Get Ready For The Final Round
You can’t talk about sports anime without bringing up one of its greatest pioneers;Â Tomorrow’s Joe. With its down to earth characters, fierce knowledge of the sport and brutal bouts, it’s no wonder it went on to inspire anime of equal caliber such as Hajime no Ippo and Slam Dunk. It’s a classic among classics, one held sacred by the anime community and whose cultural impact can still be felt to this day.
As it happens, Joe’s legacy has once again hit the mainstream due to its 50th anniversary. Under a new banner and with a fresh coat of paint, the celebratory anime known as Megalo Box has taken the greatness of its predecessor yet provided a few updates that have made the project all its own. If you still need convincing, here are three reasons you should follow Junk “Joe” Dog’s journey!
#3: Old School Art Style
Right off the bat, you’ll notice that visually Megalo Box has a striking resemblance to classic anime such as Samurai Champloo, Trigun and Cowboy Bebop. Along with a hip-hop soundtrack that’s bound to get your blood-rushing, the world is so artistically intricate and painstakingly realised that even the downtrodden and poverty-stricken areas are still stunning to behold.
#2: A New Joe
Forced to make a living by purposefully losing fights, Junk Dog is shown to be a man of immense skill and passion just waiting for his chance, all the while hiding his talents behind a chilled expression. When given the opportunity to take on the world stage of Megalonia, we’re shown in epic detail how Joe’s fighting spirit still lives on inside of this new incarnation, both in attitude and with his fists.
#1: Gears
There have been plenty of great boxing anime in the years since Joe hung up his gloves, so in order to stand out, Megalo Box was going to have to bring out all the stops. Needless to say, it succeeded. With mechanical enhancements, the fusion of man and machine turns a typical boxing max into a potential game of life and death. With sparks literally flying with each exchange, it’s fair to say that each match at Megalonia is going to be a showstopper.
Be sure to check out the video below to see our picks for the Top 10 Sports Anime!Â