“Four unstoppable escapees in Nanba prison cause daily chaos for their long-suffering supervisor in this comedic sparkle-filled series.”
Nanbaka
ナンバカ
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Based on your preference for character-driven stories with layered emotional arcs, this title's exploration of identity and belonging would deeply resonate. The pacing mirrors series you've rated highly, and its thematic depth aligns with your appreciation for nuanced storytelling...
However, the slow initial episodes might test your patience given your history of dropping shows that don't hook you early. The art style shift in the middle arc could also be a concern...
Synopsis
Four unstoppable escapees in Nanba prison cause daily chaos for their long-suffering supervisor in this comedic sparkle-filled series.
Nanba is the world's most formidable prison, built to incarcerate criminals who are too slippery to stay in ordinary confinement. The four inmates who occupy Cell 13 are particularly cunning on that behalf, having escaped every other prison with a perfect success rate. There is Juugo, a specialist in locks who has spent the majority of his life in prison; Uno, a gambler with great intuition; Nico, an otaku whose body reacts strangely to drugs; and Rock, a bruiser with a love for food. The daily shenanigans of the four prisoners always cause trouble for the building supervisor, Hajime Sugoroku, who desperately tries to prevent them from breaking out of Nanba. Nanbaka follows the comedic, sparkle-filled exploits of these prisoners and their guards. From three square meals a day to sports festivals, prison life in Nanba isn't actually that bad—and it is the closest these four have to a home.
What people say
Community consensus
Derived from 42 sampled reviews
What 42 viewers settled on.
Polarized
σ 1.80 · split reception
4.1 pts
Recommenders 7.9 · others 3.8
↑ 2.52
Running avg · Dec 2016 → Oct 2025
- 7 “Nanbaka nails its comedy and remains breezy enough to binge, but its serious, plot-heavy episodes—especially after the tournament arc—feel merely mediocre rather than compelling. The hidden dark...”
- 7 “The first episode hooks you effectively and the show can be entertaining as a comedy. However, it's no masterpiece and suffers from an out-of-place tournament arc that awkwardly shifts it into...”
- 10 “Nanbaka delivers vibrant character designs and consistently funny, light-hearted comedy while still offering actual storyline progression and solid fight scenes. Character development is largely...”
Watch Order & Related
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- Format 13 × 23′ eps × min
- Total runtime 4h 59m all episodes
- Aired Oct 2016 – Dec 2016 Fall 2016
- Source Tv media type
- Rated PG 13 - Teens 13 or older
- Ref. BS-10246 catalog
Produced by
- Nihon Ad Systems Producer
- DAX Production Producer
- Sony Music Communications Producer
- Crunchyroll Producer
- comico Producer
- Tokuma Japan Communications Producer
- Nelke Planning Producer
Licensed by
- Funimation Licensor