Watch Master of Martial Hearts

Master of Martial Hearts is an action-packed anime series produced by ARMS Corporation and directed by Yoshitaka Fujimoto. The story revolves around a high school girl named Aya Iseshima, who is an expert martial artist but hides her skills from others. She admires a popular fighter named Miko Kazuki, who is known by her stage name, "Ribbon-chan," and dreams of one day becoming as strong as her.

However, Aya's life takes a drastic turn when she receives an invitation to participate in a mysterious martial arts tournament called "The Battle Royale." The event is sponsored by a company called the Kisaragi Corporation, and the winner is promised to have any wish granted. Aya initially declines the invitation, but after Ribbon-chan wins the previous tournament, Aya changes her mind and decides to enter.

As the tournament progresses, Aya realizes that it is not just a simple martial arts competition. The participants are forced to fight to the death, and the Kisaragi Corporation has ulterior motives for sponsoring the event. Aya teams up with some of the other competitors, including the tough-talking Natsume Honma and the tech-savvy Miko Kubota, to uncover the truth behind the Battle Royale and put an end to it.

The show features intense fight scenes with a focus on hand-to-hand combat between highly skilled martial artists. Each battle showcases the different fighting styles and abilities of the characters, such as Aya's fluid movements and acrobatic kicks and Natsume's brutal strength and endurance. The animation is well-done and captures the fast-paced action of the fights.

Beyond the action, the show also explores themes of trust, betrayal, and loyalty. Aya starts off as a naïve and idealistic character, but through her experiences in the tournament, she learns to trust her allies and rely on her own strength. The relationships between the characters are complex, with alliances forming and breaking as the tournament progresses.

One unique aspect of the show is the "transformations" that some of the characters undergo during battles. These transformations give them enhanced strength and other abilities but also make them more vulnerable to attack. Aya has a transformation of her own, which adds an extra layer of intrigue to her character and sets her apart from the other fighters.

The voice acting in the English dub is well-done, with Kaori Nazuka voicing Aya and delivering a believable performance as a determined and driven fighter. Satomi Akesaka brings a tough edge to Natsume's character, and Cherami Leigh provides a standout performance as Miko Kubota, delivering her lines with wit and snark.

Overall, Master of Martial Hearts is an enjoyable watch for fans of action anime. The fight scenes are well-done, and the characters are engaging and complex. The show's exploration of themes such as trust and loyalty adds depth to the story, making it more than just a simple tournament arc.

Master of Martial Hearts is a series that ran for 1 seasons (5 episodes) between and on FUNimation