Just as sports films have captured audiences' hearts, sports anime have risen from the ranks of TV shows or comic-inspired series to become cultural phenomenons. And looking at the most beloved and popular sports anime ever released, it isn't hard to see why.

The best sports anime series deliver compelling character histories, challenges, and victories. They also deliver on important themes like friendship, loss, family, and dedication. If all of that wasn't enough, the top ranks of sports anime have also captured enough acclaim and devotion to not only be recognized as the best of their subgenre, but be seen among the top anime of all time.

25 Captain Tsubasa

Anime Series By David Production; Based On The Manga By Yōichi Takahashi

Captain Tsubasa is a great sports anime featuring a protagonist in the classic shonen-spokon style, who builds friendships and inspires rivals throughout his journey. Ozora Tsubasa is charismatic, kind, and very talented when it comes to soccer.

Captain Tsubasa received a remake in 2011, available on Prime Video.

The series is full of exciting matches with spectacular and exaggerated techniques, as audeinces follow Tsubasa's journey from his first amateur games to being a professional. Another highlight of Captain Tsubasa is the large ing cast and relevant themes, especially for younger audiences, exploring topics such as perseverance, the pursuit of ones dreams, and teamwork.

24 SK8 The Infinity

Anime Series By Studio Bones; Directed By Hiroko Utsumi

From the makers of Mob Psycho 100, My Hero Academia, and Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood comes this skateboard anime that dazzled fans back in 2021. Set in Okinawa, there is an underground skating competition called S where competitors race down dangerous courses and take on dangerous paths. Reki, a skateboard diehard, befriends the quiet transfer Langa and takes him to watch S. Langa is dazzled by the world of skateboarding and is very good at it, which makes sense given his experience with snowboarding.

Besides the fantastic action animation, the allure of SK8 The Infinity is its characters and their flamboyant and unique character designs. The fashion is amazing, the characterization works hand in hand with the eye-catching looks of the cast. The dynamic of the duo is really heartwarming too, and the friendship and rivalry of Langa and Reki is a cornerstone of the series.

23 Run With The Wind

Anime Series By Production I.G; Based On The Novel By Shion Miura

Fans interested in discovering different kinds of sports may be interested in Run With the Wind, an anime that takes viewers into the world of long-distance running, specifically focusing on a university relay marathon race known as the Hakone Ekiden, a highly regarded race that takes place every year in Japan.

The series follows former star runner Kakeru Kurahara after he's caught shoplifting, crossing paths with fellow university student Haiji Kiyose. Haiji is impressed by Kakeru's speed and invites him to live in Chikusei-sou, eventually asking him to the Track Club. This take on a less-explored sport provides a compelling narrative that strikes a balance between humor, drama, and genuinely heartfelt moments.

22 Air Gear

Anime Series By Toei Animation; Based On The Manga By Oh! Great

Toei Animation's Air Gear stars Itsuki "Ikki" Minami, a notorious street punk whose gang is quickly beaten in a fight by a new gang fighting with special rollerblades called Air Trecks. As a result, Ikki finds himself quickly getting involved in the world of Storm Riders, people who fight with Air Treks, and it's not long before things escalate beyond the boundaries of simple rollerblading.

Air Gear is quick to abandon any sort of realism for a supernatural take on rollerblading, especially in the later stages of the manga, but fortunately, Air Gear works as an anime specifically because of how much it embraces the increasing absurdity of its premise. Add in the great writing, animation, and overall direction of the anime, and Air Gear does a perfect job of showing how fun sports anime can be.

21 IGPX

Anime Series By Production I.G; Directed By Mitsuru Hongo

Though it is a mech show, the Cartoon Network original anime IGPX follows the arc and structure of the best sports anime. The series follows the up-and-coming team Satomi as they compete in the IGPX, or The Immortal Grand Prix, a competition where teams of three race in mechs. Team Satomi consists of hot-shot forward Takeshi, loud and brash defender Liz, and mild-mannered mid-fielder Amy, who also serves as the team's tactician. Together they compete in G-1, the IGPX's top tier, to try and become the best team.

Fans of movies may recognize Haley Joel Osment as the voice of Takeshi and Michelle Rodriguez as the voice of Liz.

