Summer 2024 Anime: Kinnikuman: Perfect Origin Arc

Synopsis

Kinnikuman returns to the ring in an epic three-way battle between the Seigi, Akuma and Perfect Chojin factions, and reveals the roots of the Chojin.

(Source: Netflix)

Comments

Caesar E.S. (The Indonesian Anime Times)

Kinnikuman is one of those things that I keep on hearing about, yet never actually got around to watching or reading. Yet it remained something I always had the intention to maybe one day actually check out- you know, one of those things you hold in a special place within your anime-watching backlog. I mean, the original story about super-powered wrestlers duking it out? Sounds awesome. Maybe someday. Some day.

So when it was announced that there would be a new anime adaption of Kinnikuman on Netflix, it just felt like that day is now. And I get it now. Now I know why so many people have been fans of this series for decades, and understand just how much of an impact it had on so many series that came after it.

Kinnikuman: Perfect Origin Arc reminds me of just why I fell in love with watching professional wrestling in the first place. The presentation is perfect. Here are a bunch of goofy-looking characters I know nothing about talking smack and laying the smack down on each other, with each line as hammy as it is sincere, and delivered straight with the kind of pathos and gravitas befitting the grand, brilliant, bloody battles that will unfold. That the official YouTube channel even has a “fight highlights” reel for each episode sums up just what the appeal of this series is. Though perhaps it is the opening song by music group FLOW and composer Yasuharu Takanashi (HeartCatch PreCure!, Zombieland Saga, Naruto: Shippuden) which has the lyrics “friendship power, super muscle”, that best captures what it is that is so special about Kinnikuman.

Even if you’re worried that you can’t really dive into the show without first getting to know the characters, fear not as the show quickly makes it apparent what each character’s whole deal is. The first episode sets up the fights to come, with members of the antagonist faction, the “Perfect Large Numbers”, all getting to showcase their own signature skills and unique ways of laughing maniacally. And if that’s not enough, the show has you covered: there’s an “Episode 0” introducing all of our key protagonists while also recapping the whole story of Kinnikuman and everything that happened up until the start of the current anime.

Kinnikuman is campy yet sincere, humorous yet serious in equal parts just like its titular protagonist himself, now voiced by Mamoru Miyano, who seems to perfectly capture that balance of swagger and humor like previous Kinnikuman voice actor Akira Kamiya did. I’m absolutely looking forward to all the exciting fights we’ll get to see each week.

Kinnikuman: Perfect Origin Arc is currently streaming on Netflix

Facts and Figures

Screenshots and Trailer

The Indonesian Anime Times