Megalo Box

"Rocky from the Slums - the animation" is actually an appealing anime series. Granted, it is a classic rags to riches story that sports anime never seems to tire of, and even some of the storylines are pretty predictable. However, there are a few of these kinds of shows around, and they can still be pretty enjoyable. I find this style of animation is really engaging, it is slightly old-school and everything looks so good and is so very well drawn and detailed. In addition to that, the boxing matches are just great. Action-wise I enjoyed Megalobox probably as much as anything else in anime season Spring 2018. There are some interesting characters and the show is reigniting my faith in the magical power of the afro, which I think was first sparked by Luffy in One Piece. They even produced some pretty decent hip-hop, at least I think it was hip-hop, I never really understood music like techno and rap, as they mostly passed me by, but damn this music really suits the show! I was also pleased with the ending itself, whith a rather good use of the old Russian animal fable, which I had heard a few times before, The Scorpion and the Frog. I also appreciated Yuri's decision to have a fair fight or the fact that they did not needlessly drag out the actual denouement of the final fight...in other words, there were no over-emotional Rocky-style moments. I was very satisfied, so, 7/10. (04/04/2021)

I liked the first season, which was a story about a straightforward but difficult journey to the top, and the screenwriters really knew how to tackle the action, characters, and emotions, and deliver it all in a pleasing retro-style animation with a great soundtrack. However, in my opinion, the second season, Megalobox 2: Nomad, is in many ways much better than the first. It really grabs you in the opening segment, which takes place in an interesting setting, introduces new characters who are quite likable, and makes one curious to know what the hell happened in the time between the two seasons. As time goes on, it becomes clear that Megalobox 2: Nomad is not so much about boxing and sporting achievements as it is about the people and their issues, worries, weaknesses, and also their strength, determination, and motivation. It is a complex anime series with lots of believable stories about everyday problems. It is not only the protagonist Joe that plays an important role. Throughout the anime series, besides Joe himself, his opponents play an important role, whether it is Chief or Mac, who each have their own stories to tell and lessons to learn. As well as the occasional exchange of blows, there are also social issues and various moral dilemmas to deal with, and the story provides realistic and interesting ways to resolve them with logical compromises. The characters really behave very believably for an anime series, they have their flaws, of course, however, their strengths endear them to you. In the end, Megalobox 2: Nomad is a bittersweet story that builds on the characters from the first season and shows us their complex destinies in detail, and I generally found it all quite believable. The animation is once again well executed, the soundtrack is also well put together, and fits with that slightly Mexican vibe the screenwriters deliberately went for. What disappointed me a bit was the final fight, which I found a little overwhelming due to all the flashbacks, and I thought it really spoiled the atmosphere and action. Moreover, some of the flashbacks (the Mac ones in particular) could have easily been shown before the actual fight. In truth, even the boxing fights were not that dynamic and amazing compared to the first season. However, I still stand by the fact that Megalobox 2: Nomad is better, more interesting, and more complex than the first season. 8.4/10. (27/06/2021)