Baki is not for the faint-hearted. The anime is nothing but violent fights followed by build-ups to the next fight. Depending on personal preferences, some might find the animation grotesque, but if you love violent action sprinkled with a pinch of absurdity, Baki is the ideal anime for you.
Baki has six seasons in total. The first two seasons were released in 2001 and come under the series ‘Baki the Grappler.’ The next parts are released by Netflix and have been divided into ‘Baki’ and ‘Baki Hanma: Son of Ogre,’ which have two seasons each. All of these belong to the same franchise and follow the same protagonist.
The original Baki manga is divided into six parts so far. The first three sagas have been adapted into three anime, with a total of six seasons.
1. How To Watch Baki In Order?
The recommended way to watch Baki in order is by following the chronological order:
- Baki the Grappler Season 1: Kid Saga/Underground Arena Saga (2001)
- Baki the Grappler Season 2: Maximum Tournament Saga (2001)
- Baki The Grappler: The Ultimate Fighter (1994 OVA)
- Baki: Most Evil Death Row Convicts (2016 Special)
- Baki Season 1: Most Evil Death Row Convicts Saga (2018)
- Baki Season 2: Great Chinese Challenge Saga/Godlike Clash of the Kids Saga (2020)
- Baki Hanma: Son of Ogre (2021)
- Baki Hanma Season 2 Part 1: Pickle Wars Saga (2023)
- Baki Hanma Season 2 Part 2: The Father VS Son Saga (2023)
The Baki anime began with a 1994 OVA, which led to the creation of the first two Baki The Grappler seasons in 2001. Later, Netflix picked up the Baki anime and began adapting the story from the Most Evil Death Row Convicts Saga. Watching the anime according to its release order is also viable.
2. Baki Release Order
- Baki The Grappler: The Ultimate Fighter (1994 OVA)
- Baki the Grappler Season 1: Kid Saga/Underground Arena Saga (2001)
- Baki the Grappler Season 2: Maximum Tournament Saga (2001)
- Baki: Most Evil Death Row Convicts (2016 Special)
- Baki Season 1: Most Evil Death Row Convicts Saga (2018)
- Baki Season 2: Great Chinese Challenge Saga/Godlike Clash of the Kids Saga (2020)
- Baki Hanma: Son of Ogre (2021)
- Baki Hanma Season 2 Part 1: Pickle Wars Saga (2023)
- Baki Hanma Season 2 Part 2: The Father VS Son Saga (2023)
3. Can you watch Baki Netflix (2018) without watching Baki the Grappler?
Netflix’s Baki (2018) is the third season in the overall franchise as it picks up after the events of the 2001 series. Since the plot is loosely connected, it won’t be a problem if you skip the older Baki.
With that being said, if you’re a fan of vintage anime, Baki the Grappler (2001) is highly recommended. Netflix begins adapting the story from the sequel series to the first manga, so the story is self sufficient.
4. Where to Watch Baki?
Baki is a Netflix-exclusive anime, so Netflix streams it with English subs and dubs. Netflix also lets you download series, so you can easily watch the anime offline. The anime is available to stream worldwide.
If Baki isn’t available on any streaming website in your area, then you can use a VPN to bypass the geo-block. Some of the top VPN service providers in the game are ExpressVPN, Nord VPN, Proton VPN, Cyberghost, and Private Internet Access, to name a few.
5. How much time will it take to complete Baki?
It will take around 76 hours and 45 minutes or more than three days to complete the Baki series if you watch it with no break in between. The time includes the anime seasons, OVA and special episode.
The individual runtime of the installments are as follows:
- Baki the Grappler: Season 1 (24 episodes of 25 mins each)
- Baki the Grappler: Season 2: (24 episodes of 24 mins each)
- Baki Season 1 (26 episodes of 24 mins each)
- Baki Season 2: (13 episodes of 24mins each)
- Baki Hanma: The Son of Ogre (2021) (12 episodes of 24 mins each)
- Baki Hanma Season 2 Part 1: Pickle Wars Saga (2023) (13 episodes of 25 mins each)
- Baki Hanma Season 2 Part 2: The Father VS Son Saga (2023) (14 episodes of 25 mins each)
- Baki The Grappler: The Ultimate Fighter (1994) (45 mins)
- Baki: Most Evil Death Row Convicts Special Anime (2016) (15 mins)
6. Conclusion
Skipping the first two installments in Baki will not affect the plot of the 2018 series. However, if you have time and love vintage anime, do not skip them.
The OVAs can be watched after completing the Baki season 2 (2001) and can be skipped if you’re planning to watch the 2018 Netflix anime from the get-go.
The first two Baki seasons produced in 2001 adapt the ‘Baki the Grappler’ manga that ran from 1991 to 1999. Netflix adapted the next two parts of the manga titled ‘Baki’ and ‘Baki Hanma’ into four seasons.
7. About Baki
Grappler Baki known as Baki the Grappler in North America, is a manga series written and illustrated by Keisuke Itagaki. It was originally serialized in Weekly Shōnen Champion, and collected into 42 tankōbon volumes by Akita Shoten.
The story follows teenager Baki Hanma as he trains and tests his fighting skills against a variety of different opponents in deadly, no rules hand-to-hand combat.
He spends every waking moment training and fighting so that he may someday surpass the fighting abilities of the strongest being on Earth – his father Yuujiro Hanma, a cruel man who lives only to fight and hurt people.
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