How many episodes are in the Baki the Grappler anime?

How many episodes are in the Baki the Grappler anime depends on whether you’re willing to include more than 20 years of history.

Baki the Grappler is one of the longest-running shonen series still being written today, with the next chapter still being produced by Mangaka Keisuke Itagaki. While the modern anime captured the attention of Western audiences, the franchise has an animated history stretching all the way back to 1994. If you’re looking to dig into the history of Baki the Grappler, you’ll have well over 100 episodes to sit through.

How many total episodes are in the Baki anime?

The exact number of episodes depends on how many series you count, as the anime series before the Netflix adaptation greatly increases the number.

There are 39 episodes of the first BAKI Netflix anime adaptation, as well as 39 episodes in the Baki Hanma series, which is a direct sequel to BAKI. That puts the total number of modern Baki anime episodes at 78, with more seasons potentially on the way. Those two series cover the middle sections of the Baki manga, with the trials of Miyamoto Musashi still yet to be adapted.

However, if you include the Baki anime series before Netflix took over, the number is significantly increased. The 2002 anime by Free-Will contains 48 episodes, which increases the number to 126. In addition, the original series has multiple OVAs, with the very first being released in 1994.

If you’re intimidated by the size of the anime, there’s no shame in jumping straight into the Netflix anime with no prior knowledge of the series. TMS Entertainment did a great job of acquainting new fans with the characters and general rules of the series. The Death Row Convicts arc also gives several case members some time to shine, and the next arcs showcase plenty of the weirdness that Baki is famous for.