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Sports anime is a genre that has been popular among all demographics for many decades now thanks to its near-universal appeal. In theory, anyway. I know plenty of people who don’t like sports anime for various reasons. But the people who do enjoy watching characters work to better themselves. It can be easier to become invested in a team’s win or loss, as you follow their personal journey and watch them struggle. It’s a genre that can motivate people in so many different ways and spark so many different emotions. Man, I love sports anime so much. So here are the ones I think are the best.
As a brief note before we continue, I’m counting shows that include the stereotypical friendship-focused aspect of sports anime. So shows like Blue Lock, by its very nature, does not count. I’m of the opinion that Blue Lock is a sports anime only on the surface, as it lacks the spirit of one. This isn’t a bad thing, mind. I just disqualified it off the bat because of that. Shows where the sport is a prop for something else also do not count. Tsuritama is about fishing, for example, but the main bulk of the show is about Haru’s alien stuff and fishing is nothing more than a vehicle to tell that story. Keijo is, no joke, quite good. But the sport they play literally doesn’t exist. So that doesn’t count for me.
Ace of the Diamond
Ace of the Diamond, or Daiya no Ace, is a very traditional baseball anime. As opposed to some of the other shows on the list, which are more interesting for its character dynamics, Ace of the Diamond is good if you’re legitimately interested in baseball. In fact, I dropped this show about twenty episodes in for a little while specifically because I’m not invested in the sport. But once I gave it a go again, I found myself enjoying the different plays and the techniques that the athletes employ.
The story of Ace of the Diamond follows Eijun Sawamura, a pitcher with an unusual pitching style. He enters the prestigious Seidou High School after a scout approaches him. There, he meets a whole team of strong players who dream of going to nationals. The first season covers the summer and fall tournaments. During the first season’s fall tournament, the third years (the powerhouses of the team) retire, leaving catcher Miyuki as the captain who needs to build up the team once again. Personally, I do not recommend the second season because the quality of the animation dipped a lot.
You can watch Ace of the Diamond on Crunchyroll. Kodansha licensed the manga, which ended in 2022.
Big Windup! (Oofuri)
Big Windup! is almost like the antithesis of Ace of the Diamond in the sense that it’s also about baseball, but the crux of the show focuses a lot more on protagonist Mihashi’s relationship with his team. While there is plenty of baseball fun, I have to admit that the moments that stick out in my head are all the more slice-of-life moments between Mihashi and the other members of the Nishiura High School baseball team. It weaves the classic baseball tournament story really well with the narrative of two boys who work together to overcome their various traumas and hang-ups over the sport.
Big Windup! focuses on Ren Mihashi, who is an incredibly talented pitcher. However, his teammates hated him due to perceived nepotism and the fact they always lost. Mihashi has horrible self-esteem as a result of this, even though he’s attained a very precise pitch as a result of his hard work and natural skill. Though Mihashi intended on quitting baseball in high school, the baseball coach drags him onto the team. With his teammates, as well as catcher Takaya Abe, Mihashi learns to grow more confident in himself and his skills, and helps his new team to victory.
You can watch Big Windup! on Crunchyroll. As of the time of writing, the manga is still ongoing but the latest volume came out in 2022. There is no English version.
Haikyu!!
Oh my goodness, but Haikyu!! is amazing. It’s got the best of both worlds in that the volleyball matches pull you in with the intense exchanges and the slice of life bits are fun thanks to the silly characters. I cried during Tsukishima’s big moment (if you know, you know) my first time watching it because I was that invested in him and the rest of Karasuno. One of the anime conventions I went to aired that episode and the entire room was filled with fans whispering “Tsukki…” It’s just genuinely such a delightful show that delivers on both its emotional and its hotblooded moments.
The story of Haikyu!! follows Shoyo Hinata, a boy who’s determined to become a great volleyball player despite his stature. A Karasuno High School player who’s nicknamed the Little Giant due to his small size yet amazing talent inspired him to do so. During his final year of middle school and at his first ever official game, the rival team—which includes genius setter Tobio Kageyama—crushes Hinata and his friends. Once Hinata enters Karasuno High School, he learns that Kageyama attends the same school. Despite their past, they work together to help Karasuno reclaim its past glory.
You can watch Haikyu!! on Crunchyroll and Viz Media has licensed the manga. The manga ended in 2020.
