He manages to do this just two years later, aged 15, and is regarded as 'The World's Strongest Boy' and the champion of the Tokyo Dome Underground Area.
If you've seen one fighting anime, you can probably imagine what happens next – challengers come to claim the throne, and Baki must defend his title.
In the latest season, which dropped onto Netflix recently, Baki faces one of his most unusual opponents yet in the form of Pickle, a caveman discovered perfectly preserved within a rock.
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Could this be Baki’s most worthy challenger yet? You'll have to watch to find out.
It's a pretty old franchise, with the Baki the Grappler manga from the mind of Keisuke Itagaki having begun in 1991, running until 1999 – and during that time spawned sequel after sequel, with Baki, Baki Hanma, Baki-Dou, Bakidou and the latest, Baki Rahen, which began this year.
When manga becomes popular, anime soon follows. An OVA was released in 1994, but it wouldn't be until just after the original manga ended that Baki would receive its first anime run.
Baki is one of the most celebrated "sport" anime around, and has maintained its popularity over time despite fierce mainstream competition.
Nonstop Baki viewing should only take you just over four days, which is well worth it when it comes to one of the most critically acclaimed anime around.
With a brand new crossover anime, Hanma Baki VS Kengan Ashura, and a new series called Baki-Dou on the way, here's the best way to watch Baki in order.
What order should I watch Baki?
Baki is one of the more straightforward anime, with a timeline that matches its release date. There's very little jumping around from past to present, which makes for easy viewing and fewer headaches.
While Baki Hanma is a standalone sequel show to Baki, the two series are connected. One of the biggest differences in the newer series is the greater focus on Baki himself.
However, the two still share those classic over-the-top fight scenes with the biggest muscles you’ve ever seen.
There has even been an anime crossover between the Baki Hanma and Kengan Ashura, and while it doesn't add anything to the story it's not to be missed.
The following is the perfect order to watch Baki:
- Baki The Grappler: The Ultimate Fighter
- Baki The Grappler – Season 1: Kid Saga/Underground Arena Saga
- Baki The Grappler – Season 2: Maximum Tournament Saga
- Baki: Most Evil Death Row Convicts Special Anime
- Baki – Season 1: Most Evil Death Row Convicts Saga
- Baki – Season 2: Great Chinese Challenge Saga/Godlike Clash of the Kids Saga
- Baki Hanma: Son of Ogre - Season 1: Combat Shadow Fighting Saga/Great Prison Battle Saga
- Baki Hanma: Son of Ogre - Season 2: Pickle Wars Saga/The Father VS Son Saga
- Baki Hanma VS Kengan Ashura
- Baki-Dou (Release Date TBC)
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Is Baki 2001 and 2018 the same?
This is what can confuse new-time fans to the series, as Baki technically has two seasons 1 and 2.
The original first season of Baki is actually season 1 of Baki the Grappler, which originally aired between January - June 2001, followed quickly by season 2 from July - December 2001. That's quite a fast turnaround time for an anime.
However, while Baki season 1 is, well, season 1, it actually covers the second part of the Baki the Grappler series, loosely connecting the plot of the two shows.
However, you don't actually need to have seen the original series in order to pick up and enjoy Netflix's version, thankfully.
Are there Baki filler episodes that I can skip?
There's no filler in the traditional sense of a list of episodes that are skippable. There are, however, two OVAs acting as an interesting time capsule of the series's history – the majority of which is recapped later.
The must-watch instalments are the main series themselves: Baki the Grappler, Baki and Baki Hanma. The OVAs in question that you can live without are Baki: The Ultimate Fighter and Baki: Most Evil Death Row Convicts Saga.
Will there be a Baki Hanma season 3?
YES! But under a new title Baki-Dou, which will continue the Baki story. There is currently no release date, but we will update this page once more information becomes available.
We will keep this page updated with all the latest news on confirmations of future seasons.
Where can I watch Baki in the UK?
The majority of the Baki franchise is available on Netflix, including the newly released second season of Baki Hanma: Son of Ogre.
For those without a subscription, Crunchyroll also offers the anime in its entirety.
Read more:
- How to watch Pokémon in order: All the TV series, movies and specials
- How to watch Evangelion in order
- How to watch Code Geass in order
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