Akagi!

[hi no ken Jebus]

The art style is very close to the original manga which started around 1993. So it's not like they are using it to be radical or anything.

Spoiler for manga page:

[Labaamen]

I like this one better.

Spoiler:

[IMSabbel]

Well, about the art... i usually like unusual styles, but i have a problem when the style actually works against the story...

During the whole episode, i never got the impression that there was a child doing something extraordinary for his age...
Despite the score of comments from the offscreen narator about the super-duper-great stuff happening, it felt like a 25 year old was playing some slightly older opponents... the whole tension kinda went away----

[noir senshi]

I've always enjoyed watching people play Mahjong in dramas and as soon as I heard there was an anime about Mahjong, I quickly went and checked it out. Kudos to Triad for picking this anime up.

I will definately keep watching it till the end.

[InitialGT]

it's a good show but i don't like mahjong

[NoSanninWa]

Originally Posted by InitialGT

it's a good show but i don't like mahjong

Maybe we were watching different shows. You might have seen a show about mahjong, but I saw a show about human drama involving an old man who giving up on life learning something from a kid who has huge balls of steel.

Oh yeah, there was mahjong there also.

I never had any interest in mahjong before this and if this show had been about the mahjong I would have lost all interest in it. As it is, I am willing to learn about mahjong while watching a good show. This show just happens to have a lot of mahjong mixed in with the drama.

It's like the fighting in a shounen show or the tennis in PoT. The mahjong is the medium for settling conflict and building dramatic tension. It works surprisingly well. I don't even mind that they throw out all these incredible hands constantly, though that might bug me if I played mahjong. The incredible hands are sort of like using a rasengan instead of a normal punch.

[hi no ken Jebus]

Wow are people that turned off by the art style? Anyway someone mentioned something about him looking older than he should and that's the anime's/animators' fault.

Spoiler for manga/future episodes:

In the manga he looks way younger. Until it fasts forwards to when he is 18 or so after the legendary night is over.

Anyway saw episode 2 while back and things are getting better by the episode.

Spoiler:

Akagi turned on the sexy in this one. I love the expressions on his opponents when he does something outrageous. Another awesome thing about this episode Wataru Takagi playing the role of Yagi. Although during the showdown the tension is hard for me to envision when I remember him from such roles such as Onizuka or Aoki Should be awesome to see what the sneaky veteran has planned for the monster Akagi

[Retsoor]

Akagi is an unequaled demon in the world of mahjong.

I really like the mood this series creates during the matches with music, and the character voices are such that they don't intrude on that mood. Having first sampled Akagi by a short clip, I was disappointed by Akagi's voice but now I see it's perfect for the cold-blooded bastard that he is.

The art is great, I really enjoy all the character designs, especially the shark-like Urabe's and Ichikawa's, who has a sinister air about him which is nicely complemented by his voice.

[eyeshield21]

nice gambling anime. gonna keep watching

[sukreih]

This post's been a while, but I just had to stop and say Akagi is the greatest anime that has been out since Oct 2005! I've watched it til episode 16 so far and I gotta admit it's just awesome. I was really happy to find this post in the forum!!

Akagi is originally a manga created by Fukumoto Nobuyuki,which sold over 4million copies in Japan, and definately one of Fukumoto's popular ones. The author himself is quite famous for his unique drawings(which himself calls 'terrible' :P) and intense dramatic presentations.I've heard that he's majored in psychology,but not sure. But when you read his comics, it's really really powerful,if you know what I mean..unfourtunately none of his works are licensed in North America and what I think the reason is.. that it will be very hard to translate. Fukumoto is really famous in Japan and Korea. If you say 'Gambling Apocalypse Kaiji' most people will go like 'oh!the one with that weird picture!'

When Akagi was announced to be made as an animation,many were worried if the anime can express all what Fukumoto's comics have, but it was just perfect,too good,and it was true. As a fan,I was really overwhelmed on how well it was made. It's made so well that even if don't know Mahjong,it will get you interested.Kudos to director Yuzo Sato.

