Kid Muscle doesn't want to be here, and the show knows that's funnier than any hero's journey arc could be. Every match is designed to kill him, every power-up feels like punishment, every win leaves him more exhausted than the last one. This is what happens when you take a tournament anime seriously enough to make the protagonist actually tired of winning.

Mantaro, also known as Kid Muscle, has little enthusiasm for the Chojin Crown, but he ends up taking part in the tournament anyway. Before he can compete, he has to get past a string of obstacles, most of them put in place to knock him out of the running. He goes along with them and earns his qualifying spot. Across 13 TV episodes from 2004, the story pairs tournament action with comedy, sci-fi elements and a sports focus.