Add as a preferred source on Google
Sports have always been one of the most-watched genres in the anime community. While the genre has become more popular in the last two decades, there were anime of the sports genre in the 1990s that are considered classics. One of the beauties of this genre is that they do not stick to a single sport and gives a chance to any sport. Be it basketball, boxing, baseball, etc., more or less every popular sport has an anime dedicated to it.
The genre has consistently drawn passionate viewers, and its audience only continues to grow. As storytelling becomes sharper and more polished, many sports anime and manga are breaking into the mainstream. Here is a list of the top 10 sports anime that go beyond the usual expectations.
1. Hajime No Ippo
- Creator: George Morikawa
- Animation Studio: Madhouse
- Start Date: Oct 4, 2000
- No. of Episodes: 75
- Where To Watch: Netflix
Hajime No Ippo is one of the oldest sports anime on this list. While the other entries till now have been team sports, Hajime No Ippo is based on boxing, an individual sport. George Morikawa began the plot with a common story of the protagonist being bullied by others due to his shy nature. However, instead of giving him superpowers, he let Ippo Makunouchi meet a professional boxer who inspired him to take up the sport of boxing. A more realistic approach to the world with a tinge of comedy made it one of the greatest sports anime ever.
2. Slam Dunk
- Creator: Takehiko Inoue
- Animation Studio: Toei Animation
- Start Date: Oct 16, 1993
- No. of Episodes: 101
- Where to Watch: Crunchyroll
Slam Dunk, by far, remains one of the best anime when it comes to sports. After three decades of its release, there is no decline in its popularity. Hanamichi Sakuragi and his Shohoku High School Basketball team’s rise to prominence is one of the most inspiring stories ever. Some say that the reason behind Takehiko Inoue’s magnum opus getting so much attention is Michael Jordan’s double hat-trick of NBA championships with the Chicago Bulls. While it raised basketball’s popularity on a global scale, the uncanny resemblance between the two jerseys is quite vivid.
3. Haikyu!!
- Creator: Haruichi Furudate
- Animation Studio: Production I.G
- Start Date: Apr 6, 2014
- No. of Episodes: 50+
- Where to Watch: Crunchyroll
Haikyu!! is widely seen as the defining sports anime of the modern era. Instead of sticking to the usual “only winners shine” formula, Haruichi Furudate’s masterpiece isn’t afraid to show how losing can be just as important in an athlete’s growth. Every character faces setbacks, learns from them, and pushes forward to reach greater heights. At its core, Haikyu is all about teamwork, the true heart of volleyball. And at a time when the sport’s popularity in Japan was dipping, Haikyu played a huge role in bringing it back into the spotlight.
4. Ping Pong The Animation
- Creator: Taiyo Matsumoto
- Animation Studio: Tatsunoko Production
- Start Date: Apr 11, 2014
- No. of Episodes: 11
- Where to Watch: –
Ping Pong may be a short anime, but it delivers a powerful story. Based on Taiyo Matsumoto’s 1996–1997 manga, the series aired from April to June 2014 and follows the complicated bond between Smile and Peco. Their friendship often led Smile to intentionally lose to Peco in table tennis, but after Peco is defeated by a Chinese player, he walks away from the sport. This pushes Coach Jo to encourage Smile to break out of his habit of holding back for others and finally embrace his true potential. Despite having fewer episodes, the anime dives deep into the psychological struggles of its characters, offering far more than just a sports narrative.
5. Kuroko’s Basketball
- Creator: Tadatoshi Fujimaki
- Animation Studio: Production I.G
- Start Date: Apr 8, 2012
- No. of Episodes: 75
- Where to Watch: Crunchyroll
Kuroko’s Basketball is the second sports anime on the list that is based on basketball. Unlike other sports anime where the main team is the underdog or full of star players, Kuroko’s Basketball is a bit different. It starts with a middle-school star team, but once they graduate, the star players scatter to different high schools, only to face each other in the basketball tournament. While Kuroko is the protagonist, every one of the star players wishes to showcase why they are stars of the game.
