# MEGALOBOX (2018)

> A nameless, world-weary hustler rigs underground MEGALOBOX matches to survive until a rivalry with the reigning champion Yuri pulls him back into the ring.

Canonical page: https://ember.film/tv/67369

## Facts

- Seasons: 2
- Episodes: 26
- Episode runtime: 24 min
- Status: Ended
- Genres: animation, action, drama, science fiction
- Network: TBS
- Cast: Yoshimasa Hosoya, Ami Naito, Hiroki Yasumoto, Hiroyuki Kinoshita, Makoto Tamura, Michiyo Murase, Momoko Taneichi, Nanako Mori
- TMDB rating: 7.8/10
- IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7965802/

## Ember's analysis

- Pacing: brisk
- Intensity: strong
- Complexity: simple
- Violence: moderate
- Tone: gritty, melancholic, bleak, intense, sincere

## What critics say

Audience reception is positive, with viewers praising the gritty boxing drama and the rivalry between JD and Yuri across both seasons.

## Synopsis

MEGALOBOX (2018-2021) is a Japanese animated sports series created for TBS, produced by TMS Entertainment, and a spin-off of the Ashita no Joe lineage. Its protagonist JD, a nameless motorcycle rider in a desolate, impoverished city, has no past and only his ring name, Junk Dog. He makes ends meet with his friend Gansaku Nanbu, rigging underground MEGALOBOX matches for cash, a bored and unfulfilled existence that shifts when he confronts Yuri, the reigning champion with the skills and presence of a true champion. Voice performances by Yoshimasa Hosoya, Hiroki Yasumoto, and Shirou Saitou carry the characters. The series runs two seasons across 26 episodes, one continuing story where each bout builds the rivalry and the stakes. Each episode is built from dusty backroom deals, gritty training, and brutal ring combat, all set against a dusty dystopian landscape. It has the gritty, melancholic register of classic underdog boxing dramas, a shounen sports tradition with a darker, adult edge. Fans of Hajime no Ippo and Cowboy Bebop will find resonance in its bleak atmosphere and sports rivalry.

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