While sales were not kind towards Hajime no Ippo when Geneon Entertainment tried to release it here, the series continues to be popular in Japan in both manga and anime form. The latest news for the property comes from Weekly Shonen Jump that indicates that a third season of the anime based on the manga by George Morikawa has been given the green light and will premiere this fall there. According to the magazine, the announcement image reads, “Ippo fights the formidable enemy, Sawamura! Dempsey breaks down!?”
The series has had a seventy five episode run with its fist season and then a twenty-six episode run a couple of years later in addition to a few TV specials. The manga is about to release its 104th volume this year.
Plot concept: Makunouchi Ippo has been bullied his entire life. Constantly running errands and being beaten up by his classmates, Ippo has always dreamed of changing himself, but never has the passion to act upon it. One day, in the midst of yet another bullying, Ippo is saved by Takamura Mamoru, who happens to be a boxer. Ippo faints from his injuries and is brought to the Kamogawa boxing gym to recover. As he regains consciousness, he is awed and amazed at his new surroundings in the gym, though lacks confidence to attempt anything. Takamura places a photo of Ippo’s classmate on a punching bag and forces him to punch it. It is only then that Ippo feels something stir inside him and eventually asks Takamura to train him in boxing. Thinking that Ippo does not have what it takes, Takamura gives him a task deemed impossible and gives him a one week time limit. With a sudden desire to get stronger, for himself and his hard working mother, Ippo trains relentlessly to accomplish the task within the time limit. Thus Ippo’s journey to the top of the boxing world begins.
[Source: ANN]
1 thought on “‘Hajime No Ippo’ Getting Third Anime Series”