And plus, don't you think the 20year-old Akagi is a Biseinen? I mean,look at him with his shirt wide open!!:P!!!! Oh,come on gals?don't you think so???I mean,really!
Also Akagi has many female fans,and has some minor popularity in the doujin industry(which is growing since the anime came out), since the only female who actually talks in the manga in an old lady who sells Akagi his cigars.(and no women in the Anime!)
And more..Akagi won Amuro Ray in the 2nd Anime Otoko Sai Moe Tournament which is currently runnung in the Japanese online world. And..phew, I'd really like to go on,but I guess that only makes the readers' eyes go tired.Thanks for reading!
Conclusion: AKAGI FANS,UNITE! (:P)

I really hope Fukumoto's other works will be made into an anime, such as

Spoiler:

'Ten',which features the older(and softer) Akagi in his 40s(he is a supporting role but ends up as the main character..-_-..)

,and 'Gambling Apocalypse Kaiji',which gave Fukumoto the 98' Kodansha awards.

[Spike Spiegell]

hi wondering anybody know the opening soundtrack title of akagi? or know where to get it.

[sukreih]

Originally Posted by Spike Spiegell

hi wondering anybody know the opening soundtrack title of akagi? or know where to get it.

The opening song's title is 'なんとかなれ'(basically meaning que sera sera) by Furuyado(古井戸), all I know is that he's an artist from the 60s or 70s..

Akagi OST was out this 25th. You can pretty much buy it in CD Japan or Amazon Japan. The OP in the CD is the TV size version, so if you want the full-sized version you have to buy Furuyado's album '古井戸の世界',which will be out in Feb 22nd.

The opening is pretty addictive,eh? なんとかなれ~with the bang!

[sukreih]

whops,my mistake. Akagi OST has the FULL version of なんとかなれ,and the EDs are all TV size. My OST just arrived from dhl it's just awesome

Spoiler for Akagi OST image:

[SlugZilla]

Episode 19:

Spoiler:

So anybody who didn't read the manga, do you think Akagi will live or die after the match against Washizu? I could see him winning then die from blood loss, winning and coming out alive, or just lose and die.

[hi no ken Jebus]

Might want to spoiler tag that buddy just a thought...

Spoiler for ep19:

At episode 19 you already want him dead? He's still hasn't matured into the ultra mahjong god so I don't think he's dying anytime soon. Besides he could have turned away the blood sucking machine away but refused it to piss off washizu so he must have something up his sleeve

Spoiler for ep 3:

Awesome episode and ending to the legendary night. Some of the best moments include watching Yagi eat humble pie after all the smack he was talking. And after the game was over Akagi leaving as the sun was coming up pure awesomeness

[SlugZilla]

Originally Posted by hi no ken Jebus

Might want to spoiler tag that buddy just a thought...

Wait, other people actually watch this show?

Spoiler for ep19:

At episode 19 you already want him dead? He's still hasn't matured into the ultra mahjong god so I don't think he's dying anytime soon. Besides he could have turned away the blood sucking machine away but refused it to piss off washizu so he must have something up his sleeve

Spoiler:

I thought it would be the ultimate way for him to end his life, to die betting his own life, whether if he wins or loses. Well I'm not wishing for him to die, but he sure doesn't care to live.

[sukreih]

Episode 19 was awesome.Plus Akagi is so sexy!(hey)

Wait, other people actually watch this show?

Slugzilla, Akagi is very popular in Japan!This show's on midnight and has an avg 3.something rating!(I think Parakiss,which was also on the midnight timeslot, scored similar ratings)Plus there was a major increase in Akagi dojin sites since the anime started..so yeah..it's getting some reactions.(especailly from the female fans)
The reason people don't watch Akagi in the English region is 1.Subtitle issues or 2.Fukumoto Nobuyuki's comics are not out in English 3.Not a lot of people know Mahjongg(neither do I)...or so I think.

Spoiler:

You'd better see what kind of totally insane stuff he does as Washizu Mahjogg progresses.

This is a big spoiler regarding the topic(by slugzilla Jebus)and above so see at own risk..

