Anime Producer Kei Watabiki and Manga Editor Yuki Yokoi Talk 35 Years of ‘Baki’

In 1991, Keisuke Itagaki’s fists-to-cuffs manga “Baki the Grappler” released, followed by five sequels, all aiming to unpack the philosophy of strength and what it means to be the best fighter, in life and in the ring.

The original 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. Over the last 35 years, in addition to a series of games and stage plays, the Baki story has received four anime adaptations, including the latest Baki-Dou: The Invincible Samurai. The series joins Baki and Baki Hanma on Netflix streaming and is developed by TMS Entertainment, the studio behind anime like Sakamoto Days, Dr. Stone, and Blue Box. 

Following the conclusion of the legendary battle against his father, Yujiro Hanma, Baki and his fellow fighters feel restless and uninspired, wondering if there are any new, powerful opponents left to face. Their prayers are answered when a group of scientists successfully resurrects a clone of Japan’s greatest swordsman from the Edo period: Musashi Miyamoto. Baki and other warriors like Doppo Orochi, Jack Hanma, and Kaoru Hanayama prepare their return to the arena to prove their brawn in a series of battles that transcends time and space. 

Along with the latest anime adaptation and Kodama Tales’ “Baki the Grappler Perfect Edition” manga breathing new life into one of the best-selling manga series of all time (over 100 million copies in circulation), Itagaki shared a brand-new 35th anniversary illustration and a special commemorative animation featuring the original theme song “BAKI MENTAL” by POCYOMKIN, RUDEBWOY FACE, and TAKE-M released in celebration. And it’s only the first wave of projects celebrating 35 years of Baki, with more to be revealed throughout 2026.

AWN wanted to help commemorate the milestone of this venerable fighter franchise by interviewing the producer of Baki-Dou, Kei Watabiki, and “Baki” manga editor, Yuki Yokoi about the story’s history, genre-defying visuals, animation challenges and anniversary hype. 

Victoria Davis: What was your first introduction to “Baki?” And what do you think got readers interested in the first place and kept their interest for over three decades?

Kei Watabiki: It was “Baki the Grappler” comic volumes I found in the waiting area of a barbershop near where I lived when I was in high school. I got completely drawn in and remember reading every volume they had on the spot. I always went to the same shop for haircuts and, strangely enough, each time I would start over from Volume 1 and find it just as impactful as the first time.

I believe what makes Baki so compelling is that it tackles head-on the pure curiosity that everyone shares: "Who is the strongest?" and "How strong can a human being become?" And what further elevates this is the incredibly unique way each character's distinct personality is established. When I first got involved as an anime producer with Baki’s "Most Evil Death Row Convicts Saga", the show was quite far removed from the popular anime trends at the time, so I honestly had some uncertainty about how broad an audience we could reach. At the same time, I was convinced that this was an undeniably compelling manga, so I also had a strange sense of confidence.

Yuki Yokoi: As it is said in “Baki the Grappler,” “Anyone who is born as a boy will once dream of being the strongest,” and it was merely impossible for any school-aged boy to live without coming across “Baki” at some point while growing up in Japan. I was no exception. The manga was lined up in a room when I was in middle school, and I picked one up. As I dove into the pages, I could have never imagined that I would one day be working on this title. The idea of "strength" that every boy looks up to is probably the reason why so many readers have been drawn to it for so long. 

I also believe what draws viewers in is the appeal of the characters.

VD: The creators have also said that the “interesting characters” are a big part of the story’s appeal. Tell me about what you think makes these characters so interesting and admirable to fans?

KW: What makes “Baki”’s characters so compelling, I think, is that they aren't simply designed to be "strong characters." Each one carries their own unique values and aesthetics regarding what "strength" means to them. They all have intensely distinct personalities, genuine edge, and their ways of thinking are pushed to such extremes that they command a presence even in scenes where they aren't fighting. Musashi Miyamoto brings with him a sense of life and death completely removed from modern values, while characters like Izo Motobe confront him with the conviction of "protecting" their comrades. Rather than a straightforward contest of strength, I think the real appeal lies in seeing each character's distinct "philosophy of strength.”

There's this power that makes you wonder, "What are they going to show us next?" The visual impact and the force of their words are certainly part of their charm, but I think it's the intensity of how each character lives and what they're obsessed with that makes them truly memorable. On a personal note, my favorite character is Katsumi Orochi. He's probably the closest to an ordinary person in the “Baki” universe — someone who blossomed through sheer effort and grew through hard work — so maybe that's why I feel a sense of connection to him.

YY: I think it comes down to Itagaki-sensei's philosophy of character portrayal. When creating characters, he imagines the kind of person where you'd think, "You know people like this around you too, right? What would happen if you put this person and that person together?" For example, if there were someone who was just doing a handstand non-stop, wouldn't you want to tell someone about it? You'd find yourself wondering, "What's their purpose? Is it out of religious devotion? Or just to get some exercise?" At the very least, you can tell this is an extraordinary person with some kind of intense purpose. If that extraordinariness is there, the character stands on its own. Once the character stands, a story naturally follows.

VD: Yokoi-san, do you think “Baki” redefined what heroic character design and action could look like in a manga? 

