Search - Fighting Spirit: Complete Collection Part 1 on DVD

Simply the best

Sebastian Fernandez | Tampa, Florida United States | 11/17/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This anime is based on a simple concept, Ippo Makunouchi is a high school student who gets bullied all the time and when he finds boxing his world is turned upside down. Ippo puts such dedication in first being accepted to the gym, and then developing his skills as a boxer, that the story has to be labeled as inspiring. But even though that story on paper is straightforward and maybe even a little cliché, there are many elements that make this product something special.

I really like the way in which Morikawa (the creator of the manga) crafted the character of Ippo, since he is extremely polite, respects his opponents, is always humble and does not seek revenge. Another big plus for this series is the humor, in which Takamura plays a big role. This boxer, who is aiming to get the world title, is the one that "discovered" Ippo's talent, and he is the perfect antidote for dullness. His pranks are outstanding, and always end up with Ippo in an awkward situation.

At times, there is a slight hint of the story getting repetitive. As you can imagine, following the story of an underdog for forty episodes, as he climbs his way through the ranks may get a little old. However, the particularities of each opponent, and the fact that we get to know a little bit about their lives and what drives them to fight, keep the interest level high. The fact that even those characters that look evil, have redeeming qualities and attitudes that are understandable, makes this anime even better. Finally, there is an element of romance that lightens the mood when needed.

Through the episodes, viewers will get to know all the wonderful characters in the series and look forward to their reappearance. Each of these have a very special story, and some take a pretty prominent role, like Miyata, a talented boxer admired by Ippo, but who is also one of his biggest rivals. You will also get to see a myriad of special weapons, like the counter, the smash, the flicker jab, and the shotgun.

The series counts with crisp and detailed graphics and the action scenes are animated in a special and creative way. The use of distorted faces in relation to humorous and romantic scenes, also works very well. On a different note, the music used in the beginning and ending credits is outstanding. Finally, I liked the way in which in the last two episodes of this set, the focus of the story changed a little from Ippo to another character, because it leaves us wondering what will come next. Anyone looking for a sport's anime should start here; the only problem is that it will set the bar too high for any other anime in the future. Trust me, I talk from experience."

Excellent anime, but watch out for very occasional non-child

NewReview | 05/10/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Got to be one of the top 5 animes ever made. I include Full Metal Alchemist, Last Exile, and Cowboy Bebop in that list btw. It's a exciting, interesting journey with a young, unassertive teen who learns to love boxing - not so he can beat up people, but for its own sake. As the series progresses, it actually teaches boxing- you learn it along with our hero.
The story of his journey up the boxing ladder is really well done- every character has good depth and believability. The fight animation is always good, with a couple of occasional dips to save the budget. But they always put in the real quality wherever they can - very well done imho.

The only thing to watch out for is some male locker-room horseplay and some high-teen-level pranks and adult references - for instance, one of the more outgoing characters enjoys embarrassing him in rude ways, one time even pantsing him in front of women.

All in all, a seriously great series from the some of the prime people who brought you the Trigun series. The music is from the same people, and it's even better imho.

p.s. I can't comment on the English dubbing, but the Japanese voice casting is superb - every character is perfect."