Ultimate Muscle: The Kinnikuman Legacy

This cartoon is based on a Japanese manga called "Kinnikuman" that originated about 20 or more years ago. That manga was about the adventures of an alien wrestler on Earth, and it spawned more mangas, several cartoon shows and a toy line that is still highly collectible.

In other words, it's got a respectable past behind it, even if it wasn't originally seen in the US.

I don't think it would spoil anything if I told you that yes, here, the hero is a coward and a slacker. But if you observed the show, you could see the character evolving and taking more responsibility. I think that it's kinda cool, where, even though Kid Muscle is obviously terrified, he still ends up doing the right thing and helping his friends.

If you want angst in yer anime, go watch Evangilon Genesis. Otherwise..

Pull my finger!

I haven't seen many eppies of this wonderfully humorous cartoon series. I can safely say that I would be a better fighter than Kid Muscle. He's such a scaredy cat! But, without a scaredy main character, this show would lose some of its humor. Here I am to blab about my fave voice actor again-Darren Dunstan. He does a couple of voices on this. So does Eric Stuart, the voice of Kaiba (Yu-Gi-Oh), Brock and James (pokemon). Keep going, but try to keep Kid Muscle out of trouble. ^_~

out of (I think)50 animes that started this year in both Japan and in the U.S.,Kinnikuman Nisei (aka Ultimate Muscle) was the best. Sure,there many animes this year that have been release that are WAYYY better,but come on? give this anime a break. Sure,it issnt Evangelion,.Hack///SIGN or RahXephon,but it issnt. Thats what makes this series so difrent from more conteparary animes out in the market. Alot of animes take themselfs WAYYY to serously and pretty much eliminates what we came to see before. Remeber the days of Project A-Ko? or who can forget the classic Ranma 1/2? well,then you'd love Kinnikuman Nisei/Ultimate Muscle. Sure,it's comedy is a bit low-brow,but the low-brow works! and the action is over-the-top,like a WWE show,it's guiltfree pleasure! im pretty sure if anyone would give it a try (at be it,skiping the first few episodes)im pretty sure everyone would like it. I've been watching anime most of my life and I can say from experience that this is the best anime that anime has to offer,it's rare that an anime such as this one exsit and is airing and qickly gaining streign as it goes along. I just hope it gets it's proper respects at the end. Well,hope everyone agrees with me

-Ramses

Short version:

I LOOOOOVE this show!

Long Version:

Sure, Kid Muscle (Mantaro) is a loser, a young man afraid of even his own shadow, and he has flatulent super powers...but that's what this show is about. Goofball moronic entertainment. See...the 20 some odd year history of the Kinnikuman is a rich <snicker> and storied <guffaw> one full of the one thing guaranteed to get kids of ANY ethnic background to laugh: Disgusting, over the top, POTTY humor!

I was a HUGE fan of the toys when they were released in the US back in the mid 80's, the little pink MUSCLE figures that you could buy in a trash can. I loved everything about them. And I love them even more NOW that there's a show to go along with the toys of yore I so loved to collect.

In short, if you're looking for a serious anime, then ANYTHING on the Fox Box is not up your alley, however, if you're willing to let yourself be taken over by the kid inside, and for just a second, not be a grown up, you'll find yourself laughing into your Frosted Flakes 9:30 am, every saturday.

I give this cartoon 4 1/2 out of 5 stars.

My favorite anime series. At first, I thought it looked dumb, but when I sat down and actually watched it, I fell in-love with the series. It's hilarious, action-packed,sometimes serious, and has many interesting characters. Both men and women can enjoy this series. (Sadly though, 4Kids aimed this anime at the wrong audience. It should have been 13+.)

I really enjoying watching this anime, and wish there were more DVDs and merchandise available. It's a shame they took it off the air. We need more anime series like this!

• KnuxieChan