YY: I think it was groundbreaking that every character had a human story behind them. As Itagaki-sensei himself puts it when he describes himself as a "character craftsman," he is extremely particular about making each character stand on their own, so even characters who lose quickly have something "extraordinary" about them. 

When the series first began serialization, mixed martial arts had not yet become the cultural phenomenon it is today, so there was a definite possibility of it remaining a cult classic. However, the appeal of each character was overwhelmingly strong, and allowed it to become known as a manga that depicts "strength" rather than just a manga about mixed martial arts.

In terms of action expression, I think what greatly sets it apart from other works is the "catharsis of release" that Yujiro himself speaks about within the series. The way the body twists dramatically like a wind-up before an attack, making the viewer feel a degree of restraint, so that when the blow finally lands there is a rush of release — I find this body torque expression to be both realistic and distinctive.

VD: Watabiki-san, were there any big hurdles or challenges the animation teams faced early on, especially with these intense visuals of action and fighting?

KW: Going back to the early days with the "Most Evil Death Row Convicts Saga," I believe “Baki” had already been refined to an extremely high level within the medium of manga. The dramatic twists delivered through double-page spreads, the shocking outcomes that leap out the instant you turn a page, the overwhelming force of a single panel that grips the reader — these techniques had been perfected. But when you try to translate that directly into animation, which unfolds along a timeline, it simply doesn't hold up the same way. How do you reconstruct the "shock" that works precisely because it's manga into the flow of moving images? That has always been a major hurdle for the production team from the very beginning. 

If you were adapting a typical fighting manga into anime, the key focus would usually be things like "how much movement can we achieve" or "how fast paced can we make it." But that approach simply doesn't work for “Baki.” In fact, the opposite is true — pausing, building tension, holding a stance — creating those "moments of stillness" — are crucial elements. It's not just about showing a punch or kick landing; the entire fight encompasses the atmosphere before and after each blow, which makes it extraordinarily challenging from a production standpoint.

Simply increasing the number of frames or cuts isn't enough — the composition, acting timing, sound, and effects all need to come together perfectly, or you can't create that sense of tension between two powerful fighters.

VD: And what about Baki-Dou? Were there additional challenges with this latest anime rendition? 

KW: One of the biggest highlights of this series is the introduction of weapons. In previous series, the tension was built within a framework of bare-handed combat. In Baki-Dou, weapons enter the picture — and not just any weapons, but Japanese swords, wielded by none other than the master swordsman Musashi Miyamoto, brought to life in the modern era. From that point on, the quality of tension changes fundamentally. 

Of course, there are life-and-death stakes in bare-fisted combat as well, but the moment weapons come into play, what the audience instinctively feels becomes far more visceral. The heavy conclusion of "death" constantly looms as a real possibility. This creates a tension that goes beyond simply being strong. It’s a tension born from the idea that everything could become irreversible in a single instant. How to capture that atmosphere within the work was one of the greatest production challenges in Baki-Dou.

VD: Along with the addition of weapons, how else has Baki evolved over the last 35 years? 

KW: The overarching theme has always been "the contest of strength" and "what is strength?” That hasn't changed. That's why, in the animation as well, we've continuously explored how to depict muscles and the human body as symbols of power. Over time, the series has gradually moved beyond simple comparisons of martial arts prowess into deeper territories: civilization vs. the wild, parent vs. child, cross generational comparisons of martial philosophies. The story has evolved from "who is stronger" to "what kinds of strength can exist."

YY: In the original manga, I feel the visual style has been linked to the action Itagaki-sensei wants to express. Up through Baki Hanma and Baki-Dou, the forearms and lower legs were drawn longer relative to the upper arms and such, because fast-moving animals appear that way, so the bodies were drawn to convey a sense of speed. In Baki-Dou, I feel there has been a shift toward more powerful expressions within the depiction of battles against the raw strength of sumo.

VD: What has it been like seeing so much fan celebration surrounding the anniversary? And What are you most looking forward to with the upcoming release of Baki-Dou: The Invincible Samurai?

KW: I'm simply overjoyed, and at the same time, it really hits me all over again just how long this series has been loved. As a fan myself, I feel incredibly fortunate to be able to celebrate this milestone together with everyone. On a personal note, in this series, I'd love for viewers to experience Naoya Uchida's performance as Musashi Miyamoto in the original Japanese audio. If a samurai from centuries ago were truly resurrected in the modern day, what would he feel? How would he carry himself? Uchida-san brings Musashi to life with an overwhelming sense of conviction. 

YY: Since around 2007, when I first became involved with the series and it had just passed its 15th anniversary, we have come to receive support from overseas fans that I never could have imagined. What I'm most looking forward to with Baki-Dou is the introduction of the Japanese sword, which serves as a major highlight of this series. In addition to that, I want everyone to experience the nerve-wracking thrill of watching a life-or-death serious brawl that goes above and beyond the battle with Pickle. I hope fans can experience the ever-expanding world of this ongoing series both deeply and broadly.

Victoria Davis is a full-time, freelance journalist and part-time Otaku with an affinity for all things anime. She's reported on numerous stories from activist news to entertainment. Find more about her work at victoriadavisdepiction.com.