Kengan Ashura

I enjoyed the choregraphy in the fights. I had mixed opinions about the voice acting, but hearing Speedwagon's voice was a plus. Seeing the flashbacks in 2D still frames was an interesting choice, and I liked that. I'd heavily suggest reading the manga, it has more developement and gives the characters more depth than the anime did. The anime only has so much time, but they cut off parts that I felt were essential to what made the manga such a masterpiece. Those cut pieces like Yamashita's other son that gets a wake up call from Ohma, the lovely redhead-Rin, lots of flashbacks that added flavor to the characters that made them more dimensional. By cutting so many pieces out, this entire tourneyment arc feels a bit shallow. Should you watch it? I'd have to say no, and suggest the manga.

Kengan Ashura is clearly inspired from Baki and like Baki, Kengan Ashura is about high action tournaments, sleazy buisness men, and very unrealistic fighting. It's mindless fun for the most part. Just something notable was that even knowing the show is supposed to be ridiculous, there were times I cringed a bit when they tried to explain some ridiculous move or technique. The animation for the most part is pretty good but nothing extraordinary or ground breaking. I'd say it's a step below something like Ajin in terms of 3D animation. The blood effects feel pretty cheap and there's definitely a sense that at some points a 2D animation style would be better. The characters and their abilities aren't exactly very compelling a lot of times sadly. They are just simple things like the person being agile while being fat, being very sturdy, or like a kaio-ken thing where they "unlock" their potential and two characters have essentially the same ability in the show but they're just called different things. The main character also has an ability to control "the flow" of energy or whatever and that allows him to basically do advanced parries on the opponent but it's not really explained that well. The relationships between characters also feels a bit tepid, with me not really feeling like there is a clear cut villain that I can hate or a rivalry that I feel is iconic. In the show there is also a relationship between our MC fighter and a salaryman who is forced into being his manager. That relationship works pretty okay at it's role as comic relief and seems like there are hints that there will be something more than just that in the second season, though in this season comic relief for the most part is the extent of it. Kengan Ashura has enough problems to make it feel more generic than not, but it's not a bad watch if you don't expect anything too special from it.

First things first: 1- Watch the anime then read the manga, otherwise you gonna be disappointed 2- RIP Xamã 3- My english its not very good Review: I can define Kengan Ashura quoting comrade Dyatlov "not great, not terrible" Is a good anime, if you like fights, violence, simple plot, metal sound track, good animation, ..., yeah you will have a good time watching. But... If you pay a close attention to some interactions /reactions in some scenes, you gonna noticed that it kinda miss something, and the answer is YES, they cut a few characters interactions that make few scenes actually make sense. "...And does it matters for the main plot?" No. "So why are you complaining?" Because What make this a good anime/manga are the interactions of the main plot with the secondary characters, their fight styles, motivations, why they fight, why they became strong, why they follow that path. "Yeah but who cares for them, they are there to be defeated for the main character" It could be the case, IF it was not a TOURNAMENT, and that demands a lot of fights and each fight needs that the audience (us) cares about the fighters in order to cheers or hate one of them, otherwise it just be a waste of time screen. "Dude they show some flashbacks during the fights" Yes but eventually it doesn't work anymore, the audience [us] are not fool. In the manga the editor probably see that coming and ask for some minor interactions [beach chapter], here the direction/producer decide to ignore that, making some flashbacks become dull at certain point. Score: For me the first season was ok, i enjoy the fight scenes and the 3d doesn't make my eyes bleed [i am a 3d artist, so my point of view of 3d animation its kinda different from the regular audience] This anime deserves a 7.75 but they cut the XAMÃ, so i'll give solid 7,0

