El Campeón 2

Ashita no joe is nothing like average shounen, in fact it's not even like average sports anime like hajime no ippo or blue lock, ashita no joe is very realistic anime that doesn't require gruesome scenes or extreme dark themes, it doesn't try to be dark or mind blowing, it's hard to explain in words but there is almost an emotional mature aspect to it, which you can just feel it by watching and reading the art itself.

The journey of joe from being arrogant to being mature is just peak fiction.

It's been more than 50 years and no fiction of media has topped ashita no joe for me. Greatest piece of fiction no doubt about it. Everything about it is beautiful, I love the midnight blues as well.