Audience reviews
20 · Sample from the first available page, separate from the total number of ratings.
stillhollow
Hajime no Ippo — 10/10
Some anime make you want to watch another episode. Hajime no Ippo makes you want to get up, work harder, and become a better version of yourself.
What makes this anime so special is how much heart it has. On the surface, it's a boxing anime about a shy guy learning how to fight, but underneath that, it's a story about confidence, perseverance, friendship, and discovering what you're truly capable of. Watching Ippo slowly grow from someone who doubts himself into a boxer who can stand proudly in the ring is genuinely inspiring.
The fights are incredible. Every punch feels like it has weight behind it, and every match feels personal. You're not just watching two characters throw hands; you're watching all their training, sacrifices, fears, and determination come tog…
Read at the sourcelamaillu
It is not the highest rated anime,it is not the most popular nor the most deep but it is just .....the best. It pulverises all of its competition in the sports genre and is way ahead of its time.It's an animanga series made by professionals that wanted to recreate the real life emotions,struggles and intricacies of the immense practice that is boxing and they packaged it in such a complete way that it is hard not to be feet-deep into the story while reading or watching this masterpiece.The comedy is gold,the fights are breathtaking and the internal struggles of each and every character in the main cast are layed out and detailed,evolving over multiple chapters/episodes.It is such a shame that such an excellent work of art didn't get what it deserved.Truly a joy to watch.
Read at the sourcePinguinoLovPasta
10/10 – Why? It changed my life.
I used to be a lazy person who didn’t do any kind of sports, but after I watched Hajime no Ippo, it completely changed me and even pushed me to start training and take things more seriously.
I really relate to Ippo Makunouchi. I was that shy kid who stayed at home most of the time after being bullied, so I connected with him a lot.
I also love the characters in general. Everyone is unique in their own way, and I don’t hate any of them. Each character has their own reason to win—like someone fighting to help their mom, Ippo trying to find the answer to his question “what does it mean to be strong?”, or Jason Ozuma wanting to help his gym. That’s what makes the story feel real.
I really love this show, and I want everyone to watch it. I think it’s a very…
Read at the sourceRiasYenge
It's a good sports anime, the fights are good, the artwork is average, the characters are classic and the story is classic.
Good points:
It was entertaining to watch. The comedy scenes were quite good in my opinion especially the dark humor and obscene ones. I loved the comedy of this anime.
Fights are very decent, fluent and cool especially the final fight with Sendo (I was sweating even though my room was cold.) The fight scenes really convey excitement and tension to the viewer; you feel the power of the punches on your body.
Anime doesn't hesitate to remove a character from the story if they don't contribute much to the story.
Character development is good. We see Ippo's development fast and realistic. In first episodes Ippo is very shy and frustrating character but as we get closer t…
Read at the sourcenot_Alinkh
Hajime no Ippo is a series i could never assume i would rate a 10/10. In comparison to my other 10s in this app, this seems to be the least "deep" or "thoughtprovoking", yet i cant really consider any other rating for this series. All characters in this anime, despite having generally not much of a screentime (except the main cast), feel incredibly real. They are all going through normal human struggles and feel completely relatable to the viewer (at least to my experience). Characters like Volg or Shendo are living proof that you dont need to over explain or over expose. Their writing is very simple but yet so succesful, it feels like theyre your friends and you have known them for years. Every single character is this show feels unique and special, it really makes other shows with trippl…
Read at the sourceWaltuh7115
! REALLY MINOR SPOILERS !
Absolute Cinema, definitely the best sports anime I've ever seen, I haven't seen that many but I don't think I'll watch anything better in this genre, and I still have two seasons and over 1000 chapters of manga ahead of me lol.
I'll start with what impressed me most: the characters. There's literally no bad character, one that's poorly written and could detract from the viewing experience. Each character is unique, with their own goals and different backgrounds in boxing, such as Ippo, who started boxing because he wanted to learn what it means to be strong, Sendo, who wanted to test his strength and fight the strongest, or Volg, who wanted to raise money for his sick mother. Each character is written in a way that can evoke emotion and sympathy in the viewer.…
Read at the sourceKingdomOfSalt
As a long time fan of the legendary Rocky franchise, watching this anime was a no-brainer to me, and it did not disappoint - It fulfills many of the same aspects: From awe-inspiring themes of starting from the bottom, grit and determination, to thrilling challenges and shows of triumph, to depressing lows of loss and grief, to heart-warming scenes between friends and family, and of course, that perfect bit of comedy.
