To preface this, I should warn you all that is my first review, so apologises if I end up not following proper etiquette for it. But, having just recently finished the first season of Ashita no Joe, I couldn't not talk about it. This review will contain light spoilers for the first 10 episodes.

Story

It's the 1960's. Construction in Tokyo is at an all-time high, and Japan is rebuilding itself after a post-Allied Forces occupation. In the slums of Tokyo is where we first meet our protagonist, Yabuki Joe - a drifter. Joe quickly becomes involved in a scuffle and is noticed by the local drunk, Tange Danpei - who just so happens to be an old boxing coach. Upon seeing Joe's fists, Danpei immediately values the potential within them and begs Joe to allow him to train him in the art of boxing. Although Joe rejects many times at first, he eventually caves in, and thus the journey begins. Unlike other sports anime, the focus on the sport takes a backstep to other important things like story and character. If you're expecting a straight-up fighting manga, be prepared for that to take a backseat. Make no mistake, this is a slowburn.

Characters

First and foremost, the most important thing about this anime and what the show wants you to focus on are its characters. Each and every main character, from Yabuki Joe to Tange Danpei, is unique and wonderful in their own way. They're all wonderfully flawed, especially the titular Joe. Not only that, but despite being the grandaddy of sports manga/anime, they all feel fresh. And that's the important thing about Joe - everything feels wonderfully crafted, even today.

The only character I'll be discussing in more detail is Yabuki Joe. Joe is, as I said before, wonderfully flawed and, at first, absolutely unlikeable. He's disrespectful, brash, self-absorbed and a bit of a shit, and that's why he works. He's not at all like a protagonist you would expect from the era of Astro Boy and Cyborg 009. This is not a noble hero, he's a human. And a bit of a jerk, at that. However, his abrasive personality gives his moments of weakness that much more impact. It's when we see that humane side of him that his character really shines through, although those moments are rare at first. It's to no one's surprise that Joe undergoes tremendous character development throughout the show.

Not to say that the other characters don't have their moments and aren't all wonderful too. Rikiishi Toru, for example, is a wonderful addition to the cast and is exactly the catalyst Joe needs for his development. And you can't help but cheer for Danpei when you see how much he believes in Joe, despite the fact that Joe is... well, Joe.

Art and Animation

Now we get to the parts where AnJ stumbles a fair bit. As it was made in the 1970's, and the footage is a bit old, expect a lot of mistakes in production. The animation sometimes suffers, and things change colour for no reason. You can see when the anime cuts corners, just as you can see in modern anime, and sometimes it's a fair bit jarring. That being said, the art style, while shows its age in that classic 1970's style, is absolutely a joy to watch at times. What I found to be quite drawing about it were the rough, almost charcoal-like lineart. It gave the series a real 'working-class' feel to it, if that makes sense. After all, the series did appeal to the working class Japanese people.

Sound

Again, AnJ stumbles on this, due to its age. There's a lot of clipping in the sound and, to be honest, I'm not a fan of the little girl's voice. That being said, Joe's VA is an absolute joy to hear, and he nails Joe as a character. The opening track that plays every episode is very telling of the story and the journey Joe faces, and the visuals it gives simply tell the story of Joe in the ring. The OST is another plus - it gives the show a whole 'western' feel about it. One of my favourite tracks is Joe's Whistle, the theme of the entire show and the opening. There's something almost haunting about it.

Direction

Now DAMN, this is where Ashita no Joe shines. While the sound and animation may have shown its time, Osamu Dezaki's phenomenal directing stands the test of time. Ashita no Joe is his debut as a series director, and the series has his style all over it. In particular, he makes use of what he calls 'postcard memories', pastel freeze frames which the frame delves into a painted, more detailed style of the original shot. He also has excellent work with frame movement, split-screens, stark lighting, and dutch angle. Dezaki's directing serves to heighten the excellent moments of tension in scenes, and, perhaps most importantly, makes the show interesting to watch.

Overall

An amazing series that still holds up to this day. I never expected it to make me cry. Excuse me while I go cry some more over how good it is.