The natural drama and narrative that comes from sports have inspired visual artists for decades. And this special combination of art and athletics has launched countless anime, running the gamut of both major and minor sports.
The sub-genre of sports anime has spawned some of the biggest and most successful series in the medium as a whole, with compelling characters who draw fans in as they go through the grind of practice or training. With clear stakes and defined rules as well, it's incredibly easy to invest, and those who do so are rewarded with the triumph of victory and the heartbreak of defeat.
Basketball
One of the biggest sports in the world with high-level pro leagues all over the globe, basketball has been spawning quality anime since the early 90s. The hugely popular series, Slam Dunk debuted in 1993, churning out over 100 episodes and 4 movies, arguably making it the defining sports anime of the decade, and its protagonist, Hanamichi Sakuragi, an iconic character of the era.
In the years since, notable series including Dear Boys, Kuroko's Basketball, and the most recent Ahiru No Sora, have risen to carry on the legacy of basketball anime.
Boxing
At one point a major force in the sporting world, boxing's clear objective and visual panache has made it an easy draw for filmmakers and animators alike. Anime has covered boxing for decades, dating as far back as Ashita no Joe in 1970. But boxing anime's biggest hit is author George Morikawa's Hajime no Ippo.
Following lovable underdog, Ippo Makunouchi, the original series The Fighting! debuted in 2000 and spanned 75 episodes, inspiring two follow-up series and several TV specials and OVAs. Other notable series include Ring ni Kakero and the recent hit, Megalo Box.
Skateboarding/Roller Skating
X Games-style sports have grown tremendously in worldwide popularity since the new millennium began (skateboarding is officially debuting as an Olympic sport this year!) and anime have caught up in a similar fashion. And the biggest (and really only) hit so far is Air Gear.
Debuting in 2006, Air Gear took the sport of roller skating and added high-power engines, resulting in a truly unique and slightly more extreme iteration. More recently skateboarding landed its first real series with the announcement of Funimation's Sk8 the Infinity, set to debut later this year.
Tennis
The sport of tennis has been on the global stage for decades, proving to be one the most effective at championing both genders. Its popularity among both men and women is evidenced by its earliest triumph in anime, the female-led Ace wo Norae!, debuting way back in 1973.
But the undisputed king of tennis anime is The Prince of Tennis. The smash-hit series burst onto the scene in 2001, spanning 178 episodes and producing numerous specials, OVAs, movies, and an additional series. In its massive wake, series like Baby Steps and Stars Align have emerged to continue the tennis anime tradition.
Baseball
Baseball is one of if not the single biggest sport in Japan, and that is made crystal clear by the sheer amount of successful baseball anime, even dating as far back as 1968's Kyojin no Hoshi (168 episodes and four movies).
Series like Major (6 seasons, several OVAs, a movie, and a spinoff series) and Ace of Diamond (over 120 episodes, numerous OVAs, and a follow-up series) have garnered massive success, with anime including One Outs, Cross Game, and Big Windup also finding audiences. Baseball anime has successfully involved women as well, with hits like Taisho Baseball Girls, Princess Nine, and Cinderella Nine.
Swimming
Despite swimming's long, long history as a sport (and even longer history as a necessary skill), anime hasn't taken to it very often. However, its limited pool of candidates hasn't kept it from producing a hit. Free - Iwatobi Swim Club, debuted in 2013 and spawned two subsequent series, five movies, and a handful of specials.
Based on a light novel, it follows three friends (Haruka, Makoto, and Nagisa) who start a swim club to compete against their exceedingly talented friend and rival, Rin. Other series like Umisho and DIVE!! have risen up as well to help solidify and expand swimming anime.
Soccer
Easily the biggest sport in the world, anime is not immune to soccer's great influence. With successful series dating back to Akakichi no Eleven in 1970 and the monster Captain Tsubasa (128 episodes, four movies, and multiple follow-up series) in 1983, it easily rivals baseball as the most popular and enduring kind of sports anime.
The anime Days (24 episodes and 5 OVAs to date) is the latest to carry the torch, debuting in 2016 and taking over for the juggernaut Inazuma Eleven (nearly 350 episodes in total and multiple movies). Other series including Whistle!, Hungry Heart: Wild Striker, and Giant Killing round out a stellar collection of soccer anime.
Football
the American version of football, while paling in comparison to the "original" football's global influence, has still managed to make it to the world of anime. And the series, Eyeshield 21, holds it down all by itself. Debuting in 2005, the lone football anime to date, follows Sena Kobayakawa, a timid teenager whose talent for running away from bullies gets him recruited by the school football team.
Based on the manga by Riichiro Inagaki and Yuusuke Murata, the anime produced 145 episodes and two specials, helping to expand the popularity of the "other football" in Japan and around the world.
Cycling
With the exception of the Tour de France and the Olympics, cycling doesn't really find itself at the center of the sports world very often. But that hasn't kept a handful of anime from finding wider success. Chief among them is the hit series, Yowamushi Pedal.
Following lovable otaku Sakamichi Onada, the original series debuted in 2013 with 38 episodes and has subsequently spawned three additional series, four movies, and an OVA. Other series like Over Drive, Idaten Jump, Long Riders!, and Minamuri High School Girls Cycling Club round out a strong collection of cycling anime.
Volleyball
Relatively small compared to sports such as baseball, basketball, and soccer, volleyball has still managed to produce a slew of hit anime, with series going as far back as 1969's Attack No. 1 (104 episodes). But the current undisputed giant of volleyball anime is none other than the smash Haikyuu!!.
Debuting in 2014, lovable Shoyo Hinata and the rest of the Karasuno High team's journey spans five series, several special episodes, a few OVAs, and four movies so far. With 2.43: Seiin Boys High School Volleyball Team and beach volleyball iterations like Harakuna Recieve, volleyball is one of the strongest sports anime going.