The Absolution is about to get a bit more punchy. Thanks to a tweet by TMS Entertainment, we now know that Megalo Box will premiere on Toonami on December 8. Presented in an all-new English dub, the broadcast will mark the show’s official debut on American television.
Megalo Box is a product of the 50th anniversary celebration of famous manga Ashita no Joe. The sports anime took the world by storm when it premiered in Spring of 2018. American fans first got a peek at the show when it was previously available on Crunchyroll via a simulcast.
Megalo Box tells the story of Junk Dog, an underground boxer in a futuristic world. After tiring of losing fights on purpose, he adopts the gimmick of fighting without mechanical upgrades known as Gear. Facing opponents sporting lethal equipment, he ducks and weaves through the ranks. He’s on his way to the top of the ranks in three months or less alongside his drunken manager.
Mark your calendars and prep your Gear! On Dec 8th, the hit anime #MEGALOBOX will be coming to Toonami with an English dub! pic.twitter.com/lS1zKhAl4k
— TMS Entertainment USA Inc. (@tmsanime) October 4, 2018
Besides the appealing tournament structure, Megalo Box shines in its adherence to a distinctly ’90s style. There is a quality to the hand-drawn characters and settings that’s hard to find in other recent anime. The adherence to an older style makes it fit as a show on Toonami. Just looking at screenshots will tell you that it slots right in alongside Rurouni Kenshin and Yu Yu Hakusho.
Megalo Box originally ran for thirteen episodes earlier this year and tells a complete story. A sequel isn’t out of the question of course, but there’s nothing announced at this time. It’s also unknown exactly what time it will be airing. As of now, Toonami runs from 9 p.m. to the wee hours of Saturday morning.
Whenever it ends up airing on Adult Swim’s anime block, it will be in good company. Other current shows include such anime stalwarts as JoJo’s Bizzare Adventure, Dragon Ball Super, and Boruto. Expect to see TOM and Sara introducing Junk Dog late on the second Saturday in December. Only Toonami.
