Megalobox

Megalobox

Company type	Anime series
Industry	Animation, Entertainment
Founded	2018
Founder	TMS Entertainment, 3xCube
Headquarters	Japan
Products	Anime television series

Megalobox is a Japanese anime series created and animated by TMS Entertainment along with its subsidiary 3xCube, marking Yō Moriyama's first role as director. Developed to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the boxing manga Ashita no Joe, the narrative unfolds in a late 21st century Japan where combatants employ powered exoskeletons. The plot follows an underground fighter named Junk Dog who enters the Megalonia boxing competition with the goal of defeating the reigning champion, Yūri.

The series was broadcast in Japan from April 6 to June 29, 2018, and was simultaneously streamed on Crunchyroll. Viz Media secured licensing for its English distribution, which debuted on Adult Swim's Toonami programming block in December 2018. Its sequel, Megalobox 2: Nomad, aired between April 4 and June 27, 2021.

Setting

Set in a futuristic late 21st century Japan, Megalobox depicts a society divided between citizens living within the Administrative Area metropolis and non-citizens inhabiting the expansive Restricted Area slums. The sport of Megaloboxing involves fighters equipped with powered exoskeletons known as Gears, significantly enhancing their striking power.

Plot

The storyline revolves around Junk Dog, an underground fighter who participates in rigged bouts within the Restricted Area’s clandestine fight clubs. His life changes after encountering Yukiko Shirato, CEO of Shirato Group, and facing her bodyguard and Megaloboxing champion, Yūri. Following this confrontation, Junk Dog is challenged to qualify for the elite Megalonia tournament. To compete officially, he must obtain citizenship and ascend through the sanctioned rankings. With assistance from his coach Gansaku Nanbu and mob boss Fujimaki, Junk Dog acquires a forged ID under the alias Joe and is given three months to reach the top tier and secure entry into Megalonia.

Characters

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Junk Dog is an underground Megaloboxer compelled to lose matches under his corrupt manager's orders. Utilizing obsolete Gear, he assumes the name "Joe" after receiving falsified citizenship to compete in Megalonia. He later adopts the moniker "Gearless Joe," choosing to fight without Gear as a tactical move to accelerate his rise in rankings.

In the second season, now called "Nomad," Joe wanders through underground rings using basic Gear while battling addiction to painkillers. After losing an exhibition match against Yuri’s protégé Edison Liu and disappearing from professional competition, he transitions into a cornerman role and works on his recovery before returning home to mend relationships with former acquaintances.

Gansaku Nanbu serves as Joe’s manager and trainer; a gambler who pressures Joe into throwing fights despite recognizing his potential. Nanbu succumbs to cancer between seasons, leaving bitterness among their circle due to Joe’s perceived abandonment during his illness.

Yūri is Yukiko Shirato’s bodyguard and reigning Megaloboxing champion equipped with prototype integrated Gear surgically attached to his arms. He defeats Joe early in the series and challenges him to climb Megalonia’s ranks for a rematch. In season two, Yuri mentors new champion Edison Liu.

Sachio is a skilled orphan from the Restricted Area adept at mechanics and theft. He trades stolen items for drugs and has become a teenage underground fighter lacking both skill and determination. Sachio harbors deep resentment toward Joe for abandoning Nanbu during his illness.

Yukiko Shirato is CEO of Shirato Group, overseeing the Megalonia tournament and playing a central role in managing the sport's corporate interests.

Fujimaki is a mob boss who arranges fixed fights involving Joe and Nanbu. He facilitates Joe’s acquisition of forged identification documents and expects repayment through prize money after Joe refuses to throw a match.

Gansaku Nanbu’s former protégé turned soldier who lost his legs and suffers from PTSD due to an explosion. He returns to professional fighting, reaching rank 17 before vowing to defeat Joe for personal revenge and financial gain.

Mikio Shirato is Yukiko’s older brother and creator of Ace, an AI-enhanced Gear system that anticipates opponents’ moves. After being overlooked for company leadership, Mikio becomes a university professor by season two.

Mac is an Uruguayan fighter sponsored by ROSCO who initially retires after witnessing Joe versus Yuri but returns following paralysis caused by a police shootout. Implanted with experimental brain chip technology called BES by ROSCO CEO Ryugo Sakuma, Mac demonstrates advanced integrated Gear abilities despite suffering mental side effects.

Ryugo Sakuma is CEO of ROSCO and inventor of BES technology that links brain function directly with Gear systems.

An undocumented Afro-Latino immigrant leader who falsely claims to be a former ranked Megaloboxer to earn money underground. Inspired by Joe’s example, he aims to win Megalonia to secure stability for his community.

An undocumented Afro-Latina operating an auto repair shop within her immigrant community striving for honest livelihood.

Marla’s son involved in petty crimes attempting to impress peers outside their community.

Edison Liu is the reigning Megaloboxing world champion and Yuri’s protégé who defeated Joe in their title bout one year after the initial Megalonia tournament—the last professional fight before Joe vanished.

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Sachio’s orphaned street companions from the Restricted Area who are enthusiastic followers of Joe and avid fans of Megaloboxing events including Megalonia.

First season

Yō Moriyama directed the series, drawing inspiration from the second animated version of Ashita no Joe that he admired during his youth. He was particularly impressed by its animation quality and themes, especially the dynamic between Joe Yabuki and his rival Toru Rikishi. The project originated as a tribute to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Ashita no Joe in 2018. Producer Minako Fujiyoshi of TMS was approached by Kodansha in 2013 to develop the concept. Initially, the narrative was intended to take place within the same universe as Ashita no Joe, featuring Rikishi; however, this idea was abandoned due to complications, resulting in a more original storyline. Although initially conceived as a parody, the series evolved into an original tale while maintaining Joe’s enduring "never-give-up" spirit. The visual style was influenced by prominent 1980s creators such as Katsuhiro Otomo and Yoshiaki Kawajiri. Moriyama anticipated that animation quality might decline in later episodes.

