Though anime enthusiasts love action-adventure more than anything but some of the best sports anime have won their hearts as well. Anime shows have captivated the world with one-of-a-kind characters, humor, plot, world-building and many more unique things. In the past few years, the popularity of anime has skyrocketed.
Moving forward in the article, we will talk about the best Sports anime that you can watch right now to kick start your streaming spree.
Table of Contents
Best Sports Anime you can watch in 2024
1. Haikyu!!
One of the best and ace of Sports Anime out there. Those who haven’t seen this delightful series will regret it. The heroic journey of young lads who force themselves and surpass their limits to win is what makes this anime gold.
Haikyu!! Released in 2014, they set a remarkable name through their animation, plot-building and characters which is still in our hearts. Haikyu!! Revolves around our young protagonist Hinata Shoyo and Karasuno and how they overcome difficult teams all over from Japan.
This series also embarks on the journey of our 2nd lead Kageyama Tobio. The first movie of Haikyu!! Franchise is a banger, and fans awaits the last movie of this series. Watch Haikyu! on Crunchyroll.
2. Blue Lock
After a long time one can say that Blue Lock is an iconic series showcasing football with incredible animations. The strategic brilliance, pulse-pounding intensity in the matches makes this series rank top in the charts. Though the CGI annoys fans, but the captivating narrative storyline builds up the hype for every match.
Blue Lock premiered in 2022 with a good anime adaptation and it’s a relief to each manga reader as the show follows each and every panel with the same design. Blue Lock is a storyline which follows around Isagi Yoichi who’s passionate about football and joins the Player Improvement Project.
Ego Jinpachi starts the Player Improvement project to create a team of beasts which has the power to obliterate anyone on the field and dreams of lifting the World Cup Trophy. He meets several players from Japan and creates a team to compete against rivals to clear stages and move ahead enhancing their skills.
The characters have a unique ability and no one’s a companion in the Player Improvement Project. Watch Blue Lock only on Crunchyroll!!
3. Kuroko no Basket
From football fields to basketball courts, the anime industry has fascinated many fans. Kuroko no Basket is also considered a gem of Sports Anime. You may call it abstract but it’s anime so anything can happen in this melodious world. Kuroko no Basket released in 2012 and is a long anime with fierce battle among five prodigies and their teams.
Unlike other anime Kuroko no Basket is about our lad Kuroko who has a laid-back personality and is called shadow in the Basketball world. This series showcases epic battles amongst basketball prodigies and each one has an ability thus called Zone. Kuroko no Basket franchise also revolves around 2nd lead Kagami Taiga a “monster” who competes and wants to become the king of prodigies with the help of our main lead Kuroko.
Get ready for heartwarming camaraderie!!
4. Slam Dunk
Let’s go old-school!!
Slam Dunk, the legend of Sports Anime, still remains on the top tier. An anime from the 1990s is still engraved in our hearts and is beloved amongst every anime fan. The peak is the creation of Takehiko Inoue who also wrote Vagabond one of the god tier Seinen Manga.
The storyline revolves around a delinquent Sakuragi Hanamichi who unintentionally gets enrolled in Shohoku High Basketball team. The old animation style allures fans worldwide and especially this series has no special ability it’s all about natural talent and hardwork. Along with an unforgettable ride through athletic powers Slam Dunk also showcases intense comical presence.
In order to impress everyone and to defeat his own team member Rukawa Kaede, Sakuragi goes all out!!
5. Yuri on Ice
Yuri on Ice is another amazing sports anime you should try at least once. It revolves around a Japanese figure skater, Yuri Katsuki. The anime starts with him losing the Grand Prix Final. After the crushing defeat, he returns home to get back to normal life. He is not in good shape after the competition, but his love for the sport never dies. One fine night, he was performing a routine created by his competitor, Victor Nikiforov.
A few kids from the locality made a video of the same and posted it online. Surprisingly, the video went viral and reached Victor. What happens next is something that all the fans want to see once in their lifetime. Sports anime integrates fun, sportsmanship, competition, and other factors. One thing that I am sure of is that you are not going to question your decision of watching it.
6. Hajime no Ippo
Hajime no Ippo is an old-school anime beloved by every anime enthusiast. It is still ranked top in the charts due to its fable. If you want to experience combat sports along with extreme hilarity, Hajime no Ippo is like a kindred spirit for you.
The narrative revolves around Ippo Makunouchi, who was bullied for most of his high school years. His perspective on life changes after Takamura Mamoru rescues him. Besides his dull life, Ippo finds fascination in boxing and decides to become a pro boxer!!
Moreover, this legendary series is packed with an extent of hilariousness and a sportsman full of grit!!
7. Diamond no Ace
The title suits me well!! Illustrated and written by Yuji Terajima, Diamond no Ace is a sports anime that you should definitely watch if you are into the sports genre. The storyline follows Eijun Sawamura, who seeks to become the world’s best pitcher after visiting Seido High. The series showcases how Eijun’s outlook changes after visiting Seido High. Moreover, if you want to discover baseball in-depth, this series will be a televisual feast for you.
Prepare to be enthralled by Eijun’s mind-boggling pitches and his unwavering determination to win the summer tournament. The intense sports action in Diamond no Ace will keep you on the edge of your seat, craving for more.
8. Ping Pong the Animation
If we are talking about the best sports anime, how can we forget this prodigal series?! Ping Pong, the Animation, premiered in April 2014 and skyrocketed in the charts because of its enthralling narrative. Though the storyline may be phenomenal for fans worldwide, the animation may be challenging to many of us.
Even having an absurd animation style, other sports anime can’t stop this series from winning the Animation of the Year “2015.” Further, the narrative follows Makoto Tsukimoto and Yutaka Hoshino, who have played ping-pong since childhood. Despite having great skills, Makoto plays Ping-Pong for fun, while Yutaka seeks to become the world’s best player.
Let’s delve into the world of Ping Pong to unveil the intensity of Ping Pong matches!!
9. Yowamushi Pedal
A staggering series illustrated by Wataru Watanabe captivates fans worldwide. This alluring cycling anime revolves around Sakamichi Onoda, a vigorous Otaku who enters Sohoku High seeking to join the anime club. However, his dream remains a dream to join the anime club as it disperses due to the low number of members. Despite his love for manga and anime, Onoda has a passion for cycling. However, Shunsuke Imaizumi, a fellow junior, witnessed Onoda’s cycling skills and requested he join the racing club at Sohoku.
If you are in search of a Best sports anime, Yowamushi Pedal will be a match made in heaven for you!! With a total of 5 seasons, it’s time for you to witness a prime and how Onoda carves his way up to become a pro cyclist!!
10. Free!
Written by Koji Oji, Free! is another of the best sports anime among the prodigies. A new-gen sports anime that has taken other sports anime by storm. Along with fierce and electrifying matches, fans worldwide are intrigued by the ridiculousness of the anime!! Moreover, if you are fond of swimming, this anime is like a jewel in a crown for you!!
The narrative follows Haruka Nanase, who reunites with his friends after a long time. They bring back their swimming club, which had been disbanded ages ago. The reunited group also aims to win several swimming contests!!
Free! showcases rivalry, friendship, and especially the devotion to swimming flowing through their veins.
Wrapping up
Here we have mentioned all the best sports anime suggestions that you can watch in 2024. One of the most popular one like Haikyuu is also getting two new movies this year as well. And that’s not it, keep regularly checking the list as we will update it with more amazing suggestions constantly.
No doubt about it!!!