Hajime no Ippo: Mashiba vs. Kimura
Summary: Tatsuya Kimura is beginning to feel left behind. With his friends Ippo Makunouchi and Mamoru Takamura holding the championship belt in their respective weight classes, Kimura's inability to become Japan's Junior Lightweight boxing champion eats away at him. Scheduled to fight with the current champion Ryo Mashiba, Kimura begins to train with Ippo's rival Ichirou Miyata, who previously suffered a crushing defeat from Mashiba's signature "Hitman" style of boxing.
But Mashiba has his own desire to hold onto the belt, hoping to soon shoot for the World title and secure financial stability for his sister Kumi. Will Kimura's overwhelming drive to prove his strength as a boxer overcome Mashiba's desperate wish to provide a better life for Kumi?
[Written by MAL Rewrite]
Description
Tatsuya Kimura is beginning to feel left behind. With his friends Ippo Makunouchi and Mamoru Takamura holding the championship belt in their respective weight classes, Kimura's inability to become Japan's Junior Lightweight boxing champion eats away at him. Scheduled to fight with the current champion Ryo Mashiba, Kimura begins to train with Ippo's rival Ichirou Miyata, who previously suffered a crushing defeat from Mashiba's signature "Hitman" style of boxing.
But Mashiba has his own desire to hold onto the belt, hoping to soon shoot for the World title and secure financial stability for his sister Kumi. Will Kimura's overwhelming drive to prove his strength as a boxer overcome Mashiba's desperate wish to provide a better life for Kumi?
[Written by MAL Rewrite]
Hajime no Ippo: Mashiba vs. Kimura Pictures
Hajime no Ippo: Mashiba vs. Kimura Review
Hajime no Ippo: Mashiba vs. Kimura — Tatsuya Kimura is beginning to feel left behind. This overview is intentionally spoiler-free and focuses on tone and intent rather than plot specifics.
Thematically, It sits firmly within Sports conventions as a OVA work and has garnered attention (MAL score: 8.25). This work explores character dynamics, tonal shifts, and the interplay between narrative ambition and execution. The story's pacing and tonal choices are crafted to complement the central ideas, often emphasizing atmosphere and emotional truth over explicit exposition. The show's ability to evoke a consistent mood — whether melancholic, exuberant, or contemplative — is a recurring strength, and the scenes are constructed so viewers can infer stakes without needing explicit spoilers.
Characterization is a core pillar here. Protagonists and supporting figures are written with distinct motivations and narrative roles; even when archetypal, the series invests in small behavioral details that make choices feel earned. Character arcs are handled with an eye for gradualism: development often arrives through incremental beats rather than abrupt, expository shifts. The interactions between characters create texture, and relationships are used to illuminate both personal flaws and larger thematic concerns.
On the visual front, production values play a significant role. The animation quality varies by sequence but frequently showcases thoughtful direction and composition. Background art, framing, and color palettes are used deliberately to support tone — quieter scenes favor muted palettes while action or heightened emotional beats employ brighter, more kinetic visuals. Direction choices, such as camera movement and shot selection, often elevate scenes beyond their raw script, creating moments that linger in the viewer's mind.
The soundscape — score, incidental music, and sound design — complements the visual language. Music cues are placed to maximize emotional resonance without manipulating the audience with melodrama; this restraint often leads to more authentic emotional payoff. Sound design punctuates key moments, and when the series leans on silence, those quieter moments are given weight by measured audio choices.
Pacing and structure are handled with craft. Episodes are arranged to build tension and release methodically, and the narrative rarely rushes through important emotional beats. That said, the deliberate pacing may feel slow to viewers who prefer faster plot turnover; the reward is greater nuance and an accumulation of meaning across the series. Accessibility is generally good — one can appreciate surface-level pleasures, while repeat or attentive viewing reveals additional layers.
No title is without flaws. Occasional unevenness in subplots or variable animation across episodes can be distracting. Some tonal shifts might feel abrupt if you expect uniformity; others will argue that those shifts are purposeful. These are worth noting, but they seldom undercut the larger achievements of the work.
In sum, Hajime no Ippo: Mashiba vs. Kimura offers a rich experience for viewers who value character-driven storytelling, considered visual design, and a soundtrack that supports rather than overwhelms. For fans of Sports, this is an especially rewarding watch. It's recommended for those who appreciate layered narratives and artistry in animation, and best approached with patience and attention to nuance.
Characters & Voice Actors
Aoki, Masaru
Main
Takagi, Wataru
Japanese
Aoki, Masaru
Main
Crépet, Alexandre
French
Kamogawa, Genji
Main
Utsumi, Kenji
Japanese
Kamogawa, Genji
Main
Hinderyckx, Michel
French
Kimura, Tatsuya
Main
Fujiwara, Keiji
Japanese
Kimura, Tatsuya
Main
Meunier, Matthieu
French
Mashiba, Ryo
Main
Tanaka, Masahiko
Japanese
Mashiba, Ryo
Main
Schlick, Marvin
French
Miyata, Ichirou
Main
Seki, Tomokazu
Japanese
Miyata, Ichirou
Main
Donnay, Maxime
French
Coach Shinoda
Supporting
Sasaki, Seiji
Japanese
Coach Shinoda
Supporting
Rossion, Jean-François
French
Commentator
Supporting
Horikawa, Jin
Japanese
Commentator
Supporting
Driesen, Steve
French
Fujii, Minoru
Supporting
Ono, Kenichi
Japanese
Iimura, Mari
Supporting
Shinohara, Emi
Japanese
Kimura, Father
Supporting
Hashi, Takaya
Japanese
Kimura, Father
Supporting
Meaux, Frédéric
French
Kimura, Mother
Supporting
Ootori, Yoshino
Japanese
Kimura, Mother
Supporting
Pyronnet, Sophie
French
Staff
Maruyama, Masao
Producer
Tamura, Manabu
Producer
Yamashita, Hiroshi
Producer
Yoshimoto, Satoshi
Producer
Kobayashi, Mikiko
Assistant Producer
Nanba, Hitoshi
Director, Storyboard
Hiiro, Yukina
Storyboard
Naoya, Mori
Theme Song Performance
Aono, Atsushi
Key Animation
Awai, Shigeki
Key Animation
Flamant, Alexis
ADR Director
Fukuda, Noriyuki
Chief Animation Director
Fukushi, Mayumi
Key Animation
Harada, Minefumi
Key Animation
Hata, Ayako
Key Animation
Hori, Takafumi
Animation Director
Imahori, Tsuneo
Music
Ishikawa, Masakazu
Key Animation
Itagaki, Shin
Key Animation
Kado, Tomoaki
Animation Director