Baki Watch Order: All Anime Entries & Where to Find Them

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Your guide to the entire Baki franchise

Co-authored by Glenn Carreau

Last Updated: January 28, 2026 Fact Checked

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Release Order

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Chronological Order

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Is Baki (2018) a remake?

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Breakdown of Baki Shows & Movies

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Where to Watch

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Are there filler episodes?

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Will there be more Baki?

Are you an anime fan who’s curious about the long-running Baki franchise? If you’re fond of martial arts and fighting anime series, Baki should be right up your alley; it tells the story of a young Baki Hanma, who trains in martial arts and the world of underground fighting to ultimately beat his powerful father. In this guide, we’ll show you the best order for watching the Baki franchise, as well as where you can find each show and movie. Keep reading to learn more!

Baki: The Best Watch Order

Grappler Baki: The Ultimate Fighter (1994)
Baki the Grappler (2001)
Baki: Most Evil Death Row Convicts Special Anime (2016)
Baki (2018 - 2020)
Baki Hanma (2021 - 2023)
Baki Hanma VS Kengan Ashura (2024)

Section 1 of 7:

How to Watch Baki in Release Order

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For newcomers, it’s probably easiest to watch Baki in release order—and that’s only because the chronological order breaks up season 1 of Baki the Grappler, whereas release order is simpler and allows you to watch everything straight through! Content for the Baki franchise has generally been released in the order it’s meant to be watched, so you don’t need to do any skipping around. Here’s the release order:^{[1]
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- Grappler Baki: The Ultimate Fighter (1994)
- Baki the Grappler (2001)
- Baki: Most Evil Death Row Convicts Special Anime (2016)
- Baki (2018 - 2020)
- Baki Hanma (2021 - 2023)
- Baki Hanma VS Kengan Ashura (2024)

Section 2 of 7:

How to Watch Baki in Chronological Order

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For fans wanting to watch Baki in exact chronological order, it’s thankfully not too hard to do! The only real difference between release and chronological order is the placement of the Grappler Baki OVA, which technically overlaps with the Baki the Grappler anime series. So, here’s the correct chronological viewing order for the Baki franchise:^{[2]
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- Baki the Grappler - Season 1, Episodes 1-16 (2001)
- Grappler Baki: The Ultimate Fighter (1994)
- Baki the Grappler - Season 1, Episodes 17-24 (2001)
- Baki the Grappler, Season 2 (2001)
- Baki: Most Evil Death Row Convicts Special Anime (2016)
- Baki - Season 1 (2018)
- Baki - Season 2 (2020)
- Baki Hanma - Season 1 (2021)
- Baki Hanma - Season 2 (2023)
- Baki Hanma VS Kengan Ashura (2024)

Section 3 of 7:

Is Baki (2018) a remake?

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No, the 2018 Baki is a separate (but related) story. The 2018 Baki series is basically a sequel to Baki the Grappler—but, since it was released so much later (and has a similar name), it’s easy for fans to be confused by the two. Nonetheless, Baki the Grappler is, chronologically, the first main entry in the franchise, and Baki is the second.
- However, it’s also possible to watch Baki without having seen Baki the Grappler; you can still follow the plot!

Section 4 of 7:

All Baki Shows & Movies, Explained

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1
Baki the Grappler (2001) TheBaki the Grappler anime series covers Baki Hanma’s younger years, as he discovers the world of illegal underground fighting and sets out to become a champion in the arena. In the past, a 13-year-old Baki aims to defeat his father, Yujiro Hanma, in battle; meanwhile, in the present, a special tournament takes place that pits Baki against his half-brother, Jack Hanma.^{[3]
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- There are two seasons of the Baki the Grappler anime, both released in 2001.
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Grappler Baki: The Ultimate Fighter (1994)Grappler Baki is the 1994 precursor to the Baki the Grappler series; it’s a 45-minute OVA (original video animation) that covers the first few volumes of the manga series. It follows Baki as a high school student honing his martial arts skills and moving up the ranks of the no-holds-barred fighting scene.
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Baki: Most Evil Death Row Convicts Special Anime (2016)Most Evil Death Row Convicts Special Anime is an OVA that introduces the main antagonists of Baki (2018)—the five death row inmates determined to battle Baki. While it adds some context and depth to the overall story, it’s not necessary to watch to understand Baki (2018).
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Baki (2018) Netflix’s 2018Baki series is set not long after the conclusion of Baki the Grappler. It follows Baki as he attempts to be a “regular” teenager and attend high school. However, Baki’s normal life is interrupted after five dangerous death row inmates escape from prison and head to Tokyo—and Baki takes on the challenge of defeating them.^{[4]
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- There are two seasons of Baki, which aired in 2018 and 2020, respectively.
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Baki Hanma (2021) Still on his mission to surpass his father as a fighter, theBaki Hanma series follows Baki as he enters Arizona State Prison to take on an inmate called “Mr. Unchained.” It’s the third main installment of the franchise and a sequel to the Baki (2018) series.^{[5]
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- There are two seasons of Baki Hanma, which were released in 2021 and 2023.
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Baki Hanma VS Kengan Ashura (2024)Baki Hanma VS Kengan Ashura is a crossover film with Kengan Ashura (which is another anime series adapted from manga). In the movie, fighters from both series clash in an epic martial arts showdown!^{[6]
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Section 5 of 7:

Where to Watch Baki

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You can watch the newer Baki shows on Netflix. The two-season Baki series, as well as the two-season Baki Hanma, are both available on Netflix (as they’re technically Netflix originals). The crossover film Baki Hanma VS Kengan Ashura is also a Netflix original. However, all earlier Baki installments (Baki the Grappler and the two OVAs) are definitely harder to find, as they aren’t streaming anywhere.
- The only legal way to watch Baki the Grappler is by purchasing the DVDs secondhand, which can be expensive.
- Thus, it’s perfectly fine for new viewers to start with Netflix’s Baki show and watch all the Baki content from there onward.

Section 6 of 7:

Are there filler episodes of Baki?

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There aren’t any filler episodes, but there are OVAs that you can skip. Baki (including Baki the Grappler, Baki, and Baki Hanma) don’t really have any episodes that would be considered “filler,” so when you watch them, you can just watch from start to finish! It’s mainly the OVAs that are skippable—Grappler Baki: The Ultimate Fighter and Most Evil Death Row Convicts Special Anime.
- Grappler Baki: The Ultimate Fighter is an adaptation of the first few volumes of the manga; its contents are later covered in Baki the Grappler, which is why you really don’t need the OVA if you’d rather skip it.
- Most Evil Death Row Convicts Special is basically an introduction to several enemies in an arc in the Baki anime, and you can easily just watch the series without needing to watch the OVA, too.

Section 7 of 7:

Will there be more Baki?

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Yes, Netflix plans to release a Baki-Dou series in 2026. The streaming service has confirmed that an adaptation of the Baki-Dou manga, titled BAKI-DOU: The Invincible Samurai, will be released on Netflix. This new series will continue Baki’s story as he encounters a new enemy: the newly resurrected swordsman Miyamoto Musashi. Currently, BAKI-DOU is planned for a 2026 release.