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 January 17, 2023 by Mark Sammut: Winter 2023 is underway, and the season has a few shows that cater to sports anime fans. Which airing series represent the genre at its best?
Best Winter 2023 Sports Anime
2023’s anime rollout has gotten off to a respectable start, with Winter 2023 containing quite a few exciting shows. Vinland Saga Season 2, Tokyo Revengers: Christmas Showdown, Bungo Stray Dogs 4, and The Angel Next Door Spoils Me Rotten are hogging most of the limelight, but they are hardly the only shows worthy of attention.
Winter 2023 has a fine selection of sports shows, including the continuation of Yowamushi Pedal: Limit Break.
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Blue Lock
Fall 2022’s best sports anime keeps its crown for Winter 2023. Blue Lock presents an intriguing twist on soccer that turns the activity on its head. While teamwork plays a major role in the sport, Blue Lock shakes things by emphasizing individuality and selfishness. Japan’s national team lacks a deadly striker, and the country turns to Jinpachi Ego’s unorthodox methods to find a solution. The mastermind coach invites the nation’s brightest young talents into a battle royale that will produce the ultimate player and deem everyone else a failure while banning them from joining the Japanese team.
Blue Lock has been a fun ride. So far, the story has maintained a reasonably quick pace, which should continue to be the case throughout the Winter 2023 cour. In isolation, the anime’s characters are not particularly unique, but their situation forces them to act in ways that are atypical for the sports genre.
Tsurune - The Linking Shot -
Airing during the Fall of 2018, Tsurune: Kazemai High School Kyudo Club told a satisfying story that did not demand a sequel from a character development perspective, at least for the story’s protagonist. However, Tsurune - The Linking Shot - quickly justifies its existence through gorgeous animation and by highlighting its strong ensemble cast. As the Kazemai archery club prepares for the national tournament, Minato has fully regained his love for kyudo along with his confidence.
Tsurune focuses on a rarely spotlighted sport that, while niche, is easy to understand and appreciate. Although not devoid of tournaments, the anime is character-driven, and the writing is good enough to carry that type of narrative.
“Ippon” again!
Michi ends her judo career as she enters high school, a decision she quickly backtracks on after re-experiencing the thrill of stepping on a mat. Based on a shonen manga by Yuu Muraoka, “Ippon” again! seems to be a relatively conventional addition to the genre, which should not be regarded as a criticism. Tropes are popular for a reason, and when executed well, they tend to be very enjoyable.
Martial arts anime are unique beasts that exist apart from other sports shows, and “Ippon” again!’s realistic interpretation of judo sets it apart from many other similar shonen stories.
24 Inazuma Eleven
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.
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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.
23 Captain Tsubasa
Alongside Tomorrow’s Joe, Captain Tsubasa is the most “classic” sports anime out there. The soccer story follows Tsubasa Oozora’s career, starting from when he is in elementary school all the way to the World Cup. As the original series debuted in 1983, its animation is undoubtedly dated by this point; however, the show’s characters hold up quite well. Tsubasa is a decent lead, while Genzo Wakabayashi and Kojiro Hyuga are great characters that frequently outshine the protagonist.
Although generally maintaining a decent standard, Captain Tsubasa’s later seasons can feel rushed at times. Consequently, the anime cannot be recommended above the manga. The 2018 reboot is probably the most accessible way to experience this story, even if it is not quite as good as the ’80s incarnation.
22 The Prince Of Tennis
A cult classic, The Prince of Tennis starts out relatively realistic, before gradually evolving into an unapologetically outlandish battle shonen series. Things never get into “save the world with the power of tennis” territory, but the anime introduces characters with progressively more ridiculous abilities.
This change tends to divide audiences, as the anime’s later arcs are generally less highly rated than its opening season. Still, The Prince of Tennis can be an entertaining ride as long as a viewer is searching for a show that is closer to Kuroko’s Basketball than Slam Dunk.
21 Uma Musume: Pretty Derby
Starting out as a mobile game, Uma Musume: Pretty Derby is about girls who are racing horses. Just to be clear: the girls do not ride horses, they are horses. Kind of. They are horse girls, and they attend special schools that seek to maximize their potential. Such a gimmicky concept seems like it would be doomed to die a boring death, but Uma Musume: Pretty Derby embraces the absurdity so wholeheartedly that it becomes charming.
