Hajime no Ippo: Rising

Watch Now More Info

Hajime no Ippo: Rising Pictures

✕

Hajime no Ippo: Rising Review

Hajime no Ippo: Rising — Japanese Featherweight Champion Makunouchi Ippo has defended his title belt once more with the help of his devastating signature move: the Dempsey Roll. 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 TV work and has garnered attention (MAL score: 8.61). 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: Rising 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

Itagaki, Manabu

Main

Namikawa, Daisuke

Japanese

Kamogawa, Genji

Main

Miyano, Mamoru

Japanese

Kamogawa, Genji

Main

Iizuka, Shouzou

Japanese

Kimura, Tatsuya

Main

Fujiwara, Keiji

Japanese

Makunouchi, Ippo

Main

Kiyasu, Kouhei

Japanese

Makunouchi, Ippo

Main

Kokuryu, Sachi

Japanese

Takamura, Mamoru

Main

Koyama, Rikiya

Japanese

Akamatsu, Isamu

Supporting

Fusegawa, Kazuhiro

Japanese

Anderson, Ralph

Supporting

Kosugi, Juurouta

Japanese

Bernard, Larry

Supporting

Inada, Tetsu

Japanese

Chana

Supporting

Koujiro, Chie

Japanese

Coach Shinoda

Supporting

Sasaki, Seiji

Japanese

Commentator

Supporting

Funakoshi, Masashi

Japanese

Dachboy, Medngern

Supporting

Satou, Kensuke

Japanese

Date, Eiji

Supporting

Aizawa, Masaki

Japanese

Eagle, David

Supporting

Kiuchi, Hidenobu

Japanese

Fujii, Minoru

Supporting

Ono, Kenichi

Japanese

Hama, Dankichi

Supporting

Yasumoto, Hiroki

Japanese

Hawk, Bryan

Supporting

Ootsuka, Akio

Japanese

Staff

Hashimoto, Shintarou

Producer

Iwase, Yasuteru

Producer

Maruyama, Masao

Producer

Shindou, Tomohiro

Producer

Tamura, Manabu

Producer

Watanabe, Masakazu

Producer

Kirimoto, Atsushi

Assistant Producer

Naotsuka, Koujirou

Assistant Producer

Shishido, Jun

Director, Storyboard

Fukuda, Noriyuki

Episode Director, Storyboard, Animation Director, Key Animation

Jinbo, Masato

Episode Director

Kim, Min-sun

Episode Director, Animation Director

Mano, Akira

Episode Director

Mutou, Kenji

Episode Director, Storyboard

Oyunamu

Episode Director

Satou, Chiharu

Episode Director, Animation Director

Aritomi, Kouji

Script

Inamoto, Tatsurou

Script

Ishida, Katsuya

Script

Furuse, Noboru

Storyboard