Where it leaves off with comparisons, it picks back up with additional excellent elements. As you watch Ippo condition himself to be a boxer, and train for each opponent, you also are given the perspectives of the opponents as well, often being very sympathetic, deep characters themselves, who also have personal reasons for fighting, who also have friends and family rooting f…
Read at the sourceKarl-_-CxJ
Hajime no Ippo is one of those anime that takes a simple premise and turns it into something truly inspiring. At its core, it’s the story of Makunouchi Ippo, a shy boy who lost his father at a young age, helps his mother with her fishing business, and gets bullied on a daily basis. His life changes after an encounter with a professional boxer, Takamura, which sparks his dream of stepping into the ring himself. What follows is a journey of growth, grit, and the pursuit of strength.
Story & Themes
On the surface, the story may feel familiar, an underdog protagonist finds his calling through a sudden turn of events; but Hajime no Ippo stands out because of how well it’s executed. Yes, parts of the plot are predictable, but the emotional weight, attention to detail, and unexpected moments spr…
Read at the sourceSirBunting
This anime has a lot of great qualities that pull you into its world and keep you on the edge of your seat. Now, I'm normally completely sick of "bildungsroman" stories about a weak boy who becomes strong, but this anime does it right by emphasizing a supportive atmosphere. Oftentimes the excuse for sudden power in anime is "the power of friendship" but it lacks this atmosphere. This one gets it right: the people surrounding him literally train him in every aspect, and each skill he obtains is relevant. Furthermore each skill builds upon previous ones to make Ippo "step-by-step" into a comprehensively trained boxer. That identity comes home. You really do feel it, and it's a great joy to see.
The show's only drawbacks from my POV are an overreliance on reversal KOs (I'm not saying it's al…
Read at the sourceCodeBlazeFate
How much treasure can an early 2000s adaptation of a late 80s sports manga carry? More than most battle shounen, both from the time and today, that’s for sure. Hajime no Ippo is among the greatest of its kind, as well as an easy go-to for when you need to convince someone that sports anime can be just as impactful as their favorite action series. If the pathos of hard work and determination for one’s own self-improvement is your most treasured appeal of battle shounen like with Mob Psycho 100 and Dragon Ball Z, then Ippo is the show for you. If the idea of bonds between family and friends driving people to their absolute limit is your most treasured appeal of battle shounen like with Kimetsu no Yaiba or Yugioh, then Ippo is the show for you. If you require pulse-pounding, impressively anim…
Read at the sourceEnyu
This is literally the best anime I have ever seen in my life. It is also the funniest anime I have ever seen. From episode 1 on I was immediately hooked.
I liked how I was able to follow the development of the MC and his friends, each episode is unique and some are very funny, the storytelling is great and the cast is very wholesome. They develop and amazing friendship and together continue to grow and develop.
It is very interesting for a sports anime, the pace, the development, the character background. If you don't want to watch this just because it is a sports anime then you are truly missing out, you don't have to be a fan of boxing or sports to enjoy this anime.
The art style is very soulful and has nice vibes to it, especially season 1 which is my favorite. I think anyone who w…
Read at the sourceAngeVNs
So many sports-themed anime have come and gone over the years. In modern times, you've got stuff like Haikyuu!!, which focuses on competitive volleyball, and Blue Lock, which is all about soccer (football non-americano). Then there's baseball drama like Major or hype basketball series like Slam Dunk and Kuroko no Basket.
But for my money, my personal all-time favorite is Hajime no Ippo—or rather, just Season 1 of the anime.
See, unfortunately, the Ippo series now has the unfortunate reputation of its manga being incredibly dragged out and inconsistent in quality, yet it's still ongoing. The stuff I hear about supposed plot twists or lack of progression is really disappointing from people who actually read the manga.
However, to me, there’s a reason why this series got so popular and las…
Read at the sourcebigeli2020
Hajime no Ippo (Fighting Spirit) is a 75-episode sport, shounen, and fighting anime produced by Madhouse, which is arguably the best animation studio ever. This is the first “season” adapted from the manga, but in that time is a masterpiece. Before I had watched, I’d expressed my concerns about whether I’d like a show solely based on boxing (which I have no interest in). However, I can proudly say that even if you don’t enjoy the world of boxing, you will still be in for a good time. This is not a real professional review; I believe feelings play a huge part in rating and analyzing art mediums, but I will try to be objective and balanced.
The story begins with an average setup: a smaller, shy teenage boy (Makunouchi Ippo) bullied by bigger dawgs and goes to school like a normal kid. He h…
Read at the sourcegamblingdebt
Absolute goat tier anime and probably the greatest sport anime ever. Hajime no Ippo lay the groundwork for the whole genre and have become the standard for any sport anime after it.