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It also helps that the anime’s writing is surprisingly strong, particularly in the second season. Funny, heartwarming, and frequently exciting, Uma Musume is a bizarre but likable sports anime.
20 One Outs
While very few sports anime are purely about their chosen activity, One Outs barely feels like it belongs in the genre. Holding more in common with Kaiji and Akagi than Ace of Diamond and Big Windup!, One Outs is a gambling anime that just happens to feature baseball instead of poker. It also happens to be incredible.
After striking out a star batter in a game of “One Outs,” Toua Tokuchi joins the Saikyou Saitama Lycaons and gets into a battle of nerves with the club’s owner. A psychological thriller, One Outs is gripping, intense, and features a supremely cool protagonist.
19 Aoashi
Summer 2022 was not particularly giving when it comes to sports shows; barely any new properties debuted during the season, and the one exception, Shoot! Goal to the Future, was a contender for the worst Summer 2022 anime. That series is also not helped by the fact that it is airing alongside a far superior soccer story: Aoashi. The best sports anime of Spring 2022 kept its crown for the follow-up season.
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The soccer anime is titled after its protagonist, Ashito Aoi, a talented player from a small town who has some anger issues. Once he is drafted into a youth team based in Tokyo, Ashito must deal with the fact that he is no longer a big fish in a small pond. The anime tackles mostly tried-and-tested themes, and it has executed them well so far.
18 Ace Of Diamond
With well over 100 episodes available, there is a lot of Ace of Diamond content to get through. The baseball anime revolves around the rivalry between the two main pitchers of Seidou High; the hot-headed Eijun Sawamura and the quiet but intense Satoru Furuya. They join the team around the same time and have very different play styles, however, they both strive to stand on the mound as Seidou’s ace.
Going through multiple generations of teams, Ace of Diamond is epic, engrossing, and packed to the brim with joyous and heartbreaking moments. Sawamura takes a backseat for considerable chunks of the anime, which can be frustrating since he is meant to be the protagonist, but the rest of the characters are also strong.
17 Eyeshield 21
There aren’t all that many football anime out there, at least not of the American variety; however, Eyeshield 21 should satisfy fans of the sport. Although the anime is only a serviceable adaptation of Riichiro Inagaki and Yusuke Murata’s stellar manga, Eyeshield 21 gets by with a solid roster of characters, decent action, and a consistent sense of humor.
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With 145 episodes, Eyeshield 21 does get a touch repetitive in its second half, especially if someone is not too fond of shonen story tropes. That said, Youichi Hiruma is one of the most entertaining characters in any sports anime.
16 Girls Und Panzer
A contender for the weirdest sports anime of all time, at least conceptually, the most surprising thing about Girls und Panzer is just how seriously it takes itself. Initially, this show seems to fall under the “cute girls doing (kind of) cute things” category; however, Girls und Panzer quickly proves that it is far more interesting in the tank side of things.
Girls und Panzer offers popcorn fun with a side helping of accurate knowledge regarding historical warfare. The characters are generally likable, but the focus is squarely on the intense battles that dominate most of the show. The movies are also consistently great, so this is one anime that does not lose steam as it goes along.
15 Megalo Box
Created to celebrate Tomorrow’s Joe’s 50th anniversary, Megalo Box gives boxing a sci-fi twist. Joe, a junkyard dog used to fighting in underground matches, decides to participate in a massive competition called Megalonia in order to face its champion, Yuri.
While technically boxing, fighters come equipped with mechanical arms, Gears, that give a significant boost in battle. Realizing that he can’t get his hands on a proper Gear, Joe decides to fight old school. Megalo Box has great animation, a fantastic protagonist, and consistently exciting fights. Season 2 also takes the story in an unexpected direction and does it well.
14 SK8 The Infinity
One of the best shows of the Winter 2021 season, SK8 The Infinity is directed by Hiroko Utsumi who is the name behind several other highly acclaimed sports animes. This show takes skateboarding to the extreme with illegal races called “S” taking place between two opponents, often resulting in serious injuries.
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Watching the relationship between Reki and Langa flourish as they become close friends is incredibly heartwarming and no expenses were spared in making the action scenes look jaw-dropping. This may be a newer show, but it’s sure to have staying power for a long time.
