Anime Action: Hajime No Ippo

Alright let me level with you guys. I. Love. Anime. And I mean to dangerous extent (and that's my doc's opinion...well not really.). This is why I want to introduce you to my current top animes over the next couple of weeks.

First up: Hajime No Ippo is a boxing anime focusing on a mega shy high school kid called Ippo Makunouchi who has little time for friends as he helps his single mother out at their fishing shop. As a result he is kind of seen as a loner at school and is mercilessly bullied by the school bad boys, until by chance local pugilistic supremo Mamoru Takamura, a boxer whose insane punching power is only eclipsed by his ego, comes to Ippo’s rescue.

What follows is a testimonial to how much you can achieve if you are focused and determined but especially if you can hit like an eighteen-wheeler like young Ippo . Without revealing the complexities of the plot, unsurprisingly Ippo learns how to box leading him onto greater things and a menagerie of vivid and memorable characters; most of which he tries to befriend in his exasperatingly shy way.

It’s an excellent anime especially if you’re into boxing or any sport really. The animation style is at times dated but works like a dream when showing action sequences and improves as the series goes along. The fight scenes are pure adrenaline pumping awesomeness. I definitely love the genuine feel of the anime with the excellent expositions on boxing styles, punches (all the techniques like the Jack Dempsey roll are based on real boxing moves) and even the history of the sport. All this adds to you truly getting fired up watching any of Ippo’s fights and feeling like you’re there in the audience cheering him on for that final K.O or laughing hysterically at one of Takamura's many many pranks.

Action: 9/10

Animation: 6/10

Story: 8/10

Overall (not an average): 9/10

As with most Anime, you can watch Hajime online at www.animeseason.com.