Many people will go over as to how the CGI looks bad blah blah and so on, but we gotta take 1 thing in account. The studio that animated this one was a studio so unknown, it's only got other 3 anime produced, so their proficiency is clearly either bad or unknown. But that doesn't mean i didn't enjoy the CGI! The CGI did a great job handling the fight scenes and coreography, with a smooth flow and correct anatomy arrangement! What really bothered me A LOT within this anime was the fact that, in order to squeeze out most of the story in 12 episodes, they came as far as to skip not only crucial development moments for Yamashita and Ohma, world-building scenes but as well skip entire fights! (as seen that they didn't show Kaburagi's fight). Sometimes even deleting characters to fit the budget (as they erased Yamashita's assistant existence). Even though the CGI is quite bad rendered it doesn't make the art style any worse. The high constrasted colors, exclusive flashback panels that look like they were straight out of a Comic Book and opening has shown us the intensity the anime is bringing us. The soundtrack is pretty great not gonna lie, the opening is a banger, the tournament themes are good to listen and has introduced me to very cool japanese metal bands and i really didn't expect to find a japanese Trap group to have the ending space. The voice acting fits quite well, but I really expected Nogi's voice to be deeper, but that's just me. Also, I love Ohma voice acting, it fits him perfectly. Overall, it's a good watch, but not the one the manga deserved. The animation could be better to match the flow the manga had, and i definetly want the anime to remade by an actual animation company that's not a "pay cheap get cheaper results".

I will never be a huge fan of the mix between CGI and drawnscenes. I made it through it when i watched kingdom and i made it through with this one. But it is a huge negative in my eyes. Theres alot of history explained that i didn't care much for. I found myself skipping most the explanations surrounding who someone was and why. There were just too many of those, i like the way AoT does it, with static screen with the info if you want to read it. Overall found myself skipping everything before and after the fights. Fights are cool tho! First 5 eps are great the rest are very filler heavy.

"Baki's great rival," which in practice, Kengan Ashura ends up being more of a "close relative" than a direct rival. For me, this work has a special weight because it was literally the gateway to this type of combat-focused anime. It was because of it that I ended up watching Baki, and it's fair to say that the two share the same DNA: intense fights, eccentric characters, and a constant quest to overcome physical and mental limits. The premise is simple and functional, and that's a compliment. Large corporations resolve their disputes through underground fights known as Kengan battles. Instead of legal proceedings or negotiations, everything is decided based on brute force. We then follow the journey of Ohma Tokita, an extremely skilled fighter, and his manager, Kazuo Yamashita, who serves as our point of view within this insane world. It's an idea that strongly resembles classic tournaments like those in Mortal Kombat or Street Fighter, that perfect structure to justify a sequence of increasingly intense fights. It may not be the most innovative concept in the world, but the execution holds everything together very well. And when it works, it works very well. The great highlight is the characters. Each fighter has their own style, a fighting philosophy, and often a backstory that helps to contextualize their motivations. This means that the fights are not just exchanges of blows; there is always an emotional or strategic weight involved. You end up caring about who is fighting, and this makes each confrontation more tense. The battles, in fact, are the heart of the work and are extremely well-constructed. There is an interesting balance: the strongest doesn't always win, and many fights are decided by strategy, resistance, or even pure determination. This keeps the tournament unpredictable, which is essential to keep the viewer engaged. One point that usually divides opinions, but which works very well here, is the CGI animation. Netflix opted for a 3D style that, unlike many other anime, is well executed. It might seem strange at first, but it quickly becomes natural, especially in the fights, where the fluidity and choreography benefit from this type of animation. Regarding the comparison with Baki, it makes sense, but the works have slightly different approaches. While Baki embraces almost absurd exaggeration at various points, Kengan Ashura tends to maintain a certain "groundedness" within the possible limits, even with its bizarre elements. Interestingly, the fact that there's a crossover between the universes only reinforces how close they are in spirit. In the end, Kengan Ashura is exactly what it promises: a straightforward, intense, and personality-filled fighting anime. It doesn't try to be something it's not, and that's precisely why it works so well. If you like well-choreographed fights, memorable characters, and that constant tournament atmosphere where anything can happen, this work delivers with ease. Highly recommended. Final score: 9/10. =================================================================================================================Versão em Português===================================== “O grande rival de Baki” que na prática, Kengan Ashura acaba sendo mais um “parente próximo” do que um rival direto. Pra mim, essa obra tem um peso especial, porque foi literalmente a porta de entrada para esse tipo de anime focado em combate. Foi por causa dela que acabei chegando em Baki, e dá pra dizer que as duas compartilham o mesmo DNA: lutas intensas, personagens excêntricos e uma constante busca por superar limites físicos e mentais. A premissa é simples e funcional, e isso é um elogio. Grandes corporações resolvem suas disputas através de combates clandestinos conhecidos como batalhas Kengan. Em vez de processos judiciais ou negociações, tudo é decidido na base da força bruta. Acompanhamos então a jornada de Ohma Tokita, um lutador extremamente habilidoso, e seu empresário, Kazuo Yamashita, que serve como nosso ponto de vista dentro desse mundo insano. É uma ideia que lembra muito torneios clássicos como os de Mortal Kombat ou Street Fighter, aquela estrutura perfeita para justificar uma sequência de lutas cada vez mais intensas. Pode não ser a proposta mais inovadora do mundo, mas a execução segura tudo muito bem. E quando funciona, funciona muito. O grande destaque está nos personagens. Cada lutador tem um estilo próprio, uma filosofia de combate e, muitas vezes, uma história que ajuda a dar contexto às suas motivações. Isso faz com que as lutas não sejam apenas trocas de golpes, existe sempre um peso emocional ou estratégico envolvido. Você acaba se importando com quem está lutando, e isso torna cada confronto mais tenso. As batalhas, aliás, são o coração da obra e são extremamente bem construídas. Existe um equilíbrio interessante: nem sempre o mais forte vence, e muitas lutas são decididas por estratégia, resistência ou até pura determinação. Isso mantém o torneio imprevisível, o que é essencial para manter o espectador envolvido. Um ponto que costuma dividir opiniões, mas que aqui funciona muito bem, é a animação em CGI. Netflix apostou em um estilo 3D que, diferente de muitos outros animes, é bem executado. Pode causar estranhamento no começo, mas rapidamente se torna natural, especialmente nas lutas, onde a fluidez e a coreografia são beneficiadas por esse tipo de animação. Sobre a comparação com Baki, ela faz sentido, mas as obras têm propostas um pouco diferentes. Enquanto Baki abraça o exagero quase absurdo em vários momentos, Kengan Ashura tende a manter um certo “pé no chão” dentro do possível, mesmo com suas bizarrices. Curiosamente, o fato de existir um crossover entre os universos só reforça o quanto eles são próximos em espírito. No fim das contas, Kengan Ashura é exatamente o que promete: um anime de luta direto, intenso e cheio de personalidade. Não tenta ser algo que não é e justamente por isso funciona tão bem. Se você gosta de combates bem coreografados, personagens marcantes e aquele clima constante de torneio onde tudo pode acontecer, essa obra entrega com folga. Recomendo muito. Nota final: 9/10.

