Baki the Grappler

• Grappler Baki (グラップラー刃牙, Gurappurā Baki) ― Original series, serialized in Weekly Shōnen Champion from 1991 to 1999. Collected into 42 volumes, that encompasses The Champion, the Kid, and the Maximum Tournament sagas. In 2007-2008 it was collected into 24 deluxe edition volumes.[3][4]

This series was licensed for a North American release by Gutsoon! Entertainment, who retitled it Baki the Grappler. They published the first 46 chapters in their English-language manga anthology magazine Raijin Comics.[5] The magazine's first issue was released on December 18, 2002, but in July 2004 it was discontinued. 4 collected volumes were planned but it is unknown if they were released.

• Baki (バキ, officially romanized as New Grappler Baki: In Search of Our Strongest Hero) ― Second series, also serialized in Weekly Shōnen Champion from 1999 to November 24, 2005.[6] Collected into 31 volumes, and encompasses The Prisoners, the Chinese Challenge, and the Alai Jr. sagas.

This series is licensed for English release by Media Do International, who released it digitally between August 2018 and August 2019. The company stated a future print release is possible and that they are interested in the original manga as well.[7]

• Baki Hanma (範馬刃牙, Hanma Baki, officially romanized as Baki: Son of Ogre) ― Third series, again serialized in Weekly Shōnen Champion, began on December 1, 2005 and ended on August 16, 2012.[6][8] Collected into 37 volumes, and encompasses the Oliva's Fortress, The Prehistoric Menace, Retsu Kaiou's Boxing, and the final confrontation of Yujiro and Baki.
• Baki-Dou (刃牙道, Baki Dō, lit. "Baki's Style") ― Fourth series, serialized in Weekly Shōnen Champion from March 20, 2014 to April 5, 2018.[9][10] It features Miyamoto Musashi who is challenged by various Baki characters after being revived into modern-day age. Collected into 22 volumes.
• Baki Dou (バキ道, Baki Dō) ― Fifth series, began serialization in Weekly Shōnen Champion on October 4, 2018. It has the same name as the fourth, but with Baki's name written in katakana instead of kanji. It features Nomi no Sukune.[11] Collected into eight volumes to date.

• Grappler Baki Gaiden (グラップラー刃牙外伝) - Set immediately after the Maximum Tournament, it depicts a wrestling match between Antonio Igari and Mount Toba. Published in one volume in 1999.
• Baki: Tokubetsuhen Saga (バキ特別編SAGA, or The Romantic Contact Chapter) - Side story that develops at the same time as volume 15 of the second manga. One volume published in 2002.[12]
• Baki Gaiden: Scarface (バキ外伝 疵面 -スカーフェイス-, or Scarface: Legend of the Invincible Fist) - Spinoff series, written and illustrated by Yukinao Yamauchi, depicting Kaoru Hanayama's yakuza adventures. Ran from March 2005 to December 2007 in Champion Red, then from July 2009 in Weekly Shōnen Champion. Collected into 8 volumes.[13]
• Baki Hanma 10.5 Gaiden: Pickle (範馬刃牙10.5巻外伝ピクル) - Set after volume 10 of the third manga, it introduces Pickle. Published in one volume in 2008.[14]
• Baki Gaiden: Gaia (バキ外伝 GaiA) - Spinoff series, written and illustrated by Hitoshi Tomizawa, starring Gaia. Published in Weekly Shōnen Champion in 2009.
• Baki Domoe (バキどもえ) - Comedic spinoff, written and illustrated by Naoki Saito. Originally launched digitally on Weekly Shōnen Champion The Web in 2010, then serialized irregularly in Weekly Shōnen Champion and finally Bessatsu Shōnen Champion until October 2014.[15] Collected into 3 volumes.
• Baki Gaiden: Kizuzura (バキ外伝 創面) - Spinoff series, written and illustrated by Yukio Yamauchi, based on Kaoru Hanayama's adventures in high school. Began in Bessatsu Shōnen Champion in July 2012.[8] Collected into 3 volumes.[16]
• Baki Gaiden: Kenjin (バキ外伝 拳刃) - Spinoff series, written and illustrated by Kengou Miyatani, representing and describing Doppo's adventures. Began in Champion Red in June 2013.[17] Collected into one volume.[18]
• Yuenchi: Baki Gaiden (ゆうえんち〜バキ外伝〜) - A collection of tales that happen within the Baki world, written by author Baku Yumemakura, About the older brother of Katsumi Orochi by the name of Mumon Katsuragi. He is mostly responsible of the capture of the five most deadly criminals before we meet them in BAKI. it also includes characters from his own Garōden and Shishi no Mon novels, and illustrated by Keisuke Itagaki. Published in Weekly Shōnen Champion since in 2018. Two volumes have been released to date.
• Baki: Revenge Tokyo (バキ REVENGE TOKYO) is a special spin-off consisting of five chapters, each about one of the death row prisoners from "Most Evil Death Row Convicts" arc, that have been added to the Baki's New Edition (新装版バキ, Shinsōban Baki) in 2018.
• Baki Gaiden: Retsu Kaioh Isekai Tensei Shitemo Ikkō Kamawan! - Spinoff series, illustrated by Eiji Murai and crediting Itagaki and Sai Ihara with the original story. An isekai series depicting Retsu Kaioh reincarnated into another world. It began in the November 6, 2020 issue of Monthly Shōnen Champion.[19]

• Grappler Baki: Red Dragon Side, Grappler Side - Compendium of the characters and events in the world of Grappler Baki, covers until volume 23 of the second saga.
• Grappler Baki: Blue Tiger Side, Fighting Side - Compendium of every battle fought and its results in the world of Grappler Baki, also covers until volume 23 of the second saga.

