Baki (TV series 2018 – 2026) – Waste of time ?
Author: Tony (Team Animehood UK)
Hi everyone,
Tony here from Team Animhood UK (Nightshift Team 👊).
Our team had assigned me to watch BAKI (2018–2023), started watching this back in 2021, so here are my thoughts. The series actually began streaming on Netflix outside Japan on December 18, 2018. Despite the Baki manga being around for decades — with the original series running for 42 volumes (1991–1999) and four additional series released between 1999 and 2018 — I had never read or watched any part of this legendary franchise before 2021.
Yes… I somehow missed it for over 20 years.
BAKI has been described by Anime News Network as both “very compelling” and a “demented fighting manga,” which immediately caught my attention. The series falls right into my favourite genre — pure fighting, hand-to-hand combat, and martial arts intensity — so I was genuinely excited to dive in.
That said, I did have one concern.
Because I had missed two decades’ worth of Baki content, I worried I wouldn’t be able to fully get into it. You know that feeling when you start a long-running anime and think, “Am I too late to this? Did I miss the boat” I wasn’t sure if I’d be able to enter “the zone” — that state where you forget everything around you and become completely immersed.
But honestly?
I was pulled into the zone almost immediately.
The artwork is superb — bold, exaggerated, and unapologetically intense. The story is straightforward yet gripping, which works perfectly for a fighting anime. There’s no unnecessary complexity — just raw combat, philosophy, and power.
One aspect that really stood out to me was the documentary-style narration. The series often pauses to explain techniques, backstories, and martial arts concepts. The character introductions are detailed and sometimes slow-paced, but that build-up makes each fight feel bigger and more meaningful.
Each fight scene is packed with twists and turns. Yes, the show frequently jumps into flashbacks and character histories, and at times it can feel like it drags slightly. However, you can genuinely tell the producers invested serious effort into those scenes. The flashbacks are crafted with as much intensity as the present-day fights, which keeps the momentum alive.
And when the action explodes — it explodes.
The art style amplifies every moment. I felt every punch, every bone-breaking impact, and the sheer toughness of each fighter. The physicality in BAKI is exaggerated to the extreme, but that’s exactly what makes it so gripping.
Interestingly, although Baki is the main protagonist, the story doesn’t follow him in the traditional way you might expect from other fighting anime. Instead, the focus shifts heavily toward the tournament structure and the fighters involved. It feels less like a single-hero journey and more like a brutal showcase of warriors pushing human limits.
After the first few seasons I wanted to see more of Baki’s father — a mysterious, almost mythical figure portrayed as overwhelmingly powerful. Every time he appears, you feel the tension shift. So I was glad when the Father vs Son saga released in 2023, and that was epic.
Overall, watching BAKI was a fantastic experience.
If you enjoy anime series such as Kengan Ashura, Record of Ragnarok, Fist of the North Star, or Street Fighter, then BAKI should be right up your street. If you’re into underground tournaments, insane martial arts battles, and characters who redefine human durability, this series delivers.
For me, missing 20 years of Baki didn’t matter at all. Once it started, I was in the zone.
Thank you for reading.