Also Check: After Arcane’s Emmy Triumph, Which Games Deserve A Prestige TV Adaptation Next
6. Blue Lock
- Creator: Muneyuki Kaneshiro (Story), Yuusuke Nomura (Art)
- Animation Studio: 8bit
- Start Date: Oct 9, 2022
- No. of Episodes: 38+
- Where to Watch: Crunchyroll
Blue Lock is an ongoing soccer anime that focuses on a training regimen of the same name that is solely focused on creating the world’s greatest striker. The idea behind the training regimen is Japan finishing 16th at the 2018 World Cup, which is a real-life incident. Muneyuki Kaneshiro and Yusuke Nomura beautifully used a real incident to give a more fantasy-like plot, and the fans loved it. The details of each football skill and the way goals are scored may seem over-the-top in the anime, but when examined carefully, it was seen that it is possible in real life.
7. Chihayafuru
- Creator: Yuki Suetsugu
- Animation Studio: Madhouse
- Start Date: Oct 5, 2011
- No. of Episodes: 74
- Where to Watch: –
Yuki Suetsugu’s Chihayafuru often finds itself off the radar of people who love sports anime, but it does not reduce its quality as a great anime. Unlike other popular sports on this list, Chihayafuru focuses on a Japanese card game known as Karuta. Chihaya Ayase takes up playing Karuta after watching Arata Wataya play. While their journey leads them to separate paths, Chihaya’s dream is to become the best Karuta player in the world and reunite with Arata. While it is a sports anime, it is a blend of emotions in the most unique way.
8. Ace of Diamond
- Creator: Yuji Terajima
- Animation Studio: Production I.G, Madhouse
- Start Date: Oct 6, 2013
- No. of Episodes: 178+
- Where to Watch: –
Yuji Terajima’s Ace of Diamond follows Eijun Sawamura, who wishes to become a great baseball player. Being a great pitcher, he wishes to enroll in a high school with a baseball team so that he can fulfill his wish of playing in the Nationals. Even though the anime is more than a decade old, it still remains popular, especially since baseball is the most popular team sport in Japan.
9. Ao Ashi
- Creator: Yuugo Kobayashi (Story & Art), Naohiko Ueno (Story)
- Animation Studio: Production I.G, Madhouse
- Start Date: Apr 9, 2022
- No. of Episodes: 24+
- Where to Watch: –
Ao Ashi is another anime based on soccer. Apart from being one of the most highly rated anime of this genre, Ao Ashi also follows a simple story. Ashito Aoi is a third-year student at Ehime City Middle School and has a talent for football. Even though he is difficult to manage, Tatsuya Fukuda takes up the challenge to bring the best out of him. With Fukuda’s determination and Aoi’s talent, the latter might become the torchbearer of Japanese football.
10. SK8 the Infinity
- Creator: Hiroko Utsumi
- Animation Studio: Bones
- Start Date: Jan 10, 2021
- No. of Episodes: 12+
- Where to Watch: Crunchyroll
SK8 the Infinity dives into the lesser-explored world of skateboarding, bringing the sport to life with style and adrenaline. Instead of focusing on becoming the world’s best skater or chasing big tournaments, the anime shines through its thrilling portrayal of what every skateboarder dreams of. Reki Kyan, a passionate skater, regularly joins an underground, no-rules skateboarding race held past midnight. Everything changes when he introduces Langa to this intense scene, pulling him straight into the wild and exhilarating world of skateboarding.
Notable Mentions
- Oblivion Battery
- Free!
- Inazuma Eleven
- Captain Tsubasa
- Grand Blue
- Salaryman’s Club
Priyanko is currently pursuing his Master’s in Economics. He loves to read manga or watch anime in his spare time. He is a massive fan of One Piece, Naruto, and Haikyu. Amidst the Great Pirating Era, he wishes to become the greatest Hokage, even though he is short.
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.