Spoiler:

Although the comic hasn't ended yet(one book per year so Akagi is short of blood for almost 10 years right now.), I assume Akagi eventually comes out of the Washizu mansion alive.

And more of a big spoiler

Spoiler:

In fact, he shows up in one of Fukumoto's works called 'Ten'. Akagi's 44 in the book.(Introduced as 'a genius in 100years') He's become a lot softer(in personality) as the years passed by.
Whoops,better make this part a spoiler on the one I posted above.

Major ultra spoiler for above spoiler

Spoiler:

And I guarantee Akagi's death is 'the way to die as Akagi', as you've expected.
Akagi dies at the age of 53.

[RainyDZ]

And plus, don't you think the 20year-old Akagi is a Biseinen? I mean,look at him with his shirt wide open!!:P!!!! Oh,come on gals?don't you think so???I mean,really!

I agree with virtually everything you said, but this little segment is well... still under debate to say the least. The first moment I laid my eyes on Akagi, woa... with his hooked nose and triangular jaws, his looks borders on hideous. The artwork does take some getting used to. However to classify him as bishounen, hahaha, we just have different tastes. ^__^''

But it's a different matter when it comes to his voice. Akagi just has this golden voice: restrained, quiet, yet strangely charming. It's music to my ears.

I haven't played Mahjoing in 6 years, but I enjoyed Akagi immensely! (except the violent part of it, just downright disturbing.) By the way, it totals 26 episodes right?

[AnimePlus]

Everyone's been talking about how the art is good and all but can you hook me up with some screencaps somewhere? Haha. I'm looking for a few new animes to pickup and I'm really drawn to good animation

[sukreih]

Originally Posted by RainyDZ

I agree with virtually everything you said, but this little segment is well... still under debate to say the least. The first moment I laid my eyes on Akagi, woa... with his hooked nose and triangular jaws, his looks borders on hideous. The artwork does take some getting used to. However to classify him as bishounen, hahaha, we just have different tastes. ^__^''

Akagi is a seinen rather than a shonen.He has the looks of a seinen when he's 13 lol(but looks quite cute to me at least) But 13 looks younger than the 19 version.I was actually surprised they had differences.

Even for me, the first time I saw a Fukumoto comic book 6 years ago,I hesitated cuz the pictures were so weird..then my brother kept on insisting me to read it,so I did, and it was just amazing.
And honestly,no one expected to see Fukumoto's characters so 'attractive' until they saw the Akagi anime.(nor they thought it was possible to make his characters into 3D :P)I never once thought Akagi was sexy in the comic book. I guess the reason Akagi looks so sexy to me is because I was used to the comic book pictures beforehand. Plus you have the great artwork and presentations,and yessss,of course Akagi's VOICE!! Dunno, it's true Akagi has lots of female fans on the other side of the seas..Well, it's all about personal taste right ?
And yep,26 episodes.

I love Masato Hagiwara's voice.It suits Akagi perfectly well. Once(since Akagi aired) he was in this Japanese celebrity Mahjogg contest called Warepon(wearing the Akagi T-shirt),and from first round his tiles came out amazingly,winning streak from there..and of course was the top. People were like 'OMG there really is an Akagi!'
For the violance part...I guess that's why this airs past midnight. I understand some people would find it disturbing. Although personally I liked episode 4.

Originally Posted by AnimePlus

Everyone's been talking about how the art is good and all but can you hook me up with some screencaps somewhere? Haha. I'm looking for a few new animes to pickup and I'm really drawn to good animation

Akagi is a really good animation!! If you don't have language issues(they only have subtitles for Akagi til ep2.) I really recommend Akagi.Here are some screencaps I did some time ago for episode3.Srry it's mainly Akagi,that was the whole point I did the captures.There aren't any major spoiler pics,but just in case:

Spoiler:

Fukumoto is also famous for his mimetic sound 'Zawazawa'.It was perfectly made out in the anime.

And a movie clip of Episode3 if you want to hear Akagi's(and the narrator..who was voiced by Furuya Touru..famous for the voice of Amuro Ray.) voice:
'save target as' as possible