The early episodes primarily introduced the story and setting, with character development occurring gradually. Yoshimasa Hosoya, who voices Gearless Joe, commended the nuanced portrayal of Joe and Yuri’s characters, particularly their initial encounter. Moriyama’s experience in drawing—acquired through vocational school and his work at Madhouse—proved valuable in directing, despite the challenges of transitioning from animator to director. He loosely modeled Gearless Joe and Yuri after Jo Yabuki and Rikishi, focusing on their rivalry as a central element.

Moriyama described the core theme as celebrating individualism and the enjoyment of competition without targeting a particular audience segment. Fujiyoshi mentioned that positive responses to the first season motivated plans for a sequel. Composer Mabanua was selected for his appealing style, incorporating hip hop—Moriyama’s preferred genre—to complement the story’s atmosphere.

Moriyama’s favorite part of production was generating fresh ideas. Joe’s boxing style drew inspiration from fighters Jake LaMotta and Naseem Hamed. Directing fight sequences posed difficulties due to animators’ constraints in realistically depicting poses and movements within tight schedules. To overcome this, Moriyama meticulously planned shots for maximum effect and frequently studied boxing films for reference. Some bouts were influenced by Premier Boxing Champions matches suggested by scriptwriter Katsuhiko Manabe. Beyond individualism, another significant theme is "for people to live," centering on three main characters while mirroring aspects of Ashita no Joe's cast.

Second season

At the conclusion of the first season, producer Minako Fujiyoshi initially did not intend to pursue a second season, citing timing and priorities. However, during script development for the sequel, extensive discussions and disagreements arose among director Moriyama, screenwriters, and Fujiyoshi concerning Joe's path to redemption. Multiple revisions were encouraged by Fujiyoshi to achieve satisfaction with all 13 scripts completed. She emphasized that the latter half of the season would incorporate nostalgic elements featuring returning characters depicted as older and more mature.

Moriyama was initially hesitant about creating a sequel due to limited positive reception in Japan but was persuaded by Fujiyoshi’s efforts. The creative team debated how to portray Joe as a disheartened adult, shifting focus from merely honoring Ashita no Joe to addressing broader social issues such as immigration. Joe’s psychological struggles play a central role, contrasting with characters like Yuri. To support this direction, the character Chief was introduced as a mentor figure aiding Joe in regaining his fighting spirit. By episode five, Joe’s internal conflicts become apparent, followed by more intricate boxing matches. Unlike the first season’s straightforward rivalry narrative, this installment treats victory and defeat with less emphasis on their consequences.

Voice actor Yoshimasa Hosoya expressed surprise upon hearing about the sequel and welcomed the opportunity for further character development for Joe. Returning cast members were curious about their roles due to limited appearances early on. Hosoya noted that the first season gained recognition not only domestically but also internationally through fan correspondence from Western audiences. He admitted he did not initially realize that the bearded protagonist shown in promotional materials for season two was Joe himself and praised the improved animation quality as cinematic, crediting Moriyama’s strong direction capable of supporting a potential live-action adaptation. The new moniker “Nomad” adopted by Joe symbolizes both narrative progression and a fresh creative approach.

Media

Anime

The series announcement occurred on October 12, 2017, via a video released on TMS Entertainment's YouTube channel. Directed and designed by Yō Moriyama—who previously contributed concept designs for Attack on Titan and Kabaneri of the Iron Fortress—the anime features "Bite" by LEO Imai as its opening theme and "Kakatte Koi yo" by NakamuraEmi as its ending theme, with additional insert songs performed by rapper COMA-CHI. The 13-episode series was simulcast on Crunchyroll; Japanese Blu-ray editions included new short anime segments. Viz Media secured licensing rights during Anime Expo 2018. Anime Limited obtained home video distribution rights for the UK and Ireland, while Madman Entertainment handled distribution in Australia and New Zealand alongside streaming on AnimeLab.

The anime debuted on Adult Swim's Toonami programming block on December 8, 2018.

At Anime NYC in November 2019, a second season titled Megalobox 2: Nomad was announced. It aired from April 4 through June 27, 2021, on Tokyo MX and BS11 channels with original staff and cast returning. Funimation licensed this continuation before transferring rights to Crunchyroll following Sony's acquisition. This season also consisted of 13 episodes with new short anime included in its Blu-ray release.

Manga

A manga adaptation based on the Megalobox anime entitled Megalo Box - Shukumei no Sōken (メガロボクス 宿命の双拳), created by Chikara Sakuma, was serialized in Kodansha's Shōnen Magazine Edge from February 17 until August 17, 2018, culminating in two published volumes.

Reception

The anime received largely favorable critical reviews. Anime News Network described it as "One of the coolest anime I've ever seen," despite utilizing familiar tropes and some less distinctive characters. Otaku USA regarded it as one of 2018's standout anime titles and an honorable homage to Ashita no Joe. Similarly, Manga.Tokyo acknowledged imperfections but praised its strong tribute elements and compelling protagonist portrayal. Kotaku ranked it among Spring 2018's best anime offerings, highlighting its blend of stylistic flair reminiscent of Cowboy Bebop combined with the vigor typical of contemporary sports anime like Slam Dunk. Actor Michael B. Jordan revealed that Joe’s emotionally charged fights in Megalobox inspired aspects of his film Creed III.