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July 26, 2026Sources cited
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Baki

Baki is a Japanese manga and anime franchise created by Keisuke Itagaki.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Baki is a Japanese manga and anime franchise created by Keisuke Itagaki, beginning with the manga *Baki the Grappler* in 1991. The franchise follows teenage fighter Baki Hanma as he trains and battles increasingly powerful opponents to surpass his father, Yujiro Hanma. It has expanded into multiple sequel manga series and several anime adaptations, including Netflix originals.

Premise

The story centres on Baki Hanma, a teenage fighter training to surpass his father, Yujiro Hanma. The series is known for its tournament arcs, brutal hand-to-hand combat, and superhuman combat feats.

Publication history

Keisuke Itagaki launched *Baki the Grappler* in *Weekly Shōnen Champion* in 1991. The original series ran from 1991 to 1999 and was collected into 42 tankōbon volumes. It was followed by several continuation manga, including *Baki*, *Hanma Baki*, *Baki-Dou*, and *Baki Rahen*, forming a long-running franchise.

Anime adaptations

The property has been adapted multiple times, beginning with a 1994 OVA and two 2001 television anime series. Later adaptations were produced by TMS Entertainment and distributed internationally through Netflix starting in 2018.

Reception and reach

*Baki* is a long-running and commercially successful fighting-manga franchise. The manga has sold over 100 million copies in circulation according to some sources, though exact totals vary by source.

Key facts

  • The franchise centres on Baki Hanma, a teenage fighter training to surpass his father, Yujiro Hanma.
  • The original manga, *Baki the Grappler*, ran from 1991 to 1999 and was collected into 42 tankōbon volumes.
  • The series has spawned multiple sequel manga titles, including *Baki*, *Hanma Baki*, *Baki-Dou*, and *Baki Rahen*.
  • Anime adaptations include a 1994 OVA, two 2001 television series, and later Netflix productions beginning in 2018.
  • The manga has sold over 100 million copies in circulation according to some sources.
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Canadian context

Canadian viewers can access several *Baki* anime adaptations through Netflix, making the franchise widely available in Canada.

Frequently asked questions

What is Baki?
Baki is a Japanese martial arts manga and anime franchise created by Keisuke Itagaki, centred on fighter Baki Hanma.
Who created Baki?
The series was created by Japanese manga artist Keisuke Itagaki.
When did Baki first begin?
The original manga *Baki the Grappler* began serialization in 1991.
What is the story about?
It follows Baki Hanma as he trains, fights, and seeks to become stronger than his father, Yujiro Hanma.
Has Baki been adapted into anime?
Yes. It has had multiple anime adaptations, including a 1994 OVA, 2001 TV series, and Netflix-era productions starting in 2018.
Is Baki a single series or a franchise?
It is a franchise with the original manga and several sequel series, along with multiple anime adaptations.

References

  1. Wikipedia (Spanish) — https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baki_the_Grappler
    Supports: Original manga title, creator, 1991 start, 2018 Netflix anime adaptation.
  2. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baki_(TV_series)
    Supports: 2018 anime series, production details, Netflix release dates, premise.
  3. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baki_the_Grappler
    Supports: Original manga serialization dates, sequel context, OVA and 2001 anime adaptations, circulation figure.
  4. Wikipedia (German) — https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grappler_Baki
    Supports: Franchise overview, anime adaptation by TMS Entertainment, sales figure reported over 100 million.