You come into this kinda show expecting pretty crazy matches and fighters. It delivers on that front for sure, but it falters on other fronts. While I found the matches entertaining for the most part, it's pretty bogged down with fighting tropes and fight filler/flashbacks. I'm reviewing both parts in one review BTW. Starting with the characters, I enjoyed them for the most part. You've got a lot of tropes. Stoic protagonist with a troubled past, obsessed rival, mad doctor, and cop obsessed with "justice". There's some interesting stand outs as well though. I'd say for the most part, the characters are interesting enough, and meet the quota for this type of show. Plot wise it's a ridiculous tournament to facilitate the fighting. They have some side plots going on, but I would say the overall story is secondary to the fights. So what of the fights? For the most part, they are good. They for sure follow the trope of one character getting beaten to brink of death, only to finially figure out how to win and turn it around. Not all the fights, but a lot of them do follow this formula. It can sometimes be unpredictable who will win though. I would rate them a lot more highly, but in the second half of the show they spend a lot of time on flashbacks during the fights. They are more like moving slideshows actually, since they are animated so little. It could be seen as a stylistic choice, but it's for sure not something I want to see interrupting the fight. Honestly, without those I may have even upped the score a number and be able to fully recommend it. As it stands though, I enjoyed the show enough and will move on the season 2. If you are wanting more than just ridiculous fights, then you won't get much more here. Also, the flashbacks are quite annoying, so that could ruin it for some. I give Part 1 a 7, and Part 2 a 6.

