Want to know a niche subset of anime? The sports genre. And quite frankly, it really shouldn't be. In Japan, they understand the appeal of shows like Haikyu!! or Free, but not so much in the West. Sports anime may be exaggerated, it may be overdramatic, and it may even break the rules of the sport.
But, we get to see the journey of a single individual, a team, or even a crew of people as they rapidly get better and learn more about their sport of choice. It's inspiring! And, when it all culminates in a match, fight, or duel that utilizes every single thing they've learned up until now, well we just can't help but get overexcited. Honestly, we can't help but think most of them would make fantastic games as well.
10 Haikyu!!: Shiratorizawa vs Karasuno
Let's start things off with a match that happened relatively recently. Haikyu!! is probably the most popular sports anime out there, especially in the West. Ashita No Joe was probably close in its prime, but Haikyu!! is on a whole other level.
And, when the hungry ravens at Karasuno finally clawed their way up to fight against Ushijima at Shiritorizawa, well we got hype. The match takes an entire season to finish, and they even resolve some character development with Tsukkishima during it. It's a culmination of everything the team has developed over the 3 seasons, as well as all the tricks the anime time has at their disposal.
9 Hajime No Ippo: Lollapalooza, Ippo Vs Sendo
Hajime No Ippo is quite the formulaic anime. Basically, it's on a constant cycle of train, match, cooldown, and repeat. But, it finds comfort in its formula and allows the viewer to understand just who the next opponent is and when the match will occur. And, even though there are 30+ matches in the 72+ episodes of the show, Lollapalooza with Makunoichi Ippo Vs Sendo Takeshi is still our absolute favorite.
Why? Well other than the fact that the two participants are both lovable powerhouses? It's just a straight-up terrifying slugfest! No big strategy, no outboxing, just boxing in its most primal form.
8 Slam Dunk: Sannoh National Championship Match
Slam Dunk actually shares a decent amount of aspects with Haikyu!! and other sports anime. It came first, obviously, so maybe it's more accurate to say those parts of Haikyu!! take inspiration from it. Still, the series is about a freakishly strong boy named Sakuragi and his gradual love and understanding of basketball. Hanamichi Sakuragi is a gigantic dude with some real natural athleticism that causes the Shohoku Basketball team to scout him.
His growing relationship with the sport and team is half the draw of the series, while the comedy and action are the other half. And, no other game in the series has a better combination of the three than the game against Sannoh in the National Championship finale.
7 Run With The Wind: The Hakone Ekiden
Run With The Wind is a different type of sports anime. Instead of taking place at high school like literally every other one, it takes place in college. Instead of focusing on a group of pro's getting even better, it focuses on a building of boys from all different areas of life learning to love running together. It's a character study, a journey of growth, and a fun story.
So, when they finally make it to the Hakone Ekiden, we're just so happy for them. And, watching their individual struggles with the marathon as they pass the baton from runner to runner is what makes this such a well-rounded sports anime. Give it a watch and see how you feel.
6 Eyeshield 21: The Shinryuji Naga Vs The Devilbats
Eyeshield 21 falls into the camp of "purposefully exaggerated" sports anime. While Haikyu!! does have some time-lapse while the ball is in the air, it's a mostly realistic in its depiction of the sport. Eyeshield 21 on the other hand, is insanely cartoony and introduces superpowers into the mix. But, because of the fantastic art and charming storytelling, it completely works.
And, nowhere is that contrast between realism and fantasy stronger than when the Devil Bats are up against the Shinryuji Naga All-Boys school in the Kanto Tournament Agon Kongo is so absolutely horrible and we can't get enough of watching him get his butt kicked against the scrawny MC Sena Kobakayakawa.
5 Baby Steps: Eiichiro vs Takuma At The All Japan Championship
Baby Steps is another odd sports anime. Simply because the main character Eiichiro Marou has no innate talent for sports. Most sports series feature an MC who is uncharacteristically good at the sport, has a talent specifically tailored for the sport, or some other variation.
But, Eii-chan is just a nerd. He builds up his talent through constant studying and practice. It's realistic and oddly so satisfying to watch. Plus, the storytelling itself is expertly done, especially since it actually handles romance decently and doesn't tease us with it for 50+ episodes (looking at you Hajime No Ippo).
4 Kuroko No Basket: The Last Game Movie
Yes, Haikyu!! might be the most famous sports anime, but that doesn't mean that there aren't others that are just as beloved. Kuroko No Basket is one of those other ones, and it's honestly just as popular.
Later on in this is Slam Dunk, and while that follows basketball quite literally, Kuroko exaggerates it quite a bit. Still, people love the series and were heartbroken when the movie came out that advertised itself as the literal "last game". But, anime movies are hit or miss, so how did this one turn out? Well, people love it, even though it's sad that it's the end of the series. And, in it, there are multiple amazing matches with the beloved Vorpal Swords.
3 Ping Pong the Animation: Peco Vs Smile Finale
Ping Pong The Animation is one of the most creatively beautiful anime of all time. Now that may sound surprising considering how it well...looks. But, the show is intentionally ugly and that style works so well in favor of its narrative. Seriously, people love it. Ping Pong is a fast sport, and the loose models and rough style let the artists stretch the characters when they chase the ball.
Now, the story of Smile and Peco isn't something we're about, to sum up. But, when you understand the characters and the story, watching the match between the two at the final becomes something weirdly emotional. Ping Pong is such an oddly charming piece of media.
2 March Comes In Like A Lion: Yanagihara vs Shimada At The Kishou Tournament
Watching March Comes In Like A Lion Is is like a breath of fresh air for me with each episode. The way they manage to tell the story of Rei Kiriyama through words, sights, and sounds is just so beautiful. And the best part is, while the show is all about Shogi, we still have no idea what's happening in any match.
But, thats totally fine! The matches can be understood through context and they're more about the journey of the people playing them then the game itself. And, the 3 days worth of matches between the Elder Yanagihara and Rei's mentor Shimada is one of the best self-contained narratives in the show.
1 Ashita No Joe: Joe vs Carlos
We started this early with Hajime no Ippo, so it only seems fitting to end it with the anime that inspired it as well as so many other Sports series. Ashita No Joe is basically the progenitor of the sports genre. It's obviously about boxing, but because the genre was new, it's just as much about Joe's life as it is about the sport, maybe more.
And, the rivalry between Joe and Carlos is one of our favorite parts of the series. So, of course, their fight would be one of our favorites as well. Rivals respecting each other by giving it their all in a fair game is one of the best cliche devices of all time.