Netflix is home to two of the most beloved martial arts anime: Baki and Kengan Ashura. It’s not easy to determine which one of these shows is superior to the other, so we decided to break down the most important points of discussion to finally settle things out. Which is the better anime: Kengan Ashura or Baki?
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Kengan Ashura’s Plot Is More Interesting Than Baki
Let's face it, Baki's plot is far simpler than Kengan Ashura's, and there is hardly any character growth at all.
The Baki anime almost seems to have been created specifically to demonstrate to viewers how a pure fighting anime would play out.
The aim of it is fighting, but other than that, viewers will only be treated to bloody battles involving muscle-brained characters.
Baki is the story of a young man named Baki Hanma, who one day hopes to beat and defeat his monstrous father, Yujiro Hanma, who is regarded as the strongest creature on the planet.
Baki battles formidable opponents from a variety of martial arts schools along the way, which helps mold his abilities.
Baki stuck to its core storyline from start to finish. That being said, there are a lot of visually spectacular and impressive battles, regardless of how they aren't related to the story or the characters.
It's similar to Dragon Ball Z sans the fun, with fight scenes that stretch on for ages.
Conversely, the more invested you are in the characters, the more compelling the plot of Kengan Ashura becomes.
Beyond just the fighting itself, Kengan Ashura is plot-driven by the motivations behind the fighters' pasts and present.
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Baki Has More Intense Fights Than Kengan Ashura
While Baki has more bloody and cooler fighting scenes with spectacular choreographies that will leave you breathless and on the edge of your seat, Kengan Ashura boasts a wide range of fighting techniques and styles in addition to the lavish entrance scenes of the characters that are straight out of WWE.
The thing I adore most about Baki is how consistently it presents the most gory bouts to its audience. You should reconsider Baki if you believe Kengan Ashura to be violent.
Compared to Kengan Ashura's characters, who are constrained by the association's and the tournament's regulations, the characters in Baki are far more violent and crude.
But if we’re talking about technicalities, Kengan Ashura excels at showcasing the characters’ fighting style and expertise.
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Kengan Ashura Has Better Art Style Than Baki
I find the art style in Baki unique and experimental, seeing those characters with crazy body proportions. In contrast, Kengan Ashura's characters have more subdued body types and proportions.
Although I find both anime to be charismatic and appealing in their own right, I believe that Kengan Ashura's combat sequences are more realistic and less obtrusive than those in Baki.
Sometimes, maybe because I'm not used to the anime's visual aesthetic, I feel thwarted or disgusted by the characters in Baki.
I had a better experience watching Kengan Ashura since I prefer the anime’s art style to Baki.
So, Which Is Better: Baki or Kengan Ashura?
All in all, Kengan Ashura is the better anime thanks to its fleshed-out characters, a plot that keeps on getting better, fighting technicalities, and amazing but realistic art style.
If you like to watch a combat anime with cool and awesome fights, then I suggest watching Baki, but if you prefer a martial arts anime with an actual plot and character development, then watch Kengan Ashura instead.
At the end of the day, it’s up to you to pick your poison!
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