Kengan Ashura featuring intense combat sequences and a diverse cast of fighters. The anime captures the essence of the manga's fight- till-you-drop ethos, with attention to detail in depicting martial arts techniques. The anime's strength lies in its character development, with protagonist "Tokita Ashura" Ohma's journey from a mysterious fighter to a deeper character. However, the anime's major flaw is the omission of several manga chapters, leaving fans wanting more. This omission is crucial to understanding the full scope of Kengan matches and the complex relationships between characters. Despite this, Kengan Ashura remains an exciting and visceral journey into the brutal world of underground fighting, making it a must-watch for fans of martial arts and combat sports.

Story- 7/10 The story is simple and interesting Kengan Ashura provides an interesting tale of bloodsport to fix business disputes among busiess tycoons. It's your usual high stakes fighting anime, but the animation is flawless and they do a decent job of fleshing out the characters. They aren't the mindless meat puppets that just fight to spill blood. The pacing is on par with the story that is being told. We see a number of matches being fought and also a decent exposition of the plot, without it feeling rushed. Art- 6/10 The art style in the anime is truly is something that many hate as they use 3D models which a lot of people don't like, but it's good enough as far as I'm concerned. It isn't the smoothest thing, but it gets the job done just fine. What I really liked about the animation is the fact that they got most of the martial arts moves right and captured their essence pretty well. They showed combat where it was time to show combat. This is in contrast to Baki where combat is mostly just one-sided beatdowns. This anime actually shows the struggle behind combat and even the most overpowered character in the anime actually has to fight instead of just walking up to a guy and crushing them like a can of soda. People are all human in this anime complete with their weaknesses which are accurate from a martial arts perspective albeit dramatised. The violence is also pretty exciting and how it actually is when it comes to martial arts instead of the cult-like Baki violence full of shock content. The violence in this anime can get brutal and there are deaths and severe injuries as well, but they're few and not focused upon too much. They're more like the natural course of events in a fight to the death. All in all, I'd say that the animations in this anime are quite accurate, exciting, and enjoyable. Character- 8/10 The characters in this anime are another story entirely. It is full of people with amazing physiques to start off. Even the extras look simply scrumptious, the characters do have their own backstories to them which do have humane content to them. Some of them make mistakes or go adrift from their paths, others are simply born evil, there are those who have great ambitions, then there are those who fight for the sake of others, and finally, there are those who want to prove a point to themselves and to the world. At a few points, it feels like they're just spamming you with character backgrounds to increase air time without having to animate a whole lot, especially since the backstories are often just still frames with sounds. But it all works out in the end. The anime also has a pattern of giving you backstories to certain characters just to make them lose in the end, probably to stoke your empathy on the broken hopes and dreams. Apart from that, even the secondary characters have quite some content to them than simply existing. In contrast to Baki the Grappler, there is much more by the way of content as far as characters are concerned. In fact, the characters and their struggles in the fights and the changing tide of the fight itself is pretty much what adds to the excitement of the Anime. Overall- 8/10 I would definitely recommend this if you enjoy mixed martial arts anime or if you like watching weirdly powerful characters fight to the death It simply portrays the elements to martial arts and combat quite accurately and the only other anime I've seen which does it better would be Hajime no Ippo.

i rarely write any reviews , but if im writing now that means this show was awesome . tbh i was actually not sure if this was good . oh boy was i wrong . whoever is complaining about the show just because of the cgi then they need to see this from a different perspective . infact i thought the cgi went really well with the fight scenes . art style - 10/10 the art style was amazing in this show , the detail-ness even for a scene that was less important was amazing to watch . infact the art style contributes majorly to the fights . animation - 8/10 now this is where many people bash the show for using cgi . i thought as many were complaining about the cgi this would be a total letdown but expect for the first episode i dont feel like i was letdown by any scenes in the anime . infact i came to a conclusion that the fight scenes were way better with the cgi story - 9/10 the story was amazing . if you love hand-to-hand combat then i cant find any reason not to watch . if you have seen baki series , kenichi the mightiest disciple you would love this . compared to baki and kenichi the fights are bit realistic in this . different martial arts like JKD , JIUJITSU , MMA , WRESTLING , JAPANESE MARTIAL ARTS are used in this . the fight scenes are candies to the eye . the fights are sometimes predictable but that wont stop you from enjoying it . characters - 9/10 characters from all over the world represent themselves in show , that is what makes this "fighting" anime amazing to watch . as there are fighters from all over the world you get to see different forms of martial arts . all characters are unique in their own way sound - 10/10 the sound effects were amazing . one of the best op and ed i have seen . the fight sounds complimented really well for the action making it complete enjoyment - 10/10 i show dont binge shows if i dont find it enjoyable , i binged this show in 2 days . is there any need to say more overall - 9/10 this show was pleasing to the eye . the fight scenes were smooth and amazing

