Sports anime is one of the most underrated genres in the medium. When fans think of their favorite adrenaline-pumping, hype-inducing stories, they tend to think of popular battle-shonen anime. But some of the most thrilling shows in anime history center around sports instead. Whether it's basketball, volleyball, baseball, or tennis, these anime have found ways to make audiences connect with a hobby they otherwise have no interest in.

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But while these stories are exhilarating to watch, they also touch on some of the best anime themes, such as talent vs hard work. Despite how vital sports anime are to the culture, many fans have forgotten the most crucial stories to have premiered in the genre.

10 Major Followed One Player Through His Entire Life

Goro Honda throwing a pitch

The sports anime world is largely focused on high school. High school offers a very strict framework to design a story, and tends to be around the same age as the average viewer. But this fact makes Major's existence a rare case in the genre.

While certain parts of Major follow the main character's high school life as a baseball pitcher, Major stands out by following his entire career, from learning to play the game, all the way to becoming one of the best players in the world. That's not something a viewer is likely to get from any other anime.

9 Ping Pong Was A 12 Episode Classic

Ping Pong characters facing off

Many of the most popular sports anime depict games that are highly enjoyed across the globe. These sports capture audiences by the millions and make up some of the largest business industries in history. But Ping Pong proved that sports anime shouldn't be limited by big names.

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With only 12 episodes, Ping Pong shined a spotlight on the peculiar game of table tennis, telling a heartfelt story that managed to charm the anime fandom despite how little they knew about the mechanics of the sport.

8 Baby Steps Had A Brainy Protagonist

Eiichiro reading his notebook

The average protagonist in a sports anime is a simple-minded, high-energy goofball with loads of talent and a desperate need for guidance. The genre borrows a lot from battle shonen in that regard. But Baby Steps breaks the formula by introducing a character who thinks more than he acts.

Eiichiro Maruo is an honor student who quickly took to the game of tennis, rising in skill level due to his unique style of play and genius-level intellect. In a world where his peers are all knuckleheads, Eiichiro is a breath of fresh air for sports anime fans.

7 Ashita No Joe Made An Anime Icon

Ashita no Joe drinking

Many modern anime fans haven't seen Ashita no Joe, but they are certainly familiar with the works it inspired. Premiering in April 1970, the anime depicted a young troublemaker with a talent for fighting as he learns the ropes of boxing and becomes one of the sport's greatest fighters.

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Because of its age, many anime fans haven't seen Ashita no Joe, but the work of its director, Osamu Dezaki has been widely influential for many anime creators since. To this day, fans can find references and gags to Ashita no Joe in modern, popular works.

6 Megalo Box Brought A New Aesthetic

Gearless Joe preparing to box

While Ashita no Joe may be too old for the average anime fan, its modern reimagining in the form of Megalo Box can more than do the job. Megalo Box was created to celebrate Ashita no Joe's 50th anniversary and showcases a world where boxing has been taken to the next level with the use of cybernetic enhancements.

Following Gearless Joe, the series is a touching successor to Ashita no Joe's legacy and has amassed a whole new set of fans who can appreciate the original's timeless story.

5 Ahiru No Sora Is An Underrated Gem

Sora with his hair covering his eyes

When it comes to basketball anime, most fans think solely of Kuroko no Basket, but having been published in 2003, the manga Ahira no Sora outdates the former by about five years. Unlike Kuroko no Basket, Ahiru no Sora never received a full translation of the manga source material and is thus far less recognized among a Western audience.

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Regardless of recognition, Ahiru no Sora proved its worth as an anime in 2019 with its first adaptation. It's a unique story that truly depicts what it means to be an underdog, following a team that has little to no chance of ever winning a tournament.

4 Run With The Wind Was A New Perspective On Sports

The Run With The Wind cast after a race.

With most sports anime centering around high school, Run With The Wind stands out by presenting the mature perspective of a college running group. Unlike many popular sports anime, Run With The Wind has nothing to do with exhilarating competition or the drive to become great.

Instead, the anime focuses on sports as a lifestyle. It asserts that running isn't just about being fast, but is about community and health. For the anime fan that is beyond the aspirations of becoming the best, Run With The Wind offers a refreshing alternative that can still be as enjoyable.

3 Slam Dunk Set The Template For Future Sports Anime

Slam Dunk’s teammates in a game

While there have been many sports anime focused on basketball, Slam Dunk undoubtedly set the standard for what sports anime should be. At a time when sports were not nearly as popular as they are now, Slam Dunk became a major success.

It's largely been attributed to a huge rise in Japan's interest in the sport following the manga's release. Slam Dunk has laid out many of the archetypes and formulas that continue to be used and innovated to this day.

2 Ace Of Diamond Is Must-Watch For Baseball Fans

Ace of Diamond cast during a practice drill.

Sports anime naturally follow the games that are most popular in the world, particularly those that strike a chord with the Japanese audience. Baseball has become one of the biggest, most celebrated athletic games in the country, with many of the world's greatest players coming from Japan.

It's no surprise that sports anime follows suit with the release of Ace of Diamond. Ace of Diamond is a thrilling, archetypical sports anime for those just looking to get their fix of hype athletics.

1 One Outs Broadened The Scope Of Sports Stories

Tokuchi tossing a baseball

People take to sports for a number of different reasons. Some play with aspirations of going pro, while others watch in the interest of gambling. Many sports anime base themselves around the former, but the latter is a significant portion of the viewer base.

One Outs does what no other sports anime dares by using the game of baseball to tell one of anime's most intelligent, thrilling stories about gambling. It's a high-stakes cat-and-mouse game that'll appeal to any fan interested in a more cerebral story.