13 Yuri!! On Ice
Figure skating doesn’t stand alongside mainstream sports like baseball or football in the minds of many, but it’s still incredibly physically demanding. It’s even more difficult than most sports for older competitors to do well, which is what makes watching the 23-year-old Yuuri attempt to find his way to the top of the skating world.
The gay romance between him and his legendary skating mentor Victor adds another layer to the entire affair as well. The final moments of the show are enough to keep anyone on the edge of their seats, even the most hardened sports fans.
12 Major
Putting aside any question of quality, Major is the most complete sports anime in existence. Over the course of six seasons, a couple of movies, and a few OVAs, Major chronicles the career of Gorou Honda, starting from his time as a child and going all the way to the World Cup. There is even a sequel anime revolving around Gorou’s son.
Throughout this journey, fans watch Gorou grow as a player, person, and parent, although he retains a certain childishness throughout. Even if a touch unrealistic at times, the baseball scenes are well put together and engrossing.
11 Run With The Wind
There are few sports as pure and simple as running. Even to this day, the Olympics runs the torch across long distances in honor of the legendary Pheidippides. This anime follows a fourth-year student named Kakeru as he is brought back into his love of running to get a team into shape for the Hakone Ekiden.
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This prominent competition would be difficult to compete in for highly trained athletes, let alone the complete novices his new friend Haiji has to offer him. Still, the comradery the team builds throughout the show creates an excellent drama to go alongside the sports action.
10 Fighting Spirit
Known as Hajime no Ippo in Japan, Fighting Spirit is by far one of the greatest boxing anime ever created. It is the spiritual successor to Tomorrow’s Joe and inspired the popular Megalo Box. Watching Makunouchi go from a timid bullied weakling to an absolutely fierce boxer is the ultimate underdog story for anyone to get behind.
It’s like an anime version of Punch Out!! but even better, mainly because Fighting Spirit gifted to the world the comedy heavyweight that is Mamoru Takamura.
9 Baby Steps
Directed by Masahiko Murata, the creative mind behind several of the Naruto movies and television episodes, Baby Steps is more real-world-focused. The story is easy for many to identify with, showing Eiichirou Marou slowly realizing that he’s only studying because he feels he has to, not because being an academic is what he wants to do.
Watching him develop a playing style all his own alongside fellow first-year Natsu is incredibly rewarding. The tennis matches being animated with extreme skill is just the icing on the cake.
8 Slam Dunk
A simple man with simple desires, Hanamichi Sakuragi just wants a girlfriend. To reach that end, Hanamichi joins Shohoku High’s basketball team to try and get close to Haruko Akagi, who happens to be the sister of the club’s captain. Over time, Hanamichi grows attached to basketball.
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Hilarious and grounded, Slam Dunk is a classic series that is only held back by the fact the anime is not a full adaptation of the manga. Hanamichi’s growth is shown realistically, as he genuinely has to put in the work to improve; even then, it is hardly like he is ready to play in the NBA by the final arc.
7 Cross Game
Most sports anime are not really about their sport, but this observation is especially true when it comes to Cross Game. While baseball serves as the magnet that brings certain characters together, the anime primarily tells a coming-of-age story that touches upon themes of grief, love, and regret.
Cross Game does not devote all that many scenes to its main sport, a creative decision that helps set this show apart from the many other series that center around baseball. The focus is squarely on the relationship between Kou and Aoba, and they are fantastic together.
6 Tomorrow’s Joe
Respect needs to be shown to the classics, and no sports anime is as influential as Tomorrow’s Joe. Depicting the rise of a boxer from the slums to the championship belt, Tomorrow’s Joe provides a realistic look into the life of a fighter, including the dizzying highs and devastating lows.
Considering the first season debuted in 1970, Tomorrow’s Joe naturally shows its age, but that does not extend beyond the animation. Narratively, the anime holds up extremely well, particularly 1980’s second season.
5 Free! - Iwatobi Swim Club
Anyone who enjoyed being on a swim team, or just wants to enjoy the admittedly fan-servicey nature of some sports anime, will find that Free! is a perfect choice. The show came to be after Kyoto Animation made a sample animation reel for the show that resulted in a massive number of anime fans demanding the show be fully produced. It eventually became popular it spawned a short film alongside several continuing seasons like Eternal Summer, Take Your Marks, and Dive Into The Future.
Still, the show has far more to offer than just muscular men in swimsuits. The complex nature of the friendships and relationships of the main characters makes this show quite a captivating drama.