Caprico Honest Mediocre Review. Specimen: Kangan Ashura Studio: Larx Entertainment (Anime Only) The series relies on the use of computer-generated animation the majority of the time while still using some of the traditional hand-drawn animation although on a less frequent scale and for art. At first, it starts choppy not to mention reuse of the same animation. However, as you continue to watch the series you see improvement in the company animation so. As for the general series, it's a show with some flaws which can be improved. One is not the biggest flaw of the series is the use of exposition. In every episode, there is always a major abundance of exposition either used by the characters themselves for other characters or the story to help the audience better understand what's going on rather than allowing them to figure it out themselves. Another area where he needs some improvement is its characters. Some characters don't seem that very interesting. This is caused mostly by the character's motives. The primary motive for the most interesting characters which are the competitors is common to be the strongest and their reason behind. Yet the majority fall under either being the pitiful, noble, or questionable. Finally, my last area of improvement for the show is the constant rising of tension. It's appropriate for a competition to have a rise in tension with the adrenaline, emotions, and stakes coming into play; especially when it involves money and business However in this series, the tension is hindered. If you take into account the mere exposure effect which implies you are exposed to something constantly then eventually you mentally and physically become used to it and is no longer stimulating and powerful enough as it used to be when you were first exposed to it. That is where the series is hurt because of its constant rise of tension with a new bad guy or a dramatic revelation in the middle of the fight. Because the tension is always rising it just doesn't excite you anymore and thus you rely on something else to enjoy as the series continues. Luckily those issues do improve as the show continues but they're still there so it's a good show to see especially if you're a fan of martial arts; as there is plenty of violence and hand to hand combat. For the conclusion of my review, I give this series a 7.5/10 due to its entertainment. But if you do enjoy seeing a bunch of steroid freaks, brutally smashing and kicking the ever-loving shit out of each other with nothing but their skills, ripped body and strength then this shows is right for you.

When I first came across Kengan Ashura on Netflix, I saw the trailer and wasn't interested in watching it due to the CGI. After watching Baki on Netflix which I hated (you can find my review on MAL). I didn't feel like wasting more time on a senseless and violent action anime. It was later recommended by an anime YouTuber that I feel has good recommendations and I have mutual interests with, so I decided to give it a shot. The CGI was a bit of a downfall but not as low as I thought it would be. The CGI rigs seemed to help the animators with the action sequences. The white powder puff of smoke with each hit seemed and the exaggerated reaction of the fighters for attacks was cheesy in 3D. Would I rather prefer it to be in traditional anime style? Absolutely, the reaction shots of the side characters during the fights are traditional animation and they look really good. The show does possess the aptitude to do great animation, as they showcase in the flashback and exposition scenes of characters that have different animation styles and are done very well. I just feel that in regards to action anime, traditional animation just feels right and the impact of every attack is almost tangible. The show is based on a practice held for hundreds of years known as the Kengan Tournament, where big corporation find a fighter to champion their company and go up against others champions, where they battle over business disputes or for exclusive rights to do business in certain areas, wager their entire company, net worth, etc, on top of which the representative of the companies can have personal wagers against each other like stocks and so on. The story then leads to senseless and brutal violence but, the simple premise coupled with likable characters in Kazuo Yamashita, Lihito, etc is able to hold the series together and make it watchable. Kengan Ashura does overuse a lot of action anime tropes and not the good ones, like the crazy guys who fight to kill because they just do, the crazy fighter chicks who are interested in mating with the main character. It manages to still be funny and the characters are memorable, although that might be due to Ohma calling everyone by their full name. The show alludes to the main characters having some character development in-store. They are interesting enough to get invested in. Final verdict, Kengan Ashura is just a big dump of action anime tropes made with bearable CGI but, has enough energy and heart to not only be watched but enjoyed.

