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7 anime series to watch on Netflix for your sports fix
Many sports fans are going through withdrawal as leagues all over the world were forced to halt or reschedule their tournaments amid the coronavirus pandemic.
The Tokyo Olympics is postponed for a year, the UAAP and the NCAA canceled the rest of their seasons, and the PBA remains suspended indefinitely.
The good news is the NBA restarts its season next month, but if the wait is driving you crazy, scratch that itch with some animated sports action from Netflix.
1. Kuroko's Basketball
What’s it about?
Members of a once-in-a-generation middle school team goes on to play for different high schools. One of them is a passing specialist known as the “Phantom Sixth Man.” His existence was thought to be an urban legend until he emerges from the shadows and challenges his former teammates in the Inter-High.
Why watch it?
Cool moves and unorthodox strategies abound in this series featuring a large ensemble cast. There’s plenty of humor, drama, and exciting games as the players shift into higher gear with each matchup.
2. Haikyu!
What’s it about?
A genius but arrogant setter was shunned by his teammates in middle school. A short spiker with an explosive jumping ability played with a below average team. When the two enroll in the same high school, the combination of their skills rekindles the dream of the languishing Karasuno volleyball team.
Why watch it?
If you’re a volleyball junkie, you won’t find many other anime about the sport. The series also avoids over the top techniques used by other sports series, but the matches are no less intense. Each character has his own moments and you will find yourself cheering even for the players from rival teams.
3. Hanebado!
What’s it about?
A second-generation badminton prodigy quits the sport when her mother leaves her to go overseas. Her best friend convinces her to pick up the racket again in high school, but the captain of the team was a player she completely destroyed in Junior Nationals. Both are asking themselves the same question: Why am I playing badminton?
Why watch it?
Worth it for the action. The game sequences are clever and well-animated, plus the ambient sounds make you feel as if you’re watching inside the gym. It’s also the only show on this list focusing on female athletes, so if you want to see girls playing sports, this is for you.
4. Free!
What’s it about?
A young swimmer loses his motivation to compete after falling out with his childhood friend and fellow swimmer. When they meet again in high school along with their former relay teammates, old rivalries resurface once more.
Why watch it?
Who said boys and drama don’t go together? In this series, the characters show their vulnerable side and the result is a heart-warming take on the friendships forged through mutual love for the sport. Also: ripped swimmers in trunks illustrated in the eye-candy art style of Kyoto Animation? It’s a yes!
5. Run with the wind
What’s it about?
A long-distance runner found himself suddenly recruited in a rag-tag college team aiming to participate in the Hakone relay marathon race. The other members aren’t really athletes, but they are forced to join after unknowingly living in the team’s dormitory for years.
Why watch it?
The college setting is a breath of fresh air. The characters face adult issues such as applying for jobs, finding time for their girlfriends, and dealing with a parent’s remarriage. But it remains true to its genre, exploring the nuances of distance running while gently leading its cast to a journey of self-discovery.
6. Yowamushi Pedal
What’s it about?
An otaku rides 45 kilometers on a city bike from his school to Akihabara to save up money for anime merchandise. He only wants to revive the anime club and make friends, but he gets dragged into the world of road race when members of the bicycle club see his potential.
Why watch it?
We all want to root for the underdog, don’t we? Something about seeing an unathletic boy grow into a skilled competitor is deeply satisfying. And with a total amateur as the main character, we get to learn about cycling alongside him. Pretty neat, right?
7. Ahiru no Sora
What’s it about?
The delinquents of the basketball club turn a new leaf when a short but passionate player joins the team. They want to play at the Inter-High, but they still have a long way to go before they can be ready for competition.
Why watch it?
The premise screams "Slam Dunk" 2.0 and one of the characters is a mellow version of Sakuragi. But it borrows elements from "Dear Boys" as well—the main character has shades of Aikawa and there's the close relationship between the boys' and girls' teams. Yet even as it pays homage to its predecessors, the show breathes new life to the sub-genre of hoops anime by fluently speaking the sport's language.
—MGP, GMA News