Nothing done in IGPX is exactly revolutionary, but instead, what the series excels in is telling a standard sports story exceptionally well. The characters are compelling, the animation courtesy of Production I.G. is outstanding, and each episode is consistently engaging. Additionally, IGPX's mechs add a fun twist to what would have otherwise been a standard racing story. The result is that IGPX stands among the greatest sports anime.

20 Birdie Wing

Anime Series By Bandai Namco Pictures; Directed By Takayuki Inagaki

In Bandai Namco Pictures' Birdie Wing, Eve has made a career out of playing underground golf games until she's beaten by the golf prodigy Aoi Amawashi. From there, Eve decides to go clean so she can have a proper rematch with Aoi, something Aoi is happy to comply with thanks to her infatuation with Eve, although Eve finds resistance to her goal from numerous parties, most notably the golf mafia of Nafrece.

Golf has a notorious reputation for being boring, but with how over-the-top Birdie Wing can get with characters having signature moves and the presence of a golf mafia, Birdie Wing always manages to be a fun take on golf because of how far it goes with its absurdist take on the sport. Add in the consistently great art and animation, and Birdie Wing is a great sports anime fans of the genre would be remiss to over.

19 Blue Lock

Anime Series By Eight Bit; Based On The Manga By Muneyuki Kaneshiro & Yusuke Nomura

Blue Lock blends the classic battle-royale genre with sports in an unexpectedly exciting and inventive way, focusing on competitive soccer matches and exploring themes such as the mental challenges of the players and the competition of professional sports.

The anime kicks off after Japan was knocked out of the 2018 World Cup in Russia, and to rebuild their soccer program and regain their former glory, the Japanese national team hires coach Jinpachi Ego. He comes up with a plan: isolate 300 young strikers in a state-of-the-art training center called 'Blue Lock'. The goal is to turn one of those selected into the national team's top scorer through a rigorous training program akin to a life-or-death battle-royale elimination game.

18 Blue Box

Anime Series By TMS Entertainment & Telecom Animation Film; Based On The Manga By Kouji Miura

TMS Entertainment & Telecom Animation Film's Blue Box stars Taiki Inomata, a rookie bton player with a crush on Chinatsu Kano, the star of the basketball team. Taiki is fine with iring Chinatsu from afar, but all of that changes when Chinatsu moves in with Taiki while her parents are working abroad, thus giving him a chance to finally have a true relationship with her.

While romance tends to either take over a plot or get far too little focus, Blue Box does a perfect job of balancing its romance story with its sports drama, all of which is given great animation at every turn. The Blue Box manga has been one of the best sports and romance manga of the past few years, and the anime has done a perfect job of bringing it to life.

17 Eyeshield 21

Anime Series By Gallop; Based On The Manga By Riichiro Inagaki & Yusuke Murata

Gallop’s Eyeshield 21 stars Sena Kobayakawa, a weak and timid young boy whose only talent is his incredible speed. That, however, draws the attention of the eccentric Yoichi Himura, who quickly recruits Sena as a running back for their high school football team, the Deimon Devil Bats, and with Hiruma believing that other schools would want to steal Sena from him, he has him hide his identity with an eyeshield and play as the titular Eyeshield 21.

Football is probably one of the sports that would be largely unrecognizable to Japanese audiences, but fortunately, Eyeshield 21's great art and animation, combined with its stellar character writing, all did a great job of translating the highs and lows of football into anime. Eyeshield 21's creators would eventually create Dr. Stone and One-Punch Man, and everything great about those anime can be traced back to the high quality of Eyeshield 21's story.

16 Megalobox

Anime Series By TMS Entertainment; Based On The Manga By Asao Takamori & Tetsuya Chiba

Though sports anime tend to be more grounded, there is also a certain subsection of fantasy or science fiction sports anime such as Megalobox. The series follows a man known only as Junk Dog who starts competing in the titular Megalobox sport. The sport is essentially a boxing match where each fighter is equipped with an ultrapowerful exoskeleton that gives them devastating strength.

Even with its fantastical premise and dystopian setting, Megalobox perfectly captures what makes the best sports anime so compelling. Junk Dog's struggle to the top is absolutely riveting, and it's thrilling to see him improve and grow at his chosen sport with each match. Megalobox is also a great anime for any fan who's looking for something a little more mature from a sports anime.