Baki the Grappler

Baki the Grappler
Baki the Grappler Vol. 2 (English Gutsoon Edition)
グラップラー刃牙 (Grappler Baki)
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	31
Anime and Manga Portal

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.

Plot

The story revolves around Baki Hanma and his quest to proclaim himself as the strongest grappler in the world, thus taking the title from his father. 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.

Characters

Main article: List of Baki the Grappler characters

Manga volumes

Baki manga so far (chronologically):

• Grappler Baki (Real fighting action) - (First series Volume 1 to 42, complete, Deluxe version 1-24 complete) (The Champion Saga, the Kid Saga, and the Maximum Tournament saga).

Raijin Comics began work on this arc, and got through about 1-3 volumes of the Japanese version, give or take, before discontinuing manga publication altogether. The company only had the rights to the magazine edition of this series, and not the graphic novels, a rarity in the American manga publication industry.

• Grappler Baki Gaiden: Igari vs Mount Toba - (Complete) (immediately after the Maximum Tournament).

• Baki: In Search Of Our Strongest Hero (The Strongest is the Beautiful) - (2nd series Volume 1 to 31, Complete) (The Prisoners saga, the Chinese Challenge saga, the Ali. Jr saga). This series is also referred to as New Grappler Baki.

• Baki saga - (The Romantic Contact chapter) (Complete) (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 - (Complete) (compendium of the characters and events of the world of Grappler baki/Baki , covers until volume 23 of the 2nd saga).

• Grappler Baki: Blue Tiger side, Fighting side - (Complete) (Compendium of every battle fought and its results on the world of Grappler baki/Baki, also covers until volume 23 of the 2nd saga).

• Hanma Baki : Son of Ogre, The Boy Fascinating the Fighting God (3rd series finale Volume 1 to 28, ongoing, weekly published on Shōnen Champion Weekly) (Training With the Strongest saga, Oliva's Fortress saga 9-10 , The Prehistoric Menace chapter (Pickle wars, the rise of Katsumi, Jack's ambition, Baki's confrontation) (Vol 21) (Tied to the manga Hanma Baki 10.5 Anecdote Pickle: The man from 65.000.000 years ago) Retsu kaiou's boxing saga, The Hanma Yuujiro, father's story (vol 22-29) Yuujiro vs Baki: second encounter (30+) .

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.

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]}

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 chapters of the original manga, in which Baki Hanma fights Koushou Shinogi.

References

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