Sports anime are a popular sub-category of anime. They can explore the thrill and drama of sports in ways that are not possible in real life. In fact, there is such a wide variety of sports anime that it is hard to keep track of them all. Some focus on making audiences cheer for the protagonist from their seats, while others make viewers cringe with every dodge and dive. It can be difficult to find the good ones in the sea of mediocrity, so here is our list of the top underrated sports anime.
Kenichi: The Mightiest Disciple
The Mightiest Disciple was a shōnen fantasy manga written and illustrated by Shun Saeki. The series follows the journey of Kenichi Shirahama, a bullied high schooler who transforms from an ordinary boy into a martial arts expert after meeting a mysterious woman named Shigure. As people from the world of martial arts come to him for training, Kenichi must now decide whether he wants to continue being a disciple, or become the world’s mightiest master.
Why you should watch
The Mightiest Disciple is a solid sports anime. It has a lot of great qualities, but it never really got the attention it deserved. The story is exciting, and the themes are fairly mature for a kids show. There is a lot of great action and adventure, with a lot of cool stuff happening. The art style is very good, it always looks nice and clean, and the animation is great overall. It has some great characters, and they all get enough development to be satisfying. The Mightiest Disciple is a very good sports anime with great action and adventure. It has some things that keep it from being as great as it could be, but it is definitely worth checking out.
Cross Game
Cross Game is a shōnen manga written by Mitsuru Adachi. The series follows the lives of a group of childhood friends after the death of one of their own. It explores themes of love, loss, growing up, and baseball. Cross Game was published in the magazine Weekly Shōnen Sunday from 2009 to 2011. There are many reasons why Cross Game is an underrated sports anime. Firstly, it came out during a time where sports anime were heavily under the radar. Secondly, it had a very unique and highly stylized art style that was difficult to adapt. Finally, there were many story elements that were difficult to understand if you didn’t have a firm grasp on Japanese culture. That being said, Cross Game is an amazing sports anime.
Why you should watch
It is truly a masterpiece, with excellent characters and a phenomenal story. It is a complex story that deals with many different themes, but it is also a very human and personal tale. Finally, it has some of the most beautiful and realistic art to ever grace the world of manga. If you are looking for an underappreciated sports anime, you can’t go wrong with Cross Game.
Megalobox
Megalobox is a sports science fiction anime, written and illustrated by Shirow Shiratori. The series follows a boxer named Toku, who fights in a sport known as Megalobox. The sport uses augmented reality technology, and is the most popular sport in the world. Unfortunately, not many people have watched Megalobox, so it is an extremely underrated sports anime. It has a lot of great things going for it.
Why you should watch
The story is interesting and fast-paced, with some great themes. The art is stylish and very detailed, with some amazing action scenes. The characters are pretty good too, with some nice development. Unfortunately, Megalobox has some problems. The pacing of the episodes is a bit inconsistent, with some being really fast and others taking too long to get to the point. The characters could have used some extra development in some areas as well. If you like sports anime with a bit of science fiction, then Megalobox is the show for you.
Prince of Stride
Stride is a sports anime written by George Tokoro and illustrated by You Shiina. The series focuses on a group of middle schoolers who participate in an extreme sport known as Stride. In Stride, participants race while wearing special electronic shoes that allow them to execute special jumps and flips. Stride is one of the most underrated sports anime. It was first published in 2013 and ended in 2016, so it was definitely a sports anime from an unpopular era. It has a lot of excellent things going for it, though.
Why you should watch
The story is compelling and interesting, with some great themes. The characters are very well done, with a good mix of likable and flawed people. The art is good too, with some nice animation. Unfortunately, Stride has some problems. The pacing of the story is a bit inconsistent at times, with some episodes feeling too short while others feel too long. The characters aren’t super original, with some cliches being used. If you are looking for an underappreciated sports anime, then Stride should be on your list.
Air Gear
Air Gear is a sports shōnen manga written and illustrated by Oh Great!. The series follows a group of teenagers who engage in an extreme sport known as Air Treking. Air Treking is similar to skateboarding and inline skating, but with roller skates that have special powers and allow the user to perform incredible tricks and jumps. Air Gear is infamous for its over-the-top and ridiculous story. It has action, adventure, comedy, drama, and an absurd amount of fanservice. It was incredibly popular in its day, but it has since fallen off the radar. It is very underrated as a sports anime. It has a lot of great things going for it. The characters are interesting, with a good mix of likable and flawed people.
Why you should watch
The story itself is incredibly over-the-top, but it is full of drama and tension. The art is nice, with some good action scenes, although it can be rather over the top at times. Unfortunately, Air Gear has some things holding it back. The story is very over-the-top, with some fanservice that may be too much for some people. The art can be excessive as well, with some crazy fanservice as well. If you want an over-the-top and ridiculous sports anime, then Air Gear is the way to go.
These sports anime are among the best and most underappreciated. One of these series is a fantastic place to start if you're searching for an entertaining and action-packed sports anime. They all excel in many areas, and most of them surpass some of the more well-known sports anime series. See whether you like one of these by giving it a try. It might end up becoming your new favorite sports anime!
