When it comes to exciting action and powerful stories, nothing beats the best sports anime of all time. These shows are about more than just games, they show the hard work, dreams, and challenges that athletes face. Whether it’s a quiet student trying boxing for the first time or a team of underdogs giving it their all, sports anime make us cheer, feel emotional, and stay on the edge of our seats.
In this list, we’ll look at the 10 best sports anime of all time, based on ratings from IMDB and MyAnimeList. These are the shows fans love the most for their strong stories, exciting matches, and amazing characters. If you’re ready to enjoy the thrill and emotion of anime sports at their best, this list is for you.
10. Kuroko’s Basketball
| IMDB Rating | 8.2 |
| MyAnimeList Rating | 8.05 |
Kuroko’s Basketball is about Tetsuya Kuroko, a quiet and almost invisible player who used to be part of the famous “Generation of Miracles”, a team of super talented middle school basketball players. Now in high school, he teams up with Taiga Kagami, a strong and passionate player. Together, they aim to beat Kuroko’s old teammates using Kuroko’s clever passing and hidden playing style. The show is full of exciting games and strong rivalries.
Even though it shows unrealistic moves that go beyond real basketball, the story is filled with emotion and inspiration. Each new team they face has its own backstory, adding more depth to the story. With eye-catching animation and fun character interactions, Kuroko’s Basketball is a favorite among both sports and action anime fans.
9. Blue Lock
| IMDB Rating | 8.1 |
| MyAnimeList Rating | 8.19 |
Blue Lock takes a different and intense path compared to most sports anime. After Japan’s soccer team fails to win the World Cup, a new plan is made to find the best striker in the country. 300 young players are locked in a special training center, and only one can come out on top. The anime mixes soccer with a survival-style competition, focusing on ego, personal goals, and standing out from others.
What makes Blue Lock special is its dark and highly competitive mood. Unlike most sports anime that focus on teamwork, this one pushes players to think about themselves first. With cool animation and lots of tension, Blue Lock has become popular with newer fans and adds a bold, fresh twist to soccer anime.
8. One Outs
| IMDB Rating | 8.2 |
| MyAnimeList Rating | 8.32 |
One Outs is about Toua Tokuchi, a smart gambler and baseball pitcher who wins games using his brain instead of strength. He joins a pro baseball team with a strange contract, he gets paid for every out he makes but loses money for every run he allows. This turns the game into a tense mental battle. The anime focuses more on clever thinking than on regular sports action.
Unlike most sports anime that show teamwork and tough training, One Outs is all about strategy and mind games. It’s full of surprises, smart moves, and exciting moments that keep you guessing. If you like shows like Death Note or Kaiji, you’ll enjoy the same kind of tension and smart storytelling, just set in the world of baseball.
7. Tomorrow’s Joe
| IMDB Rating | 8.3 |
| MyAnimeList Rating | 8.33 |
Tomorrow’s Joe is a classic anime from the 1970s that tells the story of Joe Yabuki, a troubled young man who finds a new purpose in life through boxing. The show follows Joe’s journey from living in the slums to becoming a skilled professional boxer. Along the way, he faces strong opponents and fights his own personal struggles. It’s an emotional story about poverty, finding yourself, and never giving up.
Ashita no Joe (Tomorrow’s Joe) is one of the most important and influential sports anime ever made. It had a big impact on how anime stories are told and even on Japanese culture. Joe’s character is famous, he stands for the underdog who keeps fighting no matter what. Even after many years, this powerful story about strength and self-respect still connects with people today.
6. Run with the Wind
| IMDB Rating | 8.3 |
| MyAnimeList Rating | 8.38 |
Run with the Wind follows Kakeru, a talented runner with a troubled past, and Haiji, a university student who wants to create a long-distance relay team. Haiji gathers nine other students from his dorm, most of whom have no running experience. Together, they train hard to take part in the Hakone Ekiden, one of Japan’s biggest and most famous relay marathons. The story shows how they grow both as runners and as people facing their own struggles.
