A classic 5/10 but I wanted to make this review so people learn a little about how a 5 occurs. First of all, half the movie, 20 minutes, introduces the main character and how he's a punk kid who lives by his own rules. Classic setup up and while it could go in a lot of interesting directions in does the most basic thing in the world, it makes his want to become a boxer because his dad and brother became one. Now I was already more interested in the plot when it was more about music or the punk lifestyle, soit falling into one of the most boring tropes in anime was very disappointing. The music has plenty of good moments, and the animation was mostly flawless. Character designs were definitely too old fashion though. It's just following the manga I guess but if you told me this was Ashita no Joe I'd believe you without hesitation, which is not good at all. There was hints that a decent love plot could happen, but then becomes stereotypically "Japanese". Women just want ambitious strong guys, the guys are interested in women but show interest in awkward or just plain bad ways, and the girls have no real personality of their own.

It could've been about a punk using his street fighting to get a leg up on traditional boxers. It does not. It could've been about the main character having something no one else has. It does not. It could've had someone have a unique goal, method to achieve a simple goal, or unique locations. Nothing. It's as standard as it gets. But those first 20 minutes when I didn't know this was a boxing story were ok. At that point it was at least a 7/10.