Animes Like Baki Hanma and Kengan Ashura!

If you are one of those who love thrilling, full-blooded action and spectacular martial arts fights, then Baki Hanma and Kengan Ashura must be in your cross hairs. But if you are looking for more shows that pack the same punch, you are in the right place. We're then discussing animes showing that raw, violent fighting and intriguing characters provide a gripping experience that chills you to the bone.

First up, let's talk about Baki Hanma. It's not a show that minces words, either. You could also view it as the tale of Superman, wherein the super-powered human is fighting all the more desperately to breach the afterlife. Whether it is the muscle-shape, the crazy father that is Yujiro Hanma, each one was built as if in a tank and had an unstoppably deadly fighting technique. And let's just not begin talking about the fights, themselves. Every fight is an epic clash that seems to be out of a martial artist's dream, except with way more blood and absurdly exaggerated moves.

But here's the thing: Baki is not purely a question of violence for violence's sake. The series also revolves around characters and how they find themselves in difficulty. There's just something so profound about the investigation into what it is to be the greatest, and the way the chase for that power can ultimately destroy a person's psyche. Much as there are these over-the-top aspects to the anime, there's also a psychological element that has one thinking what kind of mind it would take to drive the human body in these ridiculous extremes. That's what makes it so addictive, even when it sometimes appears that the laws of nature do not hold.

Since then, Kengan Ashura takes the same approach, but with its own zest. Just the same, if you imagined Baki barrios to be fierce, see what the seminars are like. In this anime show, the battlefield is basically made up of rich and powerful corporations who employ accomplished warriors who fight each other in underground dojos. Not just fighting, but a great deal of strategy with an overriding huge prize over every single fight, too. 100% of the differences they have between themselves is amazing, with completely different styles of fighting each; one never knows what craziness they will feel to pull off next. This here shows a more strategic look-out than Baki since it has each of their fights planned and at times is very surprising.

But just like Baki Hanma, Kengan Ashura is philosophically inclined. Characters' more often than not are wrestling with internal issues, the desire for power, and the consequences of their actions on other people. There is very clear emphasis on the importance of honor and what happens if such is displaced in the quest for strength. The anime Kengan Ashura is as good as the fights it contains. It is a power play, a control issue, and survival chess game where each participant fights with his own survival, not just hands.

Well, if you are a Baki Hanma and Kengan Ashura fan, then you will come across a few other anime to watch that are fierce, fascinating characters, and mind-blowing fighting similar to the above two Asian animation series.

Hajime no Ippo If one gets hyped about the idea of watching fighters fight their way through beyond the limits of human power, then Hajime no Ippo is something one should just not miss out on. This boxing anime revolves around the story of Ippo Makunouchi-a transition from being a weak fighter into being a professional with every match turning out to be a great test for both heart and skill. Not as wild or over-the-top like Baki or Kengan, but it is all about the emotion set up behind every match.

Fighting Spirit - This anime is a mix of action-packed thrills and psychological character development. Almost like Hajime no Ippo, the story is used to illustrate personal development of its protagonist, but the key that distinguishes it is the fight element of psychology. It's all about challenging yourself, in and out of the ring.

The term Gantz essentially means a mix of violence and a high stake, warped storyline. While far darker and more psychological than the others listed here, Gantz shares in the same brutal, high-octane action. The characters have to go through life-and-death struggles that are a fight not only for present survival but also against fear and mistakes of the past.

Megalo Box - This is an anime boxing reboot that will be set in a sometime-in-the-future scene. It's brutal, it's emotional, it's about how the underdog can go against the grain of the system. For these reasons, Megalo Box does very much feel like a really fitting ode to boxing itself: the fights metaphors for the characters going through rises above their capacities.

Kurozuka This is for something a little off the beaten path. Kurozuka combines martial arts with supernatural elements. The story is thick and heavy with epic battles along with themes of immortality, loss, and redemption. It is not exactly focused on hand-to-hand action, but the action and drama are most certainly similar.

Whether you love the over-the-top fights or are one for psychological drama, well, there's really no dearth of anime that brings that similar level of intensity you would have found in Baki Hanma or Kengan Ashura. What these shows manage to do is actually show a real depth in what it even means to fight-not just with your body, but your mind and spirit-really is what makes them all so addictive.