Fighting Spirit (2000): cast, story & where to watch

Released in 2000, Fighting Spirit is an animation, comedy, drama and action & adventure series.

What it’s about. Makunouchi Ippo is an ordinary high school student in Japan. Since he spends most of his time away from school helping his mother run the family business, he doesn't get to enjoy his younger years like most teenagers. Always a target for bullying at school (the family fishing business grants him a distinct odor), Ippo's life is one of hardship. One of these after-school bullying sessions turns Ippo's life around for the better, as he is saved by a boxer named Takamura. He decides to follow in Takamura's footsteps and train to become a boxer, giving his life direction and purpose. Ippo's path to perfecting his pugilistic prowess is just beginning...

Who’s in it. Fighting Spirit stars Tomokazu Seki as Ichiro Miyata (voice), Kohei Kiyasu as Ippo Makunouchi (voice), Rikiya Koyama as Mamoru Takamura (voice) and Wataru Takagi as Masaru Aoki (voice), among others.

How it landed. With an audience score of 8.7/10, Fighting Spirit sits among the best-reviewed titles in the catalogue.

Where to watch. In US you can stream it on Netflix, Philo, Crunchyroll Amazon Channel and Netflix Standard with Ads. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Fighting Spirit page.

If you liked it. Fans of Fighting Spirit tend to enjoy Rick and Morty, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba, Attack on Titan and Attack on Titan: No Regrets.