The anime mixing action, comedy (and a little bit of romance) so well. The fight was insanely hyped and jokes was timeless. The characters are really the stars of the show. Everyone has their own life and story to tell, with distinct personalities and are well developed, not just npc for Ippo to interact. The way the story progress is so natural and the pacing remain good throughout the show run time.
My only criticism about Hajime no Ippo is the change in animation in the last 20 episodes. For some reason the drawing quality drop, the characters style changes completely and the fight scene suffers as well.…
Read at the sourcecappuccino12
It is a great anime for someone who needs motivation in his life i saw hundreds of people started boxing because of ippo but reality doestnt correspond with its nature freaky, "never give up" ass nature when you are knocked down in real life thats it. You are simply done for but in the ippo on the other hand the character perpetually gets knocked down but perseveres through no matter what it is a very incredible metaphor in my opinion because it indirectly tells you to never give up regardless of what you do, but your average joe can get all pumped up upon seeing this and go into boxing then bam gets his ass knocked down.
Read at the sourceKevao51
Hajime no Ippo is a landmark in the sports anime genre that continues to inspire viewers to this day. The story of perseverance is captivating, and it feels like the entire anime was created with immense love and heart. The protagonist finds his strength in boxing, and for fans of the sport, this anime is a must-watch.
The highlight isn’t just the intense and well-choreographed fights but also the meticulous character development that makes it easy to connect with everyone. Ippo’s growth as a boxer reflects his values of humility and hard work. The supporting characters aren’t left behind, providing the anime’s lighter, humorous moments.
Themes like friendship, resilience, and self-confidence, combined with an electrifying soundtrack and animations that outshine many modern anime, make Haj…
Read at the sourceCarsonWentz14
What a great little show that completely took me by surprise. Although it was widely regarded as one of the best sports animes of all time, I still didn't have my expectations sky high, mostly because other experiences I had with fighting and/or sports animes tend to falter due to overly drawn out and repetitive fighting sequences. Hajime no Ippo excels in doing the exact opposite: the fighting sequences are exciting and unique, if somewhat unrealistic.
Every fight has real odds, every fight tells a different story that is able to deliver in progressing the overarching journey of the characters. And speaking of characters, this is where the show shines, with a charming cast of supporting characters that, while mostly serving as comedy relief early on, truly has a remarkable evolution in t…
Read at the sourcedas_bern1
If you're looking for an enjoyable anime, Hajime no Ippo is a must-watch. This anime excels in excitement and crazy enough, it is also very grounded excluding the partly unrealistic boxing matches. First off, the side cast is very well done, at least after the first 30 episodes or so, we get to see others in the world of boxing and how influence is a major factor on how one boxes. One thing I forgot to mention is how the anime displays struggle, It does a fantastic job in expressing emotion such as suffering, loss, and friendship.
Although most anime tend to be very unfunny, Hajime no Ippo, while taking a break from all the seriousness, tends to be somewhat humorous, compared to most anime. The humor is intended for a more male demographic but I also feel like women would enjoy it too. T…
Read at the sourcefabiopires10
Hajime No Ippo is an anime series that stands out for its simplicity and captivating characters, especially the protagonist, Ippo Makunouchi. Ippo is a straightforward and humble young man, making it easy to root for his success throughout the series. His journey as a novice boxer is filled with challenges and personal growth, which makes his story engaging and inspiring.
One of the most intriguing dynamics in the series is the relationship between Ippo and his gym mate, Takamura. Takamura serves as a mentor and father figure to Ippo, bringing a unique humor to the series with his extravagant and sarcastic personality. The interaction between these two characters is both funny and touching, striking a perfect balance of comedy and character development. Aoki and Kimura are also super funn…
Read at the sourceMathisadv
In the abundant world of anime, some stand out for their ability to transcend simple entertainment to become true spiritual guides. “Hajime no Ippo” is definitely one of those rare gems, a powerful tale that not only entertains, but also lights the path for those who have the privilege of watching it. Having given a perfect score of 10/10, I can say without hesitation that this anime is much more than just a series. It is a life lesson, an epic tale that takes us to the heart of the human soul and the incessant struggle to surpass oneself.
At the heart of "Hajime no Ippo", we follow the inspiring story of Ippo Makunouchi, a young man with a big heart who discovers his passion for boxing. It is not only the story of a fighter who rises through the ranks to become a champion, but it is also…
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