Dreaming of Glory: The Sports Anime That Inspired Our Inner Champions

Japanese animation brought us many amazing genres and series that touched our hearts. However, sports manga and anime are masters of hitting the emotional feelings of the viewer, especially if the underdog team gets to the top in the end. Of course, 'dreaming of glory' is the main goal of these series, and it takes us on an emotional and exciting journey of these young people trying to succeed.

Free!

One of the rare series that represent the sport of swimming is Free!, which was released in 2013 and had a run until 2014. One of the most popular sports anime of that era, Free! follows the story of Haruka Nanase and the rest of his fellow swimmers, who are members of the Iwatobi Swim Club. They are trying to build their team from the bottom and have a go at competitive swimming. However, on the way to the top is their former friend, now rival, Samezuka, who is trying to prove he is better without them. The anime showcased the best parts of swimming, making the sport even more interesting.

Slam Dunk

This classic sports anime pioneered this genre and made many people in Japan and in other parts of the world love basketball. The anime was first released in 1990 and had its run until 1996 and, in those years, became one of the most popular anime in Japan. The story follows a basketball team from Shōhoku High School, specifically a hotheaded and very talented Hanamichi Sakuragi, who wants to take his team to become the best basketball team in the country. The Japanese NBA players, like Yuta Watanabe and Rui Hachimura, were quoted saying that Slam Dunk inspired them to become professional basketball players and made them love the game, and if that doesn't entice you to check it out, we don't know what will.

Yuri!!! On ICE

Yuri!! On Ice series took over the world of anime in 2016 with its huge popularity and extremely passionate fans. It follows the story of an up-and-coming Japanese ice skater, Yyuri Katsuki, his idol, Viktor Nikiforov, and another up-and-coming skater, this time from Russia, Yuri Plisetsky, who are trying to win the important ice skating competition, Grand Prix. Yuri!! On Ice covered many sensitive but important themes like same-sex love, dealing with anxiety, and, overall, the life of a professional athlete. If you're into a very competitive but very emotional anime, this one's for you.

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Ace of Diamond

Cited by some fans as one of the best sports anime of all time, Ace of Diamonds follows the story of Eijun Sawamura, a baseball pitcher with an unusual pitching style, who is invited to join the prestigious Seidou High School baseball team. Eijun soon realizes that he's very much behind his teammates in terms of skill and experience and vows to become the ace of baseball. Definitely worth a series to check out, since it is one of the best sports but also a shōnen anime that will make you root for the main character.

Blue Lock

Not your traditional sports anime on this list, Blue Lock really pushes the boundaries of the genre. First released in 2018, this ongoing anime garnered many fans across the world, and it follows Yoichi Isagi, a soccer prodigy who lost an important game just because he made the wrong decision in a very important moment. After the devastating loss, Yoichi joins Blue Lock, a training regime conducted by Jinpachi Ego, which pits soccer players against each other in ruthless challenges to determine the best possible candidates for the Japanese national team. Very intense indeed.

Captain Tsubasa

Another soccer anime on this list is a series that stemmed from the legendary manga series in the 1980s of the same name, Captain Tsubasa. The story follows an 11-year-old Tsubasa Oozora, who loves soccer more than anything, and his dream is to become a professional and lead the Japanese National Team to the FIFA World Cup. There are many versions of the anime; however, this list will include the ones from the 1990s and the beginning of the 2000s. It's truly iconic, and any soccer fan should at least check it out.

Hajime No Ippo

Hajime no Ippo is one of the longest-running manga series today, and it brought us an amazing anime that ran from 2000 to 2002. It follows the story of Makunouchi Ippo, a teenager who's been brutally bullied all his life. One day, a boxer, Takamura Mamoru, notices Ippo after a heavy beatdown and saves his life. This leads to Ippo learning boxing to defend himself and eventually falling in love with the sport, ultimately setting himself on the journey to become a professional boxer. An incredible story of an underdog that tries to reach his goal.

Kuroko's Basketball

Another basketball anime on this list is Kuroko's Basket, which is definitely more popular with younger generations and fans of the sport anime. The story follows Tetsuya Kuroko, once a member of the legendary middle school team, Seiko, who is trying to find his place in high school. Determined to stand out without his former 'Generation of Miracles' teammates, Kuroko joins Seirin High School, where he meets Kagami Taiga, a talented player who wants to reach the NBA one day. The new dynamic duo sets on a path to win the Inter-High competition and beat the legendary middle-school wonderkids. One of the coolest sports anime in recent years.

Haikyu!!

Haikyu!! is the first anime that pops into one's mind when discussing one of the best sports series. It follows the Karasuno Volleyball Team and their journey to become the best squad in Japan but also the path of teams they encounter on their way. One of the most popular and cited by some as one of the best sports anime we've seen on our screens. Definitely a must-watch anime in this genre.

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