Summary
Sometimes, the best way to feel motivated to get on one’s feet and make healthy lifestyle changes is to be inspired by other people. While some look up to real-world sports stars like Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, there are very inspirational figures that can be found in some of thebest sports anime. Many sports anime tell the stories of young adults working hard to transform their bodies and abilities into the best they can be while also dealing with relatable turmoils like love, school, and family life. It’s not weird to be motivated by the cheeky, funny, cool, or lovable characters in some truly great sports anime. Aspiring gym rats and sports players will love these exciting, competitive shows.
Sports itself is something that so many people have become invested in, and it’s easy to see why the medium of anime can elevate these emotions to new heights. There are many sports that people can get invested in for hours on end, to the point where viewers may be tempted to work out and emulate the success of their heroes after being moved by the struggles of these athletes and everything they have to go through to become the very best in their sport of choice.
Updated November 27th, 2024, by Jacob Buchalter:Sports anime check a lot of boxes for a lot of anime fans. They’re thrilling, high-octane, action-packed, inspiring, motivating, exciting, and so much more. In particular, sports anime have a tendency to keep their fanbase in check as far as working out is concerned. Watch 100+ episodes of a high school kid getting ripped and learning how to box, and at some point, you’re gonna feel motivated to learn to box yourself. Of course, that doesn’t mean people always act on these impulses, but the fact that it even gives them the impulse at all is a huge help. So, with that in mind as the end of the year comes up (at least at the time of writing this), let’s go over some of the best sports anime out there for those looking to keep physically active.
First up is a series calledBaby Steps, and as far as sports anime goes this is one of the most sport-focused ones on here. In fact, the entire premise of this series is watching a person discover a sport, slowly learn how it’s played, fall in love with the sport, make the sport their life, and then even eventually aim to become a pro in said sport. A lot of other sports series tend to focus on interpersonal relationships or the most ‘hype’ moments of a match, butBaby Stepsis about tennis in the purest sense.
Eiichiro, otherwise known as Ei-chan or even ‘Rooster-kun’ is the protagonist of this series, and he’s maybe one of the most unique sports protagonists in the sense that Eiichiro is a huge academic nerd. His studying and studying habits actually transfer over to learning a sport incredibly well, and by watching Eiichiro get better at tennis slowly but surely (one could almost say by taking ‘baby steps’), the viewers will often want to improve themselves in a very similar way.
Welcome to the Ballroom
July 9th, 2017
Production I. G.
Takeuchi Tomo
Welcome to the Ballroom is a bit of a controversial pick to include in a list about physical fitness, depending on who you ask. This show is absolutely beautiful, the people are in great shape, and they look incredible in their outfits for performances, but the anatomy in this anime is often heavily exaggerated. Typically it’s the length of the next, but the arms and legs are often elongated as well in certain scenes to give a bit more ‘elegance’ to the character’s look/pose.
Regardless of where one falls on the anatomy conversation with Welcome to the Ballroom, it’s an anime with fantastic music, a great story, and very physically fit characters. The best part, however, is that the characters aren’t typically ‘fit’ in the stereotypical big and muscly sense, but are rather very tall and lean.
Jan 5th, 2016
Madhouse
Sogabe Shuji (Story) & Arai Teruko (Art)
Next up is one of the rare examples on here of a Sports anime that’s entirely centered around a fictional sport. In this world, there’s a sport named ‘Stride’ and it involves a combination of freerunning, parkouring, sprinting, relay, and more. It’s an incredibly physically demanding sport, which alone would make anyone who watches this series want to work on their own physical fitness as well.
Not only that, but the anime adaptation of this series is absolutely beautiful. There was obviously a ton of work and love put into it, and the colors in particular are always so eye-catching.Prince of Stride: Alternativeis a series that manages to not only make track and field look cool, but also sprinting and parkour as well, somehow even making them all work together in a semi-cohesive way.
