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Finished Airing
OVA PG-13 - Teens 13 or older
Fighting Spirit: Mashiba vs. Kimura
Hajime no Ippo: Mashiba vs. Kimura · 2003
Two boxers with everything on one fight.
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StatusFinished Airing
SeasonSummer 2003
StudioMadhouse
SourceManga
Story
Synopsis
This OVA steps away from Ippo to focus on Ryo Mashiba and Tatsuya Kimura, two fighters whose bout carries the accumulated weight of everything each man has sacrificed to reach it. Mashiba's brutal, unforgiving style is grounded in a family situation that gives his aggression real desperation, while Kimura fights knowing this may be his last genuine opportunity. The story treats both men with equal seriousness, refusing to designate a villain, and the fight itself is animated with the franchise's characteristic attention to boxing mechanics.
⚠ Background — may contain spoilers
Based on George Morikawa's long-running manga, Hajime no Ippo is widely regarded as the finest boxing anime ever produced, praised for its technically accurate depiction of the sport and its refusal to reduce opponents to obstacles. This OVA's focus on supporting characters is characteristic of the franchise, which routinely gives rival fighters full backstories and motivations that make their losses genuinely affecting. Madhouse's production, particularly its sound design during exchanges, is frequently cited as a benchmark for making animated combat feel physically consequential. Its supporting fighters are frequently as beloved as the protagonist himself.
Cast
Characters
19
Crew
Staff
54ADR Director1
Animation Director6
Art Director1
Assistant Producer1
Background Art1
Character Design1
Chief Animation Director1
Color Design1
Color Setting1
Director1
Director of Photography1
Editing1
Key Animation24
Music1
Original Creator1
Planning2
Series Composition1
Sound Effects1
Storyboard2
Theme Song Performance1
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