Run With the Wind
Unlike most of the entries on this list, Run With the Wind started as a novel, though it later appeared as a manga, live-action film, and anime series. Its cast of characters are in university, making them feel different from the high schoolers as they have a whole other set of issues and problems they have to contend with. This feels like one of the most stereotypical “sports anime” on this list because of its heavy focus on learning how to come together as a team and better each other through friendship.
The story follows Kakeru Kurahara, who was one of the best runners in his old high school. He’s caught stealing food but Haiji Kiyose of Kansei University finds him. Haiji convinces Kakeru to move into the dormitory Chikusei-so, as he and the other residents of the dormitory plan on entering the Hakone Ekiden race together. However, it doesn’t take long for Kakeru to realize that he and Haiji are the only ones who have any experience and real interest in the race.
Run With the Wind is available on Crunchyroll. The English version of the Run with the Wind novelization will come out on October 15, 2024.
Slam Dunk
Slam Dunk is, along with retro greats like Captain Tsubasa, one of those classic sports anime that popularized the genre and tropes. It’s got romance, rivalry, friendship, and intense basketball sequences that make it a standout series for anime fans and newcomers alike. In fact, Slam Dunk is one of the very first anime and manga series I ever experienced, as my parents owned the entire manga collection (albeit in Chinese). There’s a reason why, even years after the series wrapped up, the movie was such a hit among viewers.
In Slam Dunk, we follow Hanamichi Sakuragi, a delinquent and gang leader who falls in love with Haruko Akagi during his first year in high school. Haruko suggests that he plays basketball and, despite Sakuragi’s reservations, he proved himself a natural athlete. Sakuragi, along with other new players, all help to push Shohoku High School’s basketball team to nationals and beyond.
Slam Dunk is available on Crunchyroll and Viz Media licensed the manga in English. The manga ended in 1996.
Yowamushi Pedal
Yowamushi Pedal is a hard sell, I admit. The art style is really hit or miss; I personally am not a fan of it. The characters are all, frankly, insane. But that’s the best part about it. Unlike the other shows on this list, Yowamushi Pedal’s appeal comes from the absolutely bonkers cast. While it does focus on the classic friendship team-building aspect of sports anime, most of the fun comes from laughing at how nuts characters like Manami and Midosuji are. So I definitely recommend watching this one with friends. The biking’s really great too. However, I must note that it’s the worst offender on this list when it comes to nonsense anime time. Only a minute or so passes in-universe over the course of the last few episodes of the first season.
The story of Yowamushi Pedal focuses on Sakamichi Onoda, a stereotypical otaku boy who rides a city bicycle between Chiba and Akihabara, like, every day. This gives him incredible stamina and he specializes in climbing hills. Despite Onoda’s wish of establishing an anime club in his high school, his classmates Naruko and Imaizumi convince him to join Sohoku High School’s powerful bicycle club.
Yowamushi Pedal is available on Crunchyroll and Yen Press has licensed the manga. The newest season is dead to me because they got rid of the C parts.
Yuri!!! on Ice
Yuri!!! on Ice is, in my opinion, one of the era-defining sports anime from the late 2010s. You literally had to be there in its initial run to understand the grip this had on the fans. That experience of tuning in every week and thinking, “No way they’re gonna go there,” only for them to go there was unforgettable. Like the above Run With the Wind, Yuri!!! on Ice features a much older cast.
The story focuses a lot more on romance than friendship. But the figure skating animation was amazing for a weekly show—mind you, this is before MAPPA became infamous for its grueling schedule. I also enjoyed the monologues as the skaters performed their routines, as it helped to communicate the choreography’s intent in a way that real-life figure skating sometimes cannot. Yeah, like, you can argue that if Yuri!!! on Ice made it, then other shows like SK8 and Free might as well count too. But I just really like Yuri!!! on Ice.
Yuri!!! on Ice stars Yuri Katsuki, a Japanese figure skater who takes a break after several losses and defeats. After returning home to Hasetsu, Russian figure skating champion Victor appears and offers to become his coach, to Yuri’s shock. Russian prodigy Yuri Plisetsky also shows up, demanding Victor to become his coach instead. Though Japanese Yuri ends up being the one Victor trains, both Yuris compete in the Grand Prix championship in order to claim victory.
Yuri!!! on Ice is available on Crunchyroll. The movie was in development but has since been axed.
Of course, this is not a comprehensive list. Other sports anime that are good, other than the ones I listed at the beginning of this article, include Tsurune, Kuroko’s Basketball (up to a certain point), SK8, and Bamboo Blade.