October 7th, 2016
Shiori Amase
Next up is a series that covers a sport very rarely seen in anime, rugby. This anime is calledAll Out,and it follows a team of incredibly rookie rugby players (mostly) as they attempt to become national high school rugby champions. One of the main reasons this show is so good for incentivizing viewers to work out is because of the characters themselves. Just about every single character in this high school series is built the same wayJoJo’s Bizarre Adventurehigh school students are built, which is to say they’re all absurdly buff and gigantic for 14 to 18-year-olds.
Taking even a single look at the coach of the team, Takuya Sekizan will make just about anyone jealous, as this 6+ foot giant is basically a giant slab of muscular meat. As far as the actual rugby matches themselves,All Outportrays them very well, especially when it comes to the physicality of rugby, and that’s exactly why this series is absolutely worth a watch.
October 2nd, 2019
Diomedea
Takeshi Hinata
Moving on to the first of a few different basketball series on here, let’s take a look atAhiru No Sora. Sora Kurumatani is the protagonist of this series, and he’s been obsessed with basketball all of his life, despite looking as scrawny as he does. In a sport where height is basically everything, Sora is pretty small, not all that muscular, and has a timid personality, but that doesn’t stop him from constantly practicing and even reviving the basketball team of Kuzuryu High through sheer determination alone.
Keep in mind that this is a school full to the brim with delinquents, so Sora has to go up against some pretty terrifying people if he wants to get the chance to play on a high school basketball team. All in all, this is a great series to watch for those who want to work out more simply because watching Sora practice as much as he does makes it easy to get motivated for your own personal fitness goals.
Sumo wrestling is a sport that deserves way more respect, and fans who want to understand why this sport is so grueling should check outHinomaru Sumo. The main character, Hinomaru Ushio, is a person with a short stature who seems unlikely to excel in this sport. So, he takes everyone by surprise by boasting amazing power in this sport and taking on the best of the bunch with a ton of training and grit.
Hinomaru Sumois one of the most unique sports anime out there that fans can check out, proving that physical limitations shouldn’t stop people from trying to excel in the sports of their choice. The interpersonal relationships and the wealth of competition Hinomaru has to deal with during his time as a sumo wrestler make this anime pretty compelling.
Fans who want to check out a sports anime that is a bit more laid-back while also focusing on the value of training to get better will love whatCross Gamehas to offer. A simple sports anime revolving around baseball and relationships between the main cast, it’s easy to see whyCross Gameis such a compelling sports anime that fans can check out.
The wholesome nature of the anime, coupled with the realistic manner in which people move past personal tragedies, makes this title a blast to view. It’s a slow burn, but the payoffs are more than worth it, makingCross Gamea must-watch show for any fans of sports anime who want to motivate themselves during a tough time.
July 3rd, 2016
Mappa
Tsuyoshi Yasuda
A quintessential example of never giving up and fighting against all the odds,Daysis an excellent anime focusing on the story of Tsukushi Tsukamoto, a shy, reserved high-schooler who decides to join the soccer team after a series of events both fortunate and unlucky. From the very first match, his determination to become better at the sport makes him a beacon of motivation among his teammates.
Despite being bullied heavily over and over again, Tsukushi refuses to let this come in the way of becoming a reliable member of the soccer team. His journey of perseverance and dedication is something that can motivate viewers to focus on their own physical well-being, too.
A show that covers the sport of figure skating,Yuri on Icedepicts many mature themes while showing the sheer level of dedication that it takes to be an expert in a craft that is underappreciated by many. However, it’s the many other elements inYuri on Icethat have also been rightfully lauded.
The depiction of a queer relationship and themes of anxiety is done brilliantly in a show that doesn’t rely on dated tropes to handle such sensitive topics.Yuri on Iceis a show that fans of great, thought-provoking anime should check out, and it’s very much possible that many people will gain a newfound appreciation for the art of figure skating.
April 4th, 2006
Toei Animation
Oh! Great
Skating is a tough sport that requires a lot of balance, skill, and determination to master. TheAir Gearversion of this sport is even more intense, pushing skaters to their very limits as they try to master the use of Air Gear and reach the top of the Trophaeum Tower.
The show is a great example of how no one can achieve something great on their own, and having companions also helps. Viewers who are struggling with fitness-related issues can always rely on their friends or experts to get back on track, just like the characters onAir Gear.
