BAKI is a 2018 anime series based on the manga of the same name by Kentaro Miura. It follows Baki Hanagami, a young man whose father, Yujiro Hanagami, is a legendary fighter who killed over a thousand people. The series is a brutal, kinetic take on the fighting genre, and it earns its reputation for violence. It is also a thoughtful meditation on family, legacy, and the weight of a name.
The show premiered on Tokyo MX and was later adapted for Crunchyroll, where it remains available. It ran for multiple seasons, with a third season currently in production. The animation is sharp, the action sequences are fluid, and the character designs are distinct enough to keep a sprawling cast of fighters easy to follow.
Trailer, via Netflix.
Baki’s Father
The central tension in BAKI comes from the protagonist’s relationship with his father. Baki wants to surpass his father, whom he both reveres and fears. This dynamic drives the entire narrative. Every fight, every victory, and every loss is filtered through this personal stakes.
Yujiro is a towering presence in the series. He is a monster of a man, capable of killing dozens of enemies with his bare hands. His fights are some of the most memorable in the show, and they set a bar that few other characters can match. Baki’s journey is about living up to that shadow, and the series never lets you forget it.
The Fighting Is the Point
BAKI is not subtle about its violence. The fights are graphic, and the show does not shy away from blood, broken bones, and visceral brutality. This is a show that takes the fighting seriously, and it rewards viewers who do the same. The choreography is inventive, and the series often uses slow-motion to highlight a punch or a kick, letting the audience see exactly what is happening.
The monsters that Baki faces are varied and creative. Some are human-sized brutes, while others are massive creatures that fill entire arenas. Each fight introduces a new threat, and the show rarely repeats itself. The pacing is fast, and the action scenes are frequent. This is a show that knows what it is doing, and it delivers on its promises.
“This is a show that takes the fighting seriously, and it rewards viewers who do the same.”
Character Building Under Fire
Despite the violence, the series invests time in its characters. Baki’s friends and allies are given moments outside the ring, and their relationships feel genuine. The supporting cast includes a wide range of fighters, each with their own goals and motivations. The show balances the action with quieter scenes of conversation, allowing the audience to care about the people getting beaten.
The villains are memorable too. They are not simply obstacles to be overcome; they have their own histories and reasons for fighting. This gives the fights weight beyond spectacle. When a character falls, it feels earned, not arbitrary.
Where It Falls Short
BAKI is not perfect. The middle stretch of the series drags slightly, with some episodes feeling like filler. The pacing slows in the second season, and a few arcs lose focus. There are also moments where the violence becomes repetitive, even within a show that is built around it.
The show also leans heavily on fan service, particularly in its depiction of female characters. This is a common issue in anime, but BAKI does not always handle it gracefully. Some scenes feel out of place, and they occasionally undercut the seriousness of the fights around them.
The Third Season
The third season is currently in production, and it promises to bring the story to a conclusion. Given the strength of the first two seasons, there is reason to believe it will deliver. The series has established a strong foundation, and it would be a shame to let it end on a weak note.
For now, the first two seasons stand on their own. They are a complete story, with a beginning, middle, and end. The final episode leaves the door open for a continuation, but the core narrative is resolved. That is a rare achievement in a serialized format.
A Brutal, Rewarding Watch
BAKI is a demanding watch. It requires patience with its slower stretches and a tolerance for its graphic violence. But for viewers willing to commit, it offers a rich, rewarding experience. The character work is deep, the action is spectacular, and the themes are genuinely thought-provoking.
The show asks difficult questions about inheritance, identity, and the cost of power. It does not offer easy answers, and that refusal to simplify makes it stronger. BAKI is not a show for everyone, but for those who enjoy intense, character-driven combat dramas, it is a standout entry in the genre.
It scores 8.1 out of 10.
Get the Notebook.
The day's best stories and every fresh verdict, in plain English, in your inbox by seven. One email a day, no more.
