The Greatest Sports Anime Of All Time (January 2024)

Few stories 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 January 22, 2024 by Mark Sammut: While not rare, sports anime are not quite common either. It is not unusual for a season to come along that does not contain any additions to the genre, and Winter 2024 is (almost) a prime example. Technically, the quarter has one anime that fits the bill in Captain Tsubasa: Junior Youth Arc; however, that show started in Fall 2023 (and will continue until the end of Spring 2024). Otherwise, Winter has no other sports stories, along with very few shows that might be able to scratch a similar itch. The Way of Pon could work for viewers who like board games, although it is not available on a Western streaming service. Ultimately, fans of the genre will need to look to the past to get their fill of sports shows.

36 Salaryman’s Club

MyAnimeList: 7.36

Hanebado! is probably the most famous badminton anime, but its penchant for drama and rough handling of mature themes limit its appeal. While not quite as well known, Salaryman’s Club is far easier to recommend to the average sports fan, particularly if they want to experience a story told from an alternative perspective than the genre’s typical offerings. In a refreshing change of pace, LIDENFILMS’ anime focuses on a group of working adults who spend their free time engaging in badminton, an activity they are extremely passionate about. While competitive in the heat of the moment, the characters are less concerned with winning than the traditional sports anime leads since they are motivated by personal satisfaction and enjoyment rather than success.

Salaryman’s Club absolutely nails its badminton scenes, all of which are beautifully animated and surprisingly intense. Even though they are engaging in a hobby, the characters take things seriously, allowing the audience to do the same. The series dives quite a bit into their work lives, to the extent of allowing the overall show to also qualify as a workplace anime.

35 Hinomaru Sumo

MyAnimeList: 7.54

Sumo is not a topic that has been mined extensively by anime or manga, and this shortage adds an element of novelty to this particular series. However, push past the unusual central activity and one will find a fairly straightforward sports shonen anime about a disregarded character looking to prove everyone wrong and become the best in the business. Hinomaru Sumo does not try to reinvent the wheel, instead opting to rely on a well-worn but successful structure to tell an enjoyable and exciting story. The anime’s strengths lie in its likable main characters and intense fight sequences, the latter of which compare favorably to most martial arts-based stories.

Ushio loves sumo, and he has been training for years. At the start of the show, the protagonist is already a capable fighter, but he is not tall enough to meet the requirements to become a professional sumo wrestler. Consequently, he needs to prove his worth by competing in tournaments as part of a high school team, a process that sees him training and fighting alongside a range of characters who are also dealing with insecurities and challenges. Hinomaru Sumo handles its characters’ development well by blending realism and hype to create an experience that is grounded but also filled with satisfying moments.

34 Keijo!!!!!!!!

MyAnimeList: 6.92

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.

33 The Gymnastics Samurai

MyAnimeList: 7.24

Anime loves tennis, soccer, and especially baseball. Each sport has at least a couple of noteworthy shows, and they tend to frequently feature in new manga stories. Obviously, they are popular for a (profitable) reason and deserve all this attention; however, it is nice when a series comes along that highlights a more niche activity. As its name implies, The Gymnastics Samurai is about gymnastics, making it basically the only anime that covers the subject.

Once upon a time, Joutarou was hailed as Japan’s best gymnast. While still capable in his own right, the performer is no longer in his athletic prime, and he has started to notably decline. While father time will always be undefeated, Joutarou plans to go down fighting thanks to his daughter’s encouragement and the support of Leo, a fan-turned-friend. Leaning into comedy, The Gymnastics Samurai can get pretty silly at times, although its gymnastic competitions are consistently great. All three leads are charming, and Joutarou’s struggles are not commonly explored by sports anime.

32 Tiger Mask W

MyAnimeList: 6.92

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.

31 Yowamushi Pedal

MyAnimeList: 7.93 (Season 1)

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.

30 Inazuma Eleven

MyAnimeList: 7.70 (Season 1)

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.

29 Big Windup!

MyAnimeList: 7.88 (Season 1)

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.

28 Captain Tsubasa

MyAnimeList: 7.35 (Season 1)

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 was 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 and its 2023 sequel are the most accessible way to experience this story, even if it is not quite as good as the ’80s incarnation.

27 Umamusume: Pretty Derby

MyAnimeList: 7.31 (Season 1)

Except for maybe Keijo!!!!!!!!, Uma Musume has the most ridiculous premise for a sports anime. Basically, it is horse racing but with girls instead of horses. A multimedia franchise with a delayed gacha game that ended up debuting after the anime’s two seasons, Uma Musume is impressively good considering it could have started out as a glorified ad for the mobile release.

