Review of Tomorrow's Joe

Note 1: I am not english speaker Note 2: This Review will refer to both seasons (Ashita no joe and Ashita no joe 2) One thing that i dont like of Sports Anime is that there´s nothing to lose in those series, there's no tragedy in losing a game, you can always try again and all the characters mistakes dont have great consequences, that´s why i dont like things like hajime no ippo or capitain tsubasa, yes, both series are entertaining, but both feel dry and because of the plot armor i dont care of the characters, because they arent in real danger. Even those sports animethat are over the average (For example. Ping Pong: The animation), have that plot armor issues.

With This in mind, let me start the review of ashita no joe...

Ashita no joe is a very old anime, and because of that the animation is static and the movement is limited and it has elements that have aged badly, but in it´s time it was a very good animation (Considering that this is a 70´s anime), and also the second season (animated by TMS) the animation had an improvement in their quallity.

The music is good and kept the tone of the series, but it was quite repetitive and the dirty audio at that time does not help.

But, Neither the OST and the animated part isn't what makes ashita no joe an amazing anime, what makes Ashita no joe an amazing anime is something that i said in my introduction, "i dont like sports anime because there´s nothing to lose in those series and the characters are never in danger", well, ashita no joe is the exception to that rule...

Ashita no joe is a boxing anime like hajime no ippo is, but there is a diference, Hajime no ippo treat boxing like Capitain tsubasa treats Soccer Games, in other words, Hajime no ippo treats boxing like Boxing fighting shounen, But Ashita no joe Treats boxing like boxing, with the good parts and the bad parts, and it includes not only Championships and the glory of winning but also deaths and serious injury withdrawls, because of the well balanced tone between the Good parts and bad parts of boxing not only works like a very well done drama, but also as a very valid critique of the 70´s boxing system.

Also Boxing is used as catalyst to make joe (the main character) evolve from a jerk to a nice person and uses combats to show how much joe has changed after every combat combat. Also i liked rikishi in his role of friendly nemesis and how both evolve before their final Showdown.

In conclusion ashita no joe is probably the best Sports Anime ever made, even ashita no joe is not perfect and the animatied part have aged badly, but the dramatic elements, character development using boxing as a cathalyst and the absence of plot armor in it´s characters make it ana amazing title and one of the best series i have watched in all my life.

Overall: 9/10 "The Japanese Rocky"