What makes this anime special is its calm and emotional storytelling. It doesn’t rely on big twists, but instead focuses on friendship, personal growth, and second chances. The animation by Production I.G. is beautiful, and the music adds to the feelings in every scene. Run with the Wind is a touching sports anime about chasing dreams and the bonds between people.
5. Initial D: First Stage
| IMDB Rating | 8.5 |
| MyAnimeList Rating | 8.35 |
Initial D is about Takumi Fujiwara, a high school student who delivers tofu for his dad using an old Toyota AE86. What he doesn’t realize is that driving through mountain roads every night is secretly making him an amazing street racer. As Takumi gets pulled into the world of street racing, he starts to discover his own skills and love for racing. He takes part in exciting one-on-one races on dangerous mountain roads.
The anime is famous for its cool techno music, realistic car movements, and thrilling races. It also shows the deep love for cars in Japanese culture. While the main focus is racing, Initial D also tells a strong story about Takumi growing up and finding his place in the world. It’s a perfect mix of racing action and personal growth.
4. Slam Dunk
| IMDB Rating | 8.7 |
| MyAnimeList Rating | 8.55 |
Slam Dunk is about Hanamichi Sakuragi, a high school troublemaker with a bad temper who joins the basketball team just to impress a girl. At first, he doesn’t care about the sport, but over time, he finds out he’s actually good at it and starts to love playing. The story focuses on how Hanamichi changes from a selfish beginner into a serious player. With funny moments, emotional growth, and exciting games, Slam Dunk became very popular in the 1990s.
But this anime is more than just basketball. It’s also about friendship, growing up, and getting a second chance. Every teammate has their own story, which helps the team feel real and complete. Even though the animation is older, it still shows the excitement of basketball well. The story pulls viewers in and keeps them caring about each match. Slam Dunk also helped make basketball more popular in Japan and influenced many future sports anime.
3. Ping Pong the Animation
| IMDB Rating | 8.6 |
| MyAnimeList Rating | 8.62 |
Ping Pong the Animation, directed by Masaaki Yuasa, is about two childhood friends, Peco and Smile, who play table tennis competitively. Peco is lively and carefree, while Smile is quiet and thinks carefully. As they compete against other players and face their own struggles, the story focuses on how they grow and change.
The anime uses a unique and bold art style that shows the characters’ feelings. Instead of just focusing on winning, Ping Pong looks at what sports really mean and how they help people find meaning in life. It’s a thoughtful show that talks about competition, identity, and friendship in a deep way.
2. Haikyuu!!
| IMDB Rating | 8.7 |
| MyAnimeList Rating | 8.44 |
Haikyuu!! is about Shoyo Hinata, a short but very determined high school student who wants to be a great volleyball player. He joins the Karasuno High School volleyball team and works with Tobio Kageyama, a talented but proud player. Even though they don’t always get along, they become a strong team on the court. The anime focuses on teamwork, never giving up, and the emotional ups and downs of sports.
What makes Haikyuu!! special is that it shows the importance of every team member, not just the main characters. Every game is full of strategy, excitement, and strong feelings, with smooth animation and great music. It’s about more than just winning, it’s about growing as players and as friends. This makes it a favorite for both sports and slice-of-life anime fans.
1. Hajime no Ippo (Fighting Spirit)
| IMDB Rating | 8.8 |
| MyAnimeList Rating | 8.78 |
Hajime no Ippo is a famous boxing anime about Ippo Makunouchi, a shy high school boy who finds a love for boxing after being helped by someone when bullies attacked him. With the help of his coach Genji Kamogawa, Ippo starts a tough journey to become a professional boxer. The show mixes exciting boxing matches with deep stories about the characters, making it more than just a sports anime, it’s about learning about yourself and never giving up.
What makes Hajime no Ippo special is how it shows both the hard and beautiful sides of boxing. Every fighter Ippo faces has their own story, which makes the fights more emotional. The animation shows punches with great speed and power, and Ippo’s thoughts help us understand him better. Because of its long run and strong story, this anime is very important in the sports anime world and makes it the best sports anime of all time.