The anime follows a bunch of girls as they join the cutthroat horse-racing landscape, one that has little room for anyone but the absolute best. Although enjoyable from the start, Uma Musume does not fully hit its stride until the second season and the introduction of a new protagonist. Season 3 is also pretty good, although it does not quite reach the same heights as its predecessor.

26 The Prince Of Tennis

MyAnimeList: 7.85 (Season 1)

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.

25 Touch

MyAnimeList: 8

Despite enjoying a successful run in the 1980s in Japan, Touch never really crossed over to Western nations, particularly North America. Mitsuru Adachi’s manga was such a massive hit that, in 2012, the author started Mix, a sequel set roughly 25 years after the original.

Touch revolves around twins named Tatsuya and Kazuya, along with their neighbor Minami. While Tatsuya is a naturally talented baseball player, he prefers to take it easy and not push himself; conversely, Kazuya constantly works hard to try and live up to his brother’s skill. Minami loves both of them, and she is also a capable gymnast.

Although its baseball scenes are well executed, Touch is predominantly a romance anime that uses sports to fuel its core relationships. The series’ animation unsurprisingly shows its age by this point, but the writing holds up beautifully.

24 Birdie Wing: Golf Girls’ Story

MyAnimeList: 7.52 (Season 1)

Birdie Wing: Golf Girls’ Story takes arguably the most sophisticated sport and adds the mafia, battle shonen-esque special moves, and an unnamed disease. This is one of those shows that benefits from low expectations, as much of its humor relies on taking viewers by surprise. Consequently, the anime’s impact diminishes if someone goes in expecting an over-the-top action-comedy rather than a conventional sports anime.

That said, even without that element of surprise, Birdie Wing is still an enjoyable watch. The anime manages to essentially parody sports and shonen tropes while still delivering the thrills associated with both genres. The show gradually ramps up the absurdity while also pitting Eve and Aoi against some of the best golfers in the business.

23 Stars Align

MyAnimeList: 7.60

Unless a studio has enough name recognition to carry all the momentum on its own, anime that are not adaptations run the risk of falling by the wayside. Without a preinstalled fanbase to lean on, these series need some other calling card to garner attention, be it a well-known director or a unique setting. Although not a complete unknown, Stars Align is nevertheless a fairly obscure modern sports anime, which is a shame as the story takes quite a few risks that set it apart from the genre’s typical output.

Revolving around a school’s soft tennis club, the anime chronicles the team’s growth as its members gain confidence and come together to pursue their dreams of competing at an inter-school tournament. That description can be attached to roughly a million sports anime and manga, but Stars Align is far more concerned with the students’ lives away from the court than most of its contemporaries. Most characters have complex home lives that are shown in quite a bit of detail, and the show touches upon themes of bullying and even child abuse. Naturally, the show has quite a few difficult-to-watch sequences, but the overall tone is still hopeful. More importantly, Stars Align handles these sensitive topics with maturity and nuance.

22 Tsurune: Kazemai High School Kyudo Club

MyAnimeList: 7.67 (Season 1)

2018’s Tsurune is a fairly underappreciated sports anime in the grand scheme of things. Focusing on archery, the series follows Kazemai High School’s club as they deal with personal hangups en route to challenging for a place at the nationals. Even though season 1 set the stage for a sequel in plenty of ways, the story also ended on a satisfying note due to the protagonist’s growth. Consequently, season 2 was simultaneously welcomed but not necessarily vital.

At least, that might have been the argument prior to the debut of Tsurune – The Linking Shot –, but the Winter 2023 show knocked it out of the park. Predictably, Kyoto Animation ensured both seasons’ visuals were top-notch. More importantly, Tsurune continued to explore the characters’ psyches by showing their impact on both the individual and the overall team.

21 One Outs

MyAnimeList: 8.33

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. As awesome as it is, this series might struggle to fully scratch somebody’s craving for a traditional sports anime since it is such a departure from the genre’s norm.

20 Baby Steps

MyAnimeList: 7.80

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.

19 Free! – Iwatobi Swim Club

MyAnimeList: 7.33 (Season 1)

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, and Free! gets better with each subsequent season.

18 Eyeshield 21

MyAnimeList. 7.92

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.

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, and the rest of the cast is not bad either. The anime has good action, a passable protagonist who produces plenty of thrilling moments, and a great sense of humor. Like many older sports anime, Eyeshield 21 has a habit of overstretching matches to the point they start to overstay their welcome, but the actual contests are consistently exciting.

17 Girls Und Panzer

MyAnimeList: 7.52

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. While the 12-episode series is pretty good, the anime does not fully hit its stride until the sequel movies, which are consistently great.