A 45-minutes original video animation (OVA) was released in 1994. The story is a close adaptation of the first few volumes of the original manga, adapting the Karate Tournament arc (not adapted in the later TV series) and Baki's fight with Shinogi Koushou, later adapted in the episode 18 of the Baki the Grappler TV series. It was licensed and released under the title Grappler Baki: The Ultimate Fighter in North America by Central Park Media on VHS on December 1, 1996 and on DVD on December 1, 1998.[20] Manga Entertainment later released it in Australia and the United Kingdom.

A 15-minutes original animation DVD (OAD), referred to as Baki: Most Evil Death Row Convicts Special Anime (バキ 最凶死刑囚編SP(スペシャル)アニメ), was included with the limited edition of the 14th volume of Baki-Dou on December 6, 2016. However, it adapts the arc of the same name from the second manga series, which is titled simply Baki. Created by Telecom Animation Film, it was directed by Teiichi Takiguchi and focuses on five inmates who break out of prison from around the world and travel to Japan.[21][1]

A 24-episode anime series aired on TV Tokyo between January 8, 2001 and June 25, 2001. It faithfully follows the original manga series, but changes the order of arcs, and does not adapt some of the chapters adapted in the preceding OVA. Notably, the anime was produced by Free-Will, a music record label. A second 24-episode series, titled Grappler Baki: Maximum Tournament (グラップラー刃牙 最大トーナメント編) as it tells the story from that part of the manga, aired from July 23, 2001 to December 24, 2001. All of the series' music was written and composed by "Project Baki", and all the theme songs performed by Ryōko Aoyagi. The first anime's opening theme is "Ai Believe" (哀 believe), while its closing theme is "Reborn". For the second series, "All Alone" is used as the opening and "Loved..." as the closing. Baki the Grappler: Original Soundtrack was released on March 27, 2003.

Both series were licensed for a North American English release by Funimation Entertainment. They released both series as one on 12 DVDs, each with four episodes, beginning on June 14, 2005 with the last released on February 27, 2007.[22] Two box sets were released on January 23, 2007 and March 25, 2008, the first included volumes 1-6 (1st series), while the second included 7-12 (2nd series).[23][24] A set including every episode was released on September 2, 2008.

Funimation's English version was one of the launch-shows on their own television channel, Funimation Channel, which debuted on June 19, 2006. Baki was broadcast on weekends at 11:30pm,[25] switching to the 10:00pm slot on September 4, 2006.[26] Dubbed in English, the episodes were edited for time but do not appear to have been edited for content. The opening theme is the song "Child Prey" by Japanese metal band Dir en grey, who is signed to Free-Will.

In December 2016, it was announced that the "Most Evil Death Row Convicts" arc of the second manga series would be receiving an anime television adaptation.[21] Titled Baki, like the second manga series, the 26 episode series is directed by Toshiki Hirano at TMS Entertainment with character designs handled by Fujio Suzuki and scripts overseen by Tatsuhiko Urahata.[27] It began streaming on Netflix on June 25, 2018 in Japan, and started streaming on December 18, 2018 outside Japan.[28][29][30] The series then started airing on several Japanese television channels beginning with Tokyo MX1 on July 1.[31] Its opening theme song is "Beastful" by Granrodeo and its ending theme "Resolve" is performed by Azusa Tadokoro with lyrics by Miho Karasawa.[32]

Netflix renewed the series for a second season on March 19, 2019.[33] On March 5, 2020, it was announced that the main staff TMS Entertainment would be returning to produce the second season with the addition of a new character designer and art director. The 13 episode second season covering the "Great Chinese Challenge" and the Alai Jr. arcs was released exclusively on Netflix on June 4, 2020. Its opening theme song is performed by Granrodeo and its ending theme is "Dead Stroke" performed by Ena Fujita.[34][35]

In September 2020, it was announced Hanma Baki - Son of Ogre will be adapted as the third series and the sequel to the second season of the Netflix series.[36] Netflix is releasing it in 2021.[2]

There have been a few video games based on the series. A fighting game developed by Tomy was released for the PlayStation 2 as Grappler Baki: Baki Saikyō Retsuden (グラップラー刃牙 バキ最強列伝, Gurappurā Baki - Baki Saikyō Retsuden) in Japan in 2000 and as Fighting Fury in the United Kingdom during 2003.[37]