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In other sports shows, where it revolves around a sport that requires a team of multiple people, you often have focus that shifts frequently throughout the show to compensate for its broad cast of characters. Contrarily, boxing is a solo sport with only two players at a time. With this, there's more time set aside for the thoughts and feelings of each character, during and prior to each match.

First, of course, we have the protagonist, Ippo Makunouchi. The series starts off showcasing his life and we get to see what he does with his free time. We see how he's lived his whole ... life and it's immediately obvious why Ippo is the way he is. He's been without a father-figure in his life for a very long time, which is known to result in a more depressed person with lower self-esteem. He also has to help his mom out with the family business everyday, which would result in having no time for friends and no time for fun. It makes sense why he acts the way he does and will continue to do so.

What's unique is that we're communicated all of this before seeing even a frame of boxing. For contrast, look at Haikyuu. The opening scene after the OP is Hinata immediately getting inspired by a volleyball match on TV. While I appreciate Haikyuu's speed in immediately getting right into what the show revolves around, Ippo's set-up is essential for a transformation that you can observe and take pride in. The dynamic in Ippo's character extends past simply becoming happier and more passionate. Passionate is an intriguing character trait, but watching a character grow into that passion state, from a considerably weaker and broken condition, is much more satisfying and immersive.

Just prior to the boxing catalyst, we witness Ippo getting brutally and unjustly smacked around by some gang guys. His submissive reactions instill deep frustration within me and many others. I want him to fight back, but as previously explained, this would be unexplainable for what's been established so far for the character. So now we're given extra motivation to see his transformation into a benevolent badass who's untouchable by mere assholes. At that moment, this show's Saitama, Takamura, shows up and saves Ippo with ease, effectively starting the fabled transformation.

Ippo wakes up in a gym, where Takamura tends to his wounds and coaxes him into letting loose by punching a sandbag with one of the gang member's faces on it. After brief direction from the coach on how to properly execute a punch, Ippo shows his overwhelming talent by pulling it off first try and with SERIOUS power. For real, he basically disintegrates the piece of paper, sends the sandbag to the ceiling, and draws BLOOD from his knuckles. His apparent talent coupled with his jovial reaction makes it obvious that his transformation will be promptly, passionate, and impactful.

From here on out, I rarely lost excitement for the show. The training before matches showcases Ippo undergoing new, fun training methods designed to combat the upcoming opponent's specific skills or technique. During these training segments, we usually get a better sense of our opponent's character, due to changing points of views to either the opponent himself or an inquisitive 3rd party, or having direct confrontations with Ippo prior to their match. Come the match itself, the adversary is further fleshed out as we get to hear his thoughts and see his reactions, until, eventually, a moment emerges wherein Ippo successfully overwhelms his opponent with his spirit and what he learned during training. It's a gratifying set-up that's frequently repeated for climactic face-offs.

As you can tell, the inner workings of Hajime no Ippo are not very complex, but still breathe beauty thanks to competent directing, immersive sound design, and fluid fight animation. Additionally, this show is funny as fuck. To me, there's nothing that more easily spells a good time than a show that can consistently make me laugh, and Hajime no Ippo would be in my top 3 favorite anime, if it were in terms of comedic prowess. I have a good example in the next paragraph, so skip it if you care about staying unspoiled for that kind of thing.

I don't want to try eloquently explaining a joke, so I just decided to record me describing it out loud, then wrote out the transcript:
"So basically, right before one of Ippo's matches with Sendo, he's like spectating one of Sendo's match prior to their own and Sendo gives him the mic at the end because he wants him to say something. Ya know, he wants him to rouse up the crowd, but Ippo was not prepared for this and he doesn't know what to do and he's like, apologizing and being polite 'cause that's just what he does, and the crowd's just ruthlessly booing him and telling him to shut the fuck up and say something meaningful, so then Ippo's like, 'ahh my birthday's 3 days after the match-' and everyone's like, 'SHUT THE FUCK UP WHO GIVES A FUCK,' so he shakily rebuttals with, 'so I'd like to win the match and spend my birthday in the best of moods...,' then the crowd goes silent, but soon fills with really comforting roars of hype and support."

"Well said, Makunouchi!"


~ SPOILER WARNING FOR THE FINALE ~

One thing the show does questionably, is during the season finale climactic rematch with Sendo. At some point during the battle, Ippo frustratingly reverts back to a wimp with no confidence. Despite him already proving to himself nearly a dozen times that he's capable of defeating seemingly unstoppable opponents, and once already that he's capable of defeating Sendo, specifically. I honestly can't think of a reason for this temporary development, other than that the mangaka needed something to put the audience on edge.

When all is said and done, Hajime no Ippo is a deeply entertaining show with an endless cycle of fresh ideas, fun antagonists, and uproarious antics, all bolstered by competent staff who know how to instill feelings in the viewer. Additionally, it has inspired me to be a healthy boy and work towards even a fraction of the physical beauty the characters portray.

Give it a go, people. A rolling go!

9/10

Damn, that was damn good. Despite being a show about cards 'n' shit, it's damn intense. There's suspense in just about every match and it's awesome when you're shown all the different angles and factors of karuta, the game in question of this "sports anime".

The characters are awesome. Taichi's my personal favorite. He's a total ass in the first episode and afterwards becomes the sweetest guy in the series. Despite him being good-looking and good at everything, he's a self-proclaimed coward with a crush on the main character, Chihaya. I hear some people give Chihaya shit for being annoying, but she's not. I find her ... to be the most endearing of the entire cast. She's the one who most strongly pushes forward the theme of growing stronger, which is one of my favorite themes in anime. The progression of strength really makes you feel proud of what she and the other characters have worked hard at to perfect.

There's also Ooe, Nishida, and Desk-kun. All of which have moments that made me admire them, but other that, not too interesting or worth the screen time. There is, however, Arata and Shinobu, the "antagonist" and the antagonist.

Arata was childhood friends with Taichi and Chihaya and came to fall deeply in love with the group they had formed, but had to leave soon after solidifying their bonds. After several years, they see each other again, but this time he acts as more of a mysterious obstacle, for both Chihaya and Taichi in different ways. Chihaya wants to overcome his power in karuta and Taichi wants to overcome the emotional hold he has on Chihaya. We got some sad love triangle stuff going on.

Shinobu is a beautiful girl who dominates in karuta, which is why she's given the title of Queen, the strongest female player. She's a lonely girl, who spends all her time perfecting her art and growing stronger. A child who grew up isolated, as she was made to be good at karuta, so no friends... This is where you can sympathize with her, which makes her a good antagonist in my book.

The art is very nice, but did take me an episode or two to get used to. It reminds me of Your Lie in April's art style, where actual lips are drawn on certain characters.
Oh, and the OP is amazing.

Basically, it's a good-ass show and should be viewed.