A massive anime crossover has been confirmed with Baki and Tokito Ohma seemingly set to face off in Baki Hanma VS Kengan Ashura; and fans already have a release date and details on where to watch it.
Since Kengan Ashura’s arrival on Netflix in 2019, a rivalry has existed between these two series. Both series are based on the idea of a legendary but secret fighting circuit that dates back hundreds of years, and both arrived within several months of each other on Netflix. Comparing the two was natural, but anime and manga rivalries almost always start and end at the fan speculation phase.
That’s not going to be the case here. Baki Hanma VS Kengan Ashura has been confirmed and it will see the two underground fighting champions cross paths. Here’s everything that’s known, what might happen, and where to watch it.
Baki Hanma VS Kengan Ashura release date confirmed
Baki Hanma VS Kengan Ashura will come out on June 6, 2024.
The announcement came suddenly on March 23, 2024 with no rumors or buildup behind it. The news itself was a shock, there’s another surprise in how the new crossover series will actually arrive before Kengan Ashura Season 2 Part 2.
The next portion of Kengan Ashura’s anime isn’t slated to arrive until August 2024, so fans will likely see Baki and Tokito Ohma face off before they find out whether Ohma wins the Kengan Annihilation Tournament. The good news is that regardless, it’s going to be one-stop shopping when it comes to watching all of this.
Where to watch Baki Hanma VS Kengan Ashura
The new crossover fighting series will be available exclusively on Netflix.
It’s the most natural landing spot for the series, of course. Baki first arrived on Netflix in 2018 with its sequel, Baki Hanma, arriving on the service in 2021 and wrapping in 2023. Kengan Ashura is similar, launching on Netflix in 2019 with its next season wrapping in 2024.
Thankfully, almost everything from both franchises can be watched on Netflix. The most important exception is 2001’s Baki the Grappler anime, which remains in an awkward and uncertain limbo.
How many episodes will Baki Hanma VS Kengan Ashura be?
Baki Hanma VS Kengan Ashura is seemingly going to be a one-shot movie, rather than a full series.
The announcement on Twitter states that it is a “series” so fans assumed it was going to be a multi-part adventure. This also hypothetically makes sense as TMS Entertainment, which worked on both Baki and Baki Hanma, has averaged one 13-episode season per year. A full season of crossover action wouldn’t be shocking, even if fans are still scarred by the long layoff between Baki Hanma seasons two and three.
Either fortunately or unfortunately, this isn’t actually going to be the case. Despite Netflix’s tweets, the actual listing for Baki Hanma VS Kengan Ashura on the Netflix streaming service has it as a film. The thumbnail lists it as a Netflix Film while it’s categorized as a movie. Given how Netflix has a number of factual misfires regarding Baki, like saying Baki’s fight with Yujiro Hanma could be seen in 2021 when it didn’t happen until 2023, it seems more likely that the tweet was in error than the Netflix database.
What fights will happen in Baki Hanma VS Kengan Ashura?
The only fight that is suggested to happen in Baki Hanma VS Kengan Ashura is Baki against Tokito Ohma.
The two series previously had a one-chapter manga crossover by Kengan Ashura’s Sandrovich Yabako and Daromeon. This showed a flashback starring Doppo Orochi, who Mitsunari Tokugawa asks to represent the Underground Arena in an exhibition match against a fighter from the Kengan who is revealed to be Yoroizuka Saw Paing’s father, Pa Paing.
The fight isn’t shown and it’s unspecified what the conclusion of the fight is. It’s unknown whether this will be shown in the anime or what other dream matches may take place but the fact that it’s a movie suggests that it may just include Baki and Ohma. Fans will almost certainly be able to see some favorites from both franchises, though.
