Kinnikuman: Perfect Origin Arc is a recent Netflix anime sequel to the original Kinnikuman series that, like the original, has a lot of parallels to Dragon Ball. Both are martial arts action comedies with sci-fi elements and a constant escalation in fights and stakes, which led to a notable rivalry between their original manga, and both stories getting sequels decades later only further emphasized their similarities.
There are undeniable parallels between Kinnikuman and Dragon Ball, but Kinnikuman has notably avoided a major problem Dragon Ball and other shōnen anime tend to run into. Whenever a shonen anime deals with a long arc of fighting, there’s always the issue of how to use the more minor characters properly, and Kinnikuman: Perfect Origin Arc has much better handling of its minor characters than most other shōnen anime. Even with how little attention the series has received, that sort of writing is great to see, and it does a lot to show why the franchise is so beloved.
Kinnikuman Lets Its Minor Characters Shine In Major Battles
Every Character In Kinnikuman Gets To Have The Spotlight
A common problem with shonen anime is that they’ll often make the villains so powerful that people can’t do anything but try and survive until the main characters come to save the day, with Dragon Ball being one of the most egregious examples of this, especially in Dragon Ball Super. That’s not so much the case with Kinnikuman, though; Kinnikuman: Perfect Origin Arc is focused primarily on the Seven Devil Chojin, minor characters from the original series, fighting the main antagonists, and despite some losses, the Devil Chojin have stood their ground and even won on occasion.
Going right along with that is how Kinnikuman, the titular protagonist, is treated in the anime. While Kinnikuman is still the hero, he doesn’t fight until more than halfway through the story, and even then, he’s fighting one of the lesser antagonists, Peek A Boo, as opposed to the main villain, Strong the Budo. Despite how much it indulges in the cliches of shonen anime, Kinnikuman: Perfect Origin Arc does a great job of letting people outside of the main cast have moments in the spotlight, and it’s made every battle great to watch.
Kinnikuman’s Minor Characters Are Key To What Makes It So Fresh
With the more minor characters in the spotlight over Kinnikuman and other major characters, not only does the series get to employ some more unique battles in terms of choreography, but Kinnikuman: Perfect Origin Arc’s focus on its minor characters allows for character writing with a surprising amount of nuance in every episode, something great to see for old and new fans alike. Despite being over 40 years old, the way Kinnikuman handles its characters is as fresh as ever in Kinnikuman: Perfect Origin Arc, and it sets a great example for Dragon Ball and other shonen anime to follow.
Kinnikuman: Perfect Origin Arc releases new episodes on Mondays on Netflix.