The top sports anime in the industry that share similarities with Haikyuu are also shows that represent and enact the entire human condition of a sportsperson in all its glory and fall. While it is one of the most exciting genres of anime, it is also interesting to see how several good sports anime employ the Shonen ethics to the most unimaginable circumstances. These shows are packed with drama and the matches are often loaded with high end Shonen action.
Another important aspect that top sports anime like Haikyuu often imbibe within themselves is the spirit of sportsmanship and the dynamics of a team. These are such admirable and inspiring elements that often sports anime become the medium of motivation for many.
Haikyuu that has dominated the genre of sports anime. It has been able to translate and reproduce the sport of volleyball so well that it has been widely regarded by critics and fans as one of the most accurate representations of the sport and the spirit of it. However, before we move on with our discussion on Haikyuu and the top sports anime similar to it, discussions on this anime and this genre is extensively covered on a regular basis in our biweekly newsletter at Spiel Anime!
Top Sports anime to watch if you loved watching the volleyball masterpiece Haikyuu!! – ranked
The world of sports anime is filled with all kinds of series covering all kinds of sports. From volleyball to ping-pong, from basketball to kabaddi, anime has it all. The diversity of these shows are such that while some are inherently and exclusively concerned with the sport, others are expandable in nature and try to create an amalgamation of other factors as well. While some are about the spirit of competition, others are about love and realization. While we cover the top sports anime similar to Haikyuu, we have to remember that Haikyuu sets a benchmark that has become the archetype of the genre.
5. Yuri!!! on Ice
MAL Rating: 7.90/10
IMDb Rating: 8.3/10
Year of Release: 2016
Streaming Platforms: Crunchyroll
- Yuri!!! on Ice is the most promising anime series on figure skating. It is also a very wholesome story that represents a non-conventional BL relationship.
- The story revolves around Yuri Katsuki who once used to be one of the greatest figure skaters of Japan. Yuri Katsuki comes home to consider his future options after suffering a crushing setback in the Grand Prix Finale.
- Yuri’s window for success in skating is rapidly closing at the age of 23, and his fondness for pork cutlets and susceptibility towards weight gain aren’t helping.
However, Yuri finds himself in the spotlight after a video of him replicating a routine previously performed by Victor Nikiforov, a five-time world champion, goes viral. In actuality, Victor unexpectedly shows at Yuri’s residence and offers to be his teacher. Yuri, one of his biggest supporters, excitedly accepts, commencing his journey to return to the world stage.
Also Read: Can the Two on Ice Manga Surpass Yuri!!! on Ice
4. Kuroko’s Basketball
MAL Rating: 8.06/10
IMDb Rating: 8.2/10
Year of Release: 2012
Streaming Platforms: Crunchyroll, Netflix
- Kuroko’s Basketball is a basketball anime series that aired 75 episodes from 2012 to 2015. The series is renowned for its fluid animation and extremely powerful basketball maneuvers.
- Fans of shonen shows featuring superpowers will undoubtedly enjoy Kuroko’s Basketball. Some people critiqued it for being unrealistic, yet the characters make it work.
In pursuit of fresh talent, the Seirin High School basketball team drafts Taiga Kagami and Tetsuya Kuroko, two freshmen with apparent skill differences. Kagami, who recently returned from America, possesses both natural talent and an unwavering passion for the sport. Meanwhile, Kuroko lacks charisma and athletic ability. However, it is subsequently revealed that he is Teikou’s Phantom Sixth Man, a former Generation of Miracles player.
Kuroko wants to show the Seirin team that he is resilient in his own way. Seeing his determination, Kagami creates a dynamic alliance with Kuroko, who promises to support Kagami’s “light” as his “shadow.” Together with their new Seirin comrades, they want to dominate the forthcoming Interhigh championship
3. Blue Lock
MAL Rating: 8.28/10
IMDb Rating: 8.2/10
Year of Release: 2022
Streaming Platforms: Crunchyroll, Netflix
- Blue Lock is a football anime with a very gritty and dystopian twist.
- It is an anime that explores very mind-altering themes and a setting that imitates a prison.
- Having been regarded as one of the best football anime out there, it follows the story behind project Blue Lock that entraps 300 young players to compete and train under harsh conditions in a prison like establishment.
The project’s ultimate goal is to develop one of the selected individuals into a star scorer for the Japanese national team. To determine the best participant, every diamond in the rough must compete against others in a series of solo and team competitions to reach the top.
2. Slam Dunk
MAL Rating: 8.55/10
IMDb Rating: 8.8/10
Year of Release: 1993
Streaming Platforms: Crunchyroll
- Slam Dunk is a highly regarded basketball anime from the 1990s.
- The show stars Hanamichi Sakuragi, who joins his school’s basketball team to become friends with Haruko Akagi, the captain’s sister.
- Though he initially joined the club to find someone to date, Hanamichi fell in love with basketball and aspired to become an accomplished player.
Slam Dunk has an excellent sense of comedy and genuine character development. Hanamichi’s development throughout the story is realistic and some viewers may find it relevant. Unlike the other heroes, Hanamichi lacked any inherent athletic abilities. Hanamichi’s quest to becoming a good player was challenging, and he still has a long way to go before he can consider turning professional. It is a legendary series that is only limited by the fact that the anime is not a full adaptation of the manga.
1. Hajime no Ippo
MAL Rating: 8.77/10
IMDb Rating: 8.8/10
Year of Release: 2000
Streaming Platforms: Crunchyroll
Hajime No Ippo is a sports anime about professional boxing that follows the path of a young guy who aspires to be the strongest boxer in history. The manga has been continuing since 1989. The franchise has spawned a film and an array of video games. The story follows the life of Ippo Makunouchi who and his tough childhood, the various factors associated with trauma and circumstances that lead him into a life of boxing.
- In his father’s absence, young Ippo Makunouchi works hard to assist his mother with her fishing boat rental business.
- Ippo’s timidity, lack of sleep, and the smell of the sea from his body make him a convenient target for unrelenting bullies, who beat and bruise him on a daily basis.
- Mamoru Takamura, an aspiring boxer, saves Ippo from a violent after-school incident and transports him back to the Kamogawa Boxing Gym for rehabilitation.
- Takamura and his fellow boxers, Masaru Aoki and Tatsuya Kimura, are astounded by Ippo’s tremendous blows, which are the consequence of strong muscles built over years of working in his physically demanding family business.
Following a brief training session with Takamura, Ippo shocks and amazes the other boxers in a practice match against prodigy Ichirou Miyata. He finds an adversary in Miyata and an instructor in Genji Kamogawa, the gym’s owner and former boxer. As Ippo begins his formal boxing career, he meets a series of formidable opponents, each stronger than the last. Victory, defeat, and a cycle of committed training await Ippo on his path to greatness. With his muscular body and irrepressible fighting spirit, the gentle young guy aspires to conquer the world.
Haikyuu!! is the greatest sports anime to ever exist and here’s why this fact is undisputable
Haikyuu is inarguably the most successful and critically acclaimed sports anime of all time. It is the story of a short kid named Shoyo Hinata who dreams of achieving his place in the world of Volleyball. It is intensely filled with a powerful roster of characters and the storybuilding is simply off the charts. Moreover, Haikyuu doesn’t give special preference to a single protagonist, rather it has been divided in a manner to give space and scope for all characters to grow.
Haikyuu is also an excellent anime for young audiences and it has the ability to immerse its viewers to the game. While many people still disagree about Haikyuu and its positioning as the greatest sports anime, it has to be remembered how this particular anime managed to perfectly combine Shonen and sports while still keeping it enjoyable.