First the stuff i didn't like-This has to have some of the worst writing and characters. It was really damn cringe .In episode 4 some creeper comes out and says something like " I can't wait to get over beating you so i can spill my seed". And the characters just all said generic tropy shit like they all knew they were trying out for a movie. The fighting was actually pretty good. I just don't like 3-d. it doesn't look aesthetically pleasing to me. EVERY damn thing has to be explained to you like you are an idiot. It was as bad as in Inuyasha when every one saw the 1000th wind scar. Except here they explain about breathing, why you need to do it to stay up, pro wrestling superiority, and the basics of human movement. As for how the characters looked. For a 3-d animation i thought they actually looked pretty good. Some looked really goofy but for the most part... yeah good job. The fighting and choreography was really good. I was kind of disappointed that the story and dialogue was so bad. The music i thought had some of the best opening and outro OST. Even the the fight music was pretty good. Sometimes though it would play sad music during a scene that seemed comedic and stupid to me so i would be confused how i was supposed to feel. If you asked how to rate this on just fighting and music id say 6.5. if you asked me to rate it on character dialogue and story id say a 3. It was just hard to watch when it wasn't the main man on screen. ( What was with fight against Rick Sanchez's long lost son at the beginning? AHHAHHHa that shit had me rolling. "my pinch strength separates me from humanity!"

The animation of Kengan Ashura has something peculiar about it. The creators opted to switch between 2D animation and CG during fight scenes. However, this description is misleading because in most dialogue scenes, they still use the CG animation. I would have preferred if they had chosen one or the other. Nevertheless, the CG animation during fight scenes made them appear more realistic, and for the crazy moves they wanted to showcase, it was the best option. Not only due to the budget but also for the viewer, as it made the movement of the fight more visible. In 2D animation, the action is usually too fast, and the frames can look distorted. This can result in less impact on each hit. While I still prefer 2D animation if done correctly, I appreciated the style chosen for Kengan Ashura. In comparison to recent seasons of Baki, which don't use CG animation as often, Kengan Ashura's fight scenes had more movement on each hit. Another significant factor that makes the fight scenes smoother and more satisfying is that you can actually see the dodges and punches that connect, something that is often lost with 2D animation because it is so quick.

This series hasn't taken any big swings yet, but it's a fun ride complimented by some excellent CGI animation to really make its fight scenes pop. I don't think the visuals work as well when they're not in motion, and some of the character designs look better in 2D, but I can't argue with their choice to go this way for the anime. It just makes it stronger. That being said, there's not a whole lot of buy-in to the characters yet, and though the tournament is moving by quickly (an improvement over many of similar anime like Baki, IMO, as is the wide diversity of fighters and styles on display), the gravity of the whole thing still feels light beyond the basic "who will survive?" element, since we're not very clear on what leadership of the Kengan Association actually entails or why it's so essential for so many. Still, for a series that goes full steam ahead, it knows what it's doing and much of that can wait.

*This review is for Parts 1 & 2 Kengan Ashura is a very interesting show. Often overshadowed by its fellow Netflix ONA, Baki, it is not given nearly the amount of recognition it deserves. I've also always felt like a lot of people are on the fence about watching this show, so to those of you wondering whether or not to watch it, I come with a review to sate your curiosity!! Visuals: One big turn off for a lot of people is the CGI used in this show, but if I'm being honest... It was actually kind of good??? Now, don't get me wrong, I will always prefer hand-drawn animation to CGI when it comes to animation, but the CGI used in this show, in my opinion, is leagues better than the absolute crap that is used in shows like Berserk (2016). Plus, a lot of the times the CGI actually made the fight scenes look better. It also helped that I really liked the art style of the show as well, because while it was nothing too amazing, it was still pretty nice to look at. Story: The story, while nothing too unique or new, was still pretty compelling to me, and I actually felt motivated enough after finishing the anime to go read the manga. It's your typical setup for a tournament arc, except with a slight twist. I don't really have much else to say story-wise concerning this show. Music: The one metric that everyone seems to judge anime OSTs by is if they have at least one song good enough for you to choose to listen to outside of the show, and unfortunately, Kengan Ashura's OST does not. The opening is alright at best, and mediocre at worst, and I didn't even bother listening to the ending. But the OST isn't really that bad, even if I may be making it sound that way, it's just mediocre. Characters: The characters are all likeable enough, but I wouldn't expect a ton of character development for the side characters, because the anime does cut a few corners when it comes to adapting the manga. One of the high points of the show, however, is the characters interacting with each other. The way all the characters bounce off of each other can lead to both some hilarious and some epic moments. Final Thoughts: While this show does not have the same mass appeal of Baki, I still enjoyed it quite a bit, and I highly recommend you go check it out. While not a great anime, it was certainly a decent one I enjoyed mightily, and you may too. And to anyone who didn't like the show, I recommend reading the manga, because many consider it to be one of the best martial arts manga out there. Final Score: 6 (Bordering On 7)

