃牙 (Grappler Baki) |
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|---|---|
| Genre | Action, Martial arts, Sports |
| Manga | |
| Written by | Keisuke Itagaki |
| Published by | Akita Shoten |
| English publisher |   Raijin Comics (former) |
| Demographic | Shōnen |
| Magazine | Weekly Shōnen Champion |
| Original run | 1991 – 1999 |
| Volumes | 42 |
| Original video animation | |
| Grappler Baki: The Ultimate Fighter | |
| Released | 21 August 1994 |
| Manga | |
| New Grappler Baki | |
| Written by | Keisuke Itagaki |
| Published by | Akita Shoten |
| Demographic | Shōnen |
| Magazine | Weekly Shōnen Champion |
| Original run | 1999 – 2005 |
| Volumes | 31 |
| TV anime | |
| Grappler Baki TV | |
| Directed by | Hitoshi Nanba |
| Produced by | Free-Will |
| Licensed by | FUNimation Entertainment |
| Network | TV Tokyo |
| English network | FUNimation channel & CoLours TV 2x2 |
| Original run | 8 January 2001 – 25 June 2001 |
| Episodes | 24 |
| TV anime | |
| Grappler Baki: Maximum Tournament | |
| Original run | 23 July 2001 – 24 December 2001 |
| Episodes | 24 |
| Manga | |
| Baki: Son of Ogre | |
| Written by | Keisuke Itagaki |
| Published by | Akita Shoten |
| Demographic | Shōnen |
| Magazine | Weekly Shōnen Champion |
| Original run | 2005 – ongoing |
| Volumes | 33 |
Grappler Baki (グラップラー刃牙), or Baki the Grappler, is a manga series written and illustrated by Keisuke Itagaki. It was originally serialized in the Weekly Shōnen Champion from 1991 to 1999, lasting 42 collected volumes. It was followed by two sequel series, New Grappler Baki (バキ Baki) (serialized from 1999 to 2005) and Baki: Son of Ogre (範馬刃牙 Hanma Baki) (which began in 2005 and currently in serialization).
The 24 episode anime aired in Japan between January 8, 2001 and June 25, 2001. A second 24 episode series called Grappler Baki Maximum Tournament aired from July 22, 2001 to December 24, 2001.
Contents |
[edit] Plot
The story revolves around Baki Hanma and his quest to proclaim himself as the strongest in the world, thus taking the title from his father Yujiro Hanma. Baki also fights to gain the trust of his overly psychotic mother. The anime was licensed and distributed by FUNimation Entertainment in the US. The OVA was released by Manga Entertainment in Australia and the UK and previously released by Central Park Media in the US. Gutsoon! Entertainment released the first 46 chapters of the original manga in English in the pages of Raijin Comics, their anthology magazine.
[edit] Characters
[edit] Manga volumes
Baki manga so far
- Grappler Baki (Baki the Grappler) - (First Series Volume 1 to 42, Complete) (The Champion Saga, the Kid Saga, and the Maximum Tournament saga).
- Baki: In Search Of Our Strongest Hero (New Grappler Baki) - (2nd Series Volume 1 to 31, Complete) (The Prisoners saga, the Chinese Challenge saga, the Ali. Jr saga).
- Hanma Baki (Baki: Son of Ogre) - (3rd Series Volume 1 to 33, Ongoing) (Oliva's Fortress saga, The Prehistoric Menace saga, Retsu Kaiou's Boxing saga, The Yujiro vs Baki Saga).
- Grappler Baki Gaiden: Igari vs Mount Toba - (Immediately after the Maximum Tournament).
- Baki saga - (The Romantic Contact chapter) - (Side story that develops at the same time as volume 15).
- Grappler Baki: Scarface, the Legend of the Invincible Fist - (Volume 1 to 5, Ongoing) (Hanayama Kaoru's yakuza adventures outside the world of Grappler Baki).
- Grappler Baki: Red Dragon side, Grappler side - (Compendium of the characters and events of the world of Grappler Baki, covers until volume 23 of the 2nd saga).
- Grappler Baki: Blue Tiger side, Fighting side - (Compendium of every battle fought and its results on the world of Grappler Baki, also covers until volume 23 of the 2nd saga).
[edit] Anime
The 24 episode anime aired in Japan between January 8, 2001 and June 25, 2001. The opening theme for the American version was the song "Child Prey" by popular Japanese rock band Dir en grey. The anime was produced by their record label, Free-Will. All of the Japanese opening and closing songs were done by Baki Project.
A second 24 episode series called Grappler Baki: Maximum Tournament aired from July 23, 2001 to December 24, 2001.
The anime follows the first series of the manga trilogy.
[edit] Airing outside Japan
Hawaii-based TV station KIKU aired the FUNimation Productions licensed version of the series during the August and October 2006 period. Dubbed in English, the episodes were edited for time but do not appear to have been edited for content. FUNimation also aired their dub on the COLOURS channel on weekends at 10pm. Currently however, they have taken all anime off of the channel.[citation needed]
[edit] Grappler Baki: The Ultimate Fighter OVA
This 45-minute OVA was licensed in the USA by Central Park Media in 1998. It is a close adaptation of the first few volumes of the original manga, in which Baki Hanma fights Koushou Shinogi.
[edit] References
[edit] External links
- Official website (Japanese)
- Baki the Grappler (anime) at Anime News Network's Encyclopedia
- Grappler Baki Maximum Tournament (anime) at Anime News Network's Encyclopedia
