Battle Fighters Garou Densetsu review: Was the fusion of action and story successful?

Battle Fighters Garou Densetsu - A legendary anime born from a game

■ Public Media

TV anime series

■ Original Media

game

■ Broadcast period

December 23, 1992 - January 1, 0000

■Frequencies

45 min

■ Number of Episodes

Episode 1

■ Director

・Director: Seiichi Morishita

■ Production

・Animation Production: Studio Comet

■Works

©SNK PLAYMORE, Fuji Television, NAS

■ Story

Based on the popular fighting game "Fatal Fury". Brothers Terry and Andy, fighters, win battles in the underworld. Geese Howard, the ruler of Southtown. This year, he is hosting the strongest fighting tournament "King of Fighters", and his skills are at the peak. However, he does not know. His fate awaits him in a "fateful battle"... The Bogard brothers, Terry and Andy, whose adoptive father was killed by Geese 10 years ago, have each trained hard in martial arts and returned to Southtown to seek revenge. However, it is not easy to get close to Geese, who controls the town from the shadows. Terry and Andy spent their days in frustration. Then, a man appeared in front of the two. His name is Azuma Joe. He came to the town to participate in the strongest fighting tournament, and told Terry and Andy that the tournament's organizer was Geese. This is the perfect chance to get close to Geese! The two decide to participate in the tournament. And finally, the day of the tournament arrives. What will be the outcome of this "fateful showdown"?

■Explanation

"Garou Densetsu" is the origin of SNK fighting games. It consists of an eight-way lever and three buttons for punching, kicking, and throwing, and includes many innovative systems such as cooperative play in which two characters join forces to fight against CPU characters, and deep two-line battles. As with other fighting games, each character has multiple special moves, but only one of them is listed on the instruction card, and after a bonus stage appears every time two CPU characters are defeated, the command corresponding to the character being used is revealed one by one. The unique characters and dramatic story development have made it popular with many fans.

■ Main staff

Director: Seiichi Morishita; Character design and animation director: Masami Ohbari; Music: Koumei Kanno; Sound: Masafumi Mima; Animation production: Studio Comet

■ Main Characters

Terry Bogard Fighting style: Martial arts + Jeff's fighting style Hobbies: Video games Birthday: March 15, 1971 Important possession: Jeff's keepsake glove Age: 22 Favorite food: Fast food Height: 182cm
Favorite music: Rock Weight: 77kg
Dislikes: Slugs Blood type: Type O Favorite sport: Basketball Birthplace: America, Andy Bogard Fighting style: Kobutsuji Hobbies: Training Birthday: August 16, 1972 Important things: Commemorative photo from training days (with my master, Hanzo Shiranui)
Age: 21 Favorite food: Natto spaghetti Height: 171cm
Favorite music: Silence Weight: 69kg
Dislikes: Dogs Blood type: Type A Favorite sport: Short track Birthplace: America, Joe Higashi Fighting style: Muay Thai Hobby: Fighting Birthday: March 29, 1972 Important thing: Headband Age: 21 Favorite food: Fried crocodile Height: 180cm
Favorite music: Enka Weight: 72kg
Dislikes: School Blood type: AB Favorite sport: All martial arts Birthplace: Japan

■Detailed evaluation and recommendation

"Battle Fighters: Garou Densetsu" is a TV anime series based on SNK's popular fighting game "Garou Densetsu" and was broadcast on December 23, 1992. Although it was only broadcast for a short period of one episode, the content was very dense and it has become an unforgettable work for fans. This anime faithfully reproduces the world view of the game while drawing viewers in with its unique story development. Below, we will explain in detail the appeal of this anime and the recommended points.

■ The appeal of the story

The story of "Battle Fighters: Fatal Fury" is about the Bogard brothers, Terry and Andy, who challenge the strongest martial arts tournament, "King of Fighters," to get revenge on Geese Howard. The story depicts the bond between brothers, the drama of revenge, and the heated martial arts battles, and has the power to draw viewers in. In particular, Geese Howard's overwhelming strength and charisma will leave a strong impression on viewers. The appearance of a new character, Joe Higashi, also adds depth to the story. His presence brings a new development to the battle between the Bogard brothers, and is an important element in attracting viewers' interest.

■Charm of the characters

The characters in this anime are faithful to the personalities of the original game. Each character's charm is clearly depicted, such as Terry Bogard's cool attitude and strong will, Andy Bogard's serious and hardworking side, and Joe Higashi's cheerfulness and passion for fighting. Geese Howard's ruthlessness and overwhelming power will leave a strong impression on viewers. The detailed character settings are also one of the attractions, and even the smallest details are carefully drawn, such as Terry's favorite food being fast food and Andy's preference for natto spaghetti. These settings help you understand the characters' humanity more deeply.

■Animation and Music

The animation was done by Studio Comet, with character design and animation direction by Ohbari Masami. The power and fluidity of the fighting scenes are stunning, drawing the viewer in. The music was also done by Kanno Koumei, and the background music that heightens the tension in the fighting scenes and the melodies that portray the characters' emotions are memorable. The music in the battle scenes in particular lifts the viewer's spirits, further enhancing the excitement of the story.

■ Recommendation points

"Battle Fighters: Fatal Fury" is recommended not only for fighting game fans, but also for viewers who want to enjoy action anime and dramatic stories. Although it was only broadcast for a short period of one episode, the content is very dense and has the power to draw viewers in. In addition, the personalities of the characters and the development of the story are well-drawn, making it a work that leaves an impression even after watching. Furthermore, for fans of the original game, it is a rare work that recreates the world of the game in anime, and is definitely worth watching.

■ Related works and recommendations

For viewers who enjoyed "Battle Fighters: Garou Densetsu," we also recommend the following related works:

• Garou Densetsu: The Motion Picture : Another anime film based on the Garou Densetsu. It follows the exploits of the Bogard brothers and has a deeper story and more powerful battle scenes.
• King of Fighters : An anime series based on the SNK fighting game, just like Garou Densetsu. A wide variety of characters appear and a spectacular story unfolds.
• Street Fighter : Another anime series based on a fighting game. With its diverse characters and action, it's a great choice for fans of Garou Densetsu.

■ Summary

"Battle Fighters: Fatal Fury" is a TV anime series based on SNK's popular fighting game "Fatal Fury". Although it is only one episode, the content is very dense and has the power to draw viewers in. The characters' personalities and story development are well-drawn, making it a work that leaves an impression even after watching. It is a work that is recommended not only for fighting game fans, but also for viewers who enjoy action anime and dramatic stories. You can experience an even deeper worldview by enjoying related works as well.