Watching Kengan Ashura right after having watched Baki was definitely a mistake. I thought both shows were in the same vein, turned out I was wrong. Kengan Ashura approaches the world of underground fights in a very different manner and hearing people comparing the two shows at this point does nothing but cringe my brains out my nostrils, very graphic yes, but not as surprisingly graphic as Kengan Ashura was. We first get introduced to Ohma, a very silent and unfriendly dude, fueled with excitement over every opportunity to throw hands he gets, as we get more familiar with his strange attitude, we slowly unravel more about his past, un-cohesive fragments that let us peek closely at what sort of man he really is. On the other side of the coin, there is Yamashita Kazou, an old Japanese salaryman, so fed up with his life, the non-ending bills and debt is catching up to his last nerves, with no way out, he gets involved in this gruesome underworld fighting scene with a promise for a better and more stable life. What really put Kengan Ashura above Baki narratively was the plot itself, there is a lot of politics to what seems like just a sublime fist fight. Global corporations are at stake and influence is constantly shaping up to be the decider of fates here. It throws itself under a curve ball but comes off as a full-powered continental crossing canon shot, full of promise and rights to come. Looking at this first season alone, not much can be praised, but it's one of that stories that lays itself a strong foundation and builds upon it in time. So many intriguing characters make their debut and a lot of rivalries are set up from the get-go. Overall: 7.3/10.

After discovering the anime through it's opening "KING AND ASHLEY" by My First Story, I gave it a shot and it did not disappoint. The story simplistic, yet great takes a unique stance on Japan and its societal aspects as well as doing a great job on maintaining realism while adding some elements of fiction such as implementing realistic scenarios in their fights while hyperbolizing a few techniques, fighting styles, and adding unique abilities to a handful of characters. The art is pretty bad as it utilizes cgi, but not to the extent of berserk 2018 is palpable, shifting between 2d to cgi. The soundtrack is great, using music from various artists with a variety of rock music and pop though I only liked a few songs. The characters are great as each of them gets their backstory and gives us a reason why they fight though, they take good chunks of episode time when they fight. They also receive great character development as the story progresses especially Ohma and Cosmo as they become better characters when they find stronger reasons to fight than just win and become the strongest. Overall, It was a great show but after reading the manga, I find it hard to look back and rewatch the series when there's a noticeable difference when the overall stories , art, and characters between the original and adaptation when the adaptation omits certain characters and have worse art than the manga

I don't know why I enjoy this anime so much but I just do. The 3D is weird at first but when you get into the action it really shines and makes it just feel better. I have no idea why but I actually care about each side character and the fights are exciting between the different characters. So far, it seems like the story is lacking but the fights make it worth it. I also like that they don't have powers but instead have been honing their bodies for years for a certain "power" kinda hard to explain but you'll see. If you want an anime to occasionally watch I think you should give kengan ashura a shot.

Big guys and awesome fights. What more can you want. The fight scenes are interesting, not always fast and not always slow. This anime does a good job at pacing itself. The back stories of each fighter can be a bit much but it does draw out more of a understanding of why they are here. This can give us as viewers more reason to invest in some of the fighters even if they lose. The multiple and unique styles so many characters have is a wonderful addition. This really gives this martial art/action anime its flare. The story is interesting, brings the reason why the fighters gather even if its feels a bit forced. This anime receives a thumbs up for me. And on to S2 I go.