Tomorrow's Joe 2: A thorough review of the legendary sequel

Tomorrow's Joe 2: Indomitable spirit and the essence of boxing

Ashita no Joe 2 is a 1981 Japanese anime film based on the manga by Takamori Asao and illustrated by Chiba Tetsuya. It was released on July 4, 1981, distributed by Nippon Herald Films, has an Eirin number of 110205, is 112 minutes long, and has one episode. It was directed by Dezaki Osamu and is copyrighted by Takamori Asao, Chiba Tetsuya/Kodansha, TMS.

story

One year after the death of his arch rival, Rikishi Toru, Yabuki Joe, who was supposed to have been missing, appears at the Tange Boxing Gym in the flophouse district. Joe steps into the ring once again. However, he is still unable to punch his opponent in the face, a fatal emotional wound for a boxer, due to the shock of Rikishi's death. Worried about Joe, Shiraki Yoko arranges a match for him against the powerful South American boxer Carlos. Overcoming his trauma in the fierce battle, Joe makes a full recovery and challenges the world's strongest champion, Jose Mendoza.

cast

Yabuki Joe: Teruhiko Aoi / Tange Danpei: Shigeki Fujioka / Shiraki Yoko: Fumi Dan / Jose Mendoza: Masumi Okada / Chikaraishi Toru: Toshiyuki Hosokawa / Carlos Rivera: Joe Yamanaka / Mammoth Nishi: Shiro Kishibe and others

Main Staff

Executive producer: Ikki Kajiwara / Producer: Yasuhiko Kawano / Producer: Tokuhachi Shimada / Animation director: Akio Sugino / Music director: Ichiro Araki / Screenplay: Osamu Dezaki

Theme songs and music

[OP] Song: "Ashita no Joe 2" Theme ~Cry for Tomorrow~ / Singer: Joe Yamanaka / Lyrics: Joe Yamanaka / Composer: Joe Yamanaka [ED] Song: The Final Chapter of Youth ~JOE...FOREVER~ / Singer: Joe Yamanaka / Lyrics: Joe Yamanaka / Composer: Joe Yamanaka

Background and evaluation of the work

"Ashita no Joe 2" is an anime movie produced as a sequel to the original manga "Ashita no Joe", and has been highly praised for depicting the deep themes of the original and the growth of the characters. In particular, Yabuki Joe's emotional scars and the process of overcoming them deeply moved viewers, and the human drama depicted through the sport of boxing has captured the hearts of many people.

This work has been loved by many fans since its release in 1981, and one of the reasons for this is the animation that faithfully reproduces the realistic depictions of the original work and the humanity of the characters. In particular, the story, which begins with the shocking episode of Rikiishi Toru's death, evokes deep emotion and empathy in viewers. In addition, the process in which Yabuki Joe overcomes his trauma and steps back into the ring symbolizes the strength and indomitable spirit of humans who face difficulties.

Character Analysis

Yabuki Joe <br> Yabuki Joe continues to be the main character from the original work, and his growth and suffering are at the center of the story. The process of him recovering from the huge shock of Rikiishi Toru's death deeply moves the viewers. In particular, the way he overcomes the trauma of not being able to punch his opponent in the face through the support of Shiraki Yoko and his match with Carlos symbolizes the strength of a person who faces difficulties.

Yoko Shiraki <br> Yoko Shiraki is an important character who supports Joe Yabuki, and arranges a match with Carlos, a strong South American fighter, to heal his emotional wounds. Her dedicated support is an essential element in Joe Yabuki's growth and recovery, and her own strength and kindness add depth to the story.

Jose Mendoza <br> Jose Mendoza is a character who appears as the world's strongest champion and is Yabuki Joe's ultimate goal. His fight with him is an important scene that tests Yabuki Joe's growth and indomitable spirit, and leaves a strong impression on viewers.

Animation and Music

The animation of "Ashita no Joe 2" faithfully reproduces the realistic depictions of the original work, and has been praised for the power of the boxing scenes and the detailed expressions of the characters. The music also plays an important role in enhancing the atmosphere of the story, and the theme songs "Scream to Tomorrow" and "Final Chapter of Youth ~JOE...FOREVER~" by Joe Yamanaka resonate deeply with viewers. In particular, the opening theme "Scream to Tomorrow" has impressive lyrics and melody that symbolize Yabuki Joe's indomitable spirit, while the ending theme "Final Chapter of Youth ~JOE...FOREVER~" is a beautiful song that brings out the moving conclusion of the story.

Social impact and evaluation

"Ashita no Joe 2" has been loved by many fans since its release, and one of the reasons for this is the animation that faithfully reproduces the realistic depictions of the original work and the humanity of the characters. In addition, the human drama depicted through the sport of boxing evokes deep emotion and empathy in the viewer. In particular, the story that begins with the shocking episode of Rikiishi Toru's death evokes deep emotion and empathy in the viewer. Furthermore, the process by which Yabuki Joe overcomes his trauma and steps into the ring again symbolizes the strength and indomitable spirit of a human being who faces difficulties.

This work is a human drama depicted through the sport of boxing that evokes deep emotion and empathy in the viewer. In particular, the story that begins with the shocking episode of the death of Rikishi Toru evokes deep emotion and empathy in the viewer. In addition, the process in which Yabuki Joe overcomes his trauma and steps into the ring again symbolizes the strength and indomitable spirit of a person who faces difficulties.

Recommendations and related works

For those who enjoyed "Ashita no Joe 2," we also recommend the original manga "Ashita no Joe" and "Hajime no Ippo," another boxing-themed work. "Hajime no Ippo" in particular has been praised for its portrayal of the protagonist's growth and boxing techniques, making it a must-see for boxing fans. Also, be sure to check out the other sports-themed anime films "The Wind Rises" and "Grave of the Fireflies," which have been praised for their deep human drama and beautiful animation.

Additionally, for fans of "Ashita no Joe 2," we also recommend related books and goods. In particular, the original manga volumes and the anime DVDs and Blu-rays are essential for a deeper understanding of the world of the story. Character goods and figures will also become valuable collections for fans.

Conclusion

"Ashita no Joe 2" has been highly praised for its portrayal of the deep themes of the original work and the growth of the characters, and the human drama depicted through the sport of boxing deeply moves viewers. In particular, Yabuki Joe's emotional scars and the process of overcoming them evoke deep emotion and empathy in viewers. Additionally, the animation, which faithfully reproduces the realistic depictions of the original work and the humanity of the characters, and Joe Yamanaka's beautiful music are also important elements that enhance the moving story. We hope that viewers will watch this work and feel the strength and indomitable spirit of humans who face difficulties.