There are only a few mangas in the world that have existed as long as the iconic Hajime no Ippo. The 1989 manga series has completed its glorious 30 years, while its anime adaptation is about to celebrate its twentieth anniversary. Well, with the special occasion coming up, we can finally see some hope for Hajime no Ippo Season 4. Will it ever be back? Here’s everything you need to know.
Hajime no Ippo originated in 1989 to tell the story of the legendary character, Makunouchi Ippo. The manga/anime centers around the high school student as he begins his career in boxing. The character grows over time and wins difficult fights and obtains many titles by defeating various opponents. Back in 2000, the first season of the anime adaptation ran for a total of 75 episodes. The second installment of the show dropped the number of episodes to twenty-six. Whereas, the third part only had 25 episodes.
Will ‘Hajime no Ippo Season 4’ Ever Come Out?
While manga readers never fell short of content, fans of the anime had to keep more patient. All three of the previous installment have painfully long gaps between them. The sequel of the anime came out nine years later in 2009. Whereas, the third season returned in 2013. Yet, all these times audience had no idea if the anime will ever come back.
Based on its history of long gaps, chances for the renewal of Hajime no Ippo Season 4 are pretty high. Besides, unlike US tv shows, it’s usual for animes to return after prolonged hiatuses. In fact, some popular animes like One-Punch Man and Log Horizon have been revived almost four to five years later. Hence, it’s fine if the studio is taking long to bring back the renowned character.
On the other hand, it’s important to notice that the third season of the series wasn’t as successful as its forerunners. As per reports, the installment did seven to eight times lesser business than the debut season. This includes the sales of its manga volumes. Yet, Season 3 was much more profitable than most of the anime series these days. Besides, Studio Madhouse can still get back in the game and score more by Hajime no Ippo Season 4.
Manga writer and illustrator by George Morikawa is still writing his acclaimed piece of work. Hence, the fourth season of the anime will have enough source material to promote in its run. As of now, fans must all have some patience and keep hoping for the green flag.
Is There Enough Source Material For A New Season?
The Hajime no Ippo manga series has a total of 127 volumes published as of February 2020. These volumes contain more than 1200 chapters in total. The previous three seasons adapt the first 560 chapters of the manga. Hence, Hajime no Ippo Season 4 has over 650 volumes to cover. This amount of source material can also be used for creating several other installments of the show in the future. Well, as of now, the fourth season looks pretty content.
Can Netflix Pick Up ‘Hajime no Ippo Season 4?’
Fans have already seen prolonged gaps between the season of their favorite anime. Well, some of them blame Studio Madhouse for the delay. The animation studio has been pretty busy lately and is not able to give as much attention to this sports masterpiece. In fact, the studio currently has its plate full for a couple of years.
Therefore, Ippo’s loyal fanbase is consistently demanding a switch in studios. Madhouse has done great work on the production of anime so far. However, it’s getting harder to wait with every passing year.
Lately, Netflix has revived several capable shows from the past. In fact, it has also helped in saving canceled programs that deserve another chance. Aside from other TV shows, the streamer is also working hard on improving its anime collection. Hence, there’s a possibility that the platform may attempt to pick up Hajime no Ippo if Madhouse drops it. Well, at this point, this is nothing more than a speculation, yet, it’s pretty likely to happen. Let’s keep the fingers crossed.
When Will It Release?
Chances for the renewal of Hajime no Ippo Season 4 are currently pretty high. However, looking at its uneven release pattern, it’s hard to predict a date. Even if Madhouse greenlights it today, the new episodes may not premiere anytime sooner than 2021 or 2022. Well, we promise to update this article as soon as the news arrives.
Do you want another season of the sports anime? What are your expectations from Hajime no Ippo Season 4? Tell us in the comments below.