Any fan of sports anime needs to make sure they’ve watched these incredible shows.
There are few stories that translate over to anime better than those that focus on sports. From common sports like baseball to those with smaller spotlights like bowling, every sport imaginable has been put up on television screens in a Japanese animated style.
Still, few rival the best sports anime that fans and critics alike have declared all-time greats. Some shows are even so well regarded that they’ve transcended being well-regarded only as sports stories and moved into „best animes of all time“ territory.
Updated on July 4, 2023 by Mark Sammut: Summer 2023 is largely lacking in sports anime. The only exception is Mix Season 2, which will continue to broadcast episodes after debuting in Spring 2023. A new Baki Hanma season will also air on Netflix, although whether that qualifies as „sports“ will likely vary from person to person. Either way, people might want to look to the past to find some of the best sports anime instead of relying on Summer 2023’s lineup. 32 Yowamushi Pedal
Japanese Title
Yowamushi Pedal
Studios
TMS Entertainment
Where to Stream
Crunchyroll, Netflix
Cycling is a popular sport and pastime, but it has not inspired all that many anime stories. Yowamushi Pedal is pretty much the only well-known series to try its hand at the activity, and the manga has proven popular enough to spawn more than 80 volumes. The anime adaptation has also broken the 100-episode barrier, an achievement accomplished over the span of five seasons. It has also produced a handful of movies. Clearly, Yowamushi Pedal is a hit.
The story follows the Sohoku High Bicycle Club as they try to compete in the Inter-High. Narratively, the anime is structured around Sakamichi Onodoa, a timid teenager who is recruited into the club. Initially, he is not that into the sport, but he does eventually grow to love cycling. The rest of the main characters are likable too, and the anime even has a few entertaining antagonists. Yowamushi Pedal’s third and fourth seasons are a bit polarizing, but the anime is generally a solid ride. 31 Keijo!!!!!!!!
Japanese Title
Keijo!!!!!!!!
Studios
XEBEC
Where to Stream
Crunchyroll
Keijo revels in its purposefully dumb concept, one that revolves around a fictional sport that sees women try to knock each other into a pool using only a few body parts. Yeah, fanservice is the name of the game here, and the anime does not pretend to be anything more than it is. That said, while the premise might be ridiculous and clearly comical, Keijo’s characters are deadly serious about the sport. They strive to be the best, and their personalities are defined by their passion for the eponymous activity.
For the most part, Keijo has decent animation, likable characters, and knows its way around a tournament. The show works well as both a parody and a straightforward shonen-style sports story, and it does not overstay its welcome. 30 Tiger Mask W
Japanese Title
Tiger Mask W
Studios
Toei Animation
Where to Stream
Crunchyroll, TubiTV
Although not as known outside of Japan as some other classics, Tiger Mask has a long history dating back to the late ’60s. Ikki Kajiwara’s manga had a decent run, and it spawned two anime series and a couple of movies. However, the property laid dormant for a long while following 1981’s Tiger Mask 2, only to resurface in 2013 as a live-action movie and then a new anime series in 2016.
Tiger Mask W pays tribute to pro wrestling, particularly NJPW, while also presenting the industry as a competitive sport, in the sense that feuds are real rather than storylines that end in predetermined outcomes. The anime plays out like a fairly by-the-numbers action-sports story, albeit one that loves a bit of over-the-top melodrama. Although not for everyone, Tiger Mask W can be a fun watch for wrestling fans.
If someone wants an even more absurd wrestling-themed anime, Kinnikuman and Ultimate Muscle are a blast. 29 Inazuma Eleven
Japanese Title
Inazuma Eleven
Studio
OLM
Where to Stream
DisneyNOW (Inazuma Eleven Ares Kickoff!), YouTube (Inazuma Eleven Go)
Although not huge in Western nations, Inazuma Eleven is a pretty big deal in Japan. Along with an array of games by Level-5, the license has produced roughly eight seasons of anime, combining for well over 200 episodes. The original incarnation, Inazuma Eleven, is considered the series‘ high point, while its sequel, Inazuma Eleven GO, and spin-offs, Inazuma Eleven: Ares Kickoff! and Orion no Kokuin, are more polarizing.
As an over-the-top soccer anime that has a similar tone to something like Pokemon, Inazuma Eleven is fun. The show has plenty of lovable characters and exciting moments, and while later seasons can get slightly too absurd at times, they are never unwatchable. At its best, Inazuma Eleven is a very easy watch. 28 Big Windup!
Japanese Title
Ookiku Furikabutte
Studios
A-1 Pictures
Where to Stream
Crunchyroll
Baseball is massive in Japan, and that passion is reflected in manga and anime. In terms of quantity, baseball dominates the sports genre, to the point that selecting the activity’s best interpretation is very difficult. Although not quite enjoying the same level of exposure as a few other baseball series, Big Windup! is pretty great in its own right, and it sets itself apart by focusing on the minute details.
Most anime simplify their chosen field in order to not overwhelm or put off viewers who might not be familiar with or interested in the sport. Big Windup! opts to do the exact opposite, going out of its way to explain the intricacies and tactics behind each match. This decision translates to a rather slow experience, albeit one that is captivating and intense. 27 Tsurune: Kazemai High School Kyudo Club
Japanese Title
Tsurune: Kazemai Koukou Kyuudou-bu
Studio
Kyoto Animation
Where to Stream
HIDIVE
2018’s Tsurune is a fairly underappreciated sports anime in the grand scheme of things.
