“You have to be conscious to change it up”: Keisuke Itagaki Found His Inspiration for Baki Hanma in One of the Best Sports Manga Ever
The Baki Hanma manga franchise has sold approximately over 100 million copies and is the reason for the notoriety of Keisuke Itagaki in the anime industry. The 67-year-old has become one of the most iconic faces due to his success with his manga. The Baki Hanma franchise arguably has one of the most thrilling hand-to-hand combat scenes in anime, and the popularity of the series has just skyrocketed over the past few years.
Now, the Baki Hanma franchise will be making a crossover anime on Netflix with Kengan Ashura, which will be released in June 2024, which fans are impatiently waiting for. However, the writer of the popular fighting manga has made a shocking revelation, claiming to have found inspiration from a similar genre.
Keisuke Itagaki recalls where he found the inspiration for Baki Hanma
Over three decades, Keisuke Itagaki managed to captivate fans with his impressive storytelling and incredible art and fight scenes. During a weekly Shonen Jump magazine released back in 2021, Itagaki gave an interview where he talked about where he got the inspiration for his popular anime.
Keisuke Itaki during the Weekly Shonen Jump interview, revealed that he took inspiration for the Baki Hanma franchise from the highly popular boxing manga and anime from the 1970’s, Ashita no Joe. Finding inspiration from the action scenes from the boxing anime, Itagaki is sent on a mission to thoroughly study the boxing scenes from a match in Ashita no Joe.
In the interview, he stated, (Translated by Dylan & Harley Acres) “I heard that from the mouth of Koike-san himself. Because it’s boxing there are certain scenes that always get around, but I always draw a scene where two people are switched from a distant shot to a long view, kind of like this. Then you open the window and pull it back again. You have to be conscious to change it up though.”
Itaki’s hard work and dedication allowed him to become one of the greatest action mangas on the market. However, given that it might not have even been possible without Asao Takamori and Tetsuya Chiba’s boxing anime, Ashita no Joe. But what is Ashita no Joe all about?
What to expect from Ashita no Joe
Asao Takamori and Tetsuya Chiba’s Ashita no Joe revolves around a sturdy young kid, Joe Yabuki living a tough life on the streets. He’s got a chip on his shoulder and a whole lot of anger, but a chance encounter with a down-on-his-luck boxing trainer named Danpei Tange changes his trajectory of life.
Ashita no Joe not only dives deep into the human spirit, but also speaks volumes on the hunger for something better, the fight for survival, and the price of chasing a dream. Yabuki’s journey is brutal, filled with victories and devastating losses. In some instances, it even makes viewers question his choices, cheer for his triumphs, and feel the sting of his defeats.
If you are a fan of anime and manga that revolves around fights and spectacular storytelling like Hajime no Ippo, Baki Hanma and Kengen Ashura, Ashita no Joe is an anime you should definitely not miss.
You can stream Baki Hanma on Netflix.
