The game of basketball tends to be electrifying offering thrilling action and heartfelt drama both on and off the court. Basketball anime have a way of transcending the game they depict, creating engaging narratives and relatable characters that captivate fans beyond the sports world.
Whether you’re a basketball geek or simply enjoy engaging storytelling in the world of sports, these anime provide an exhilarating slam-dunk experience for all to enjoy. In this article, we’ll take a look at some of the best basketball anime. So, without further ado, let’s get started.
10. Hungry Best 5
South Korean anime film, Hungry Best 5 is lesser known outside Korea but it’s a great basketball anime to learn about the court game. The film centers on Kim Young-woong, a talented high school basketball player who leads his team to victory in the junior Asian Cup competition, but he is not satisfied with his performance.
Back home, Young-woong is sought after by every university that has a basketball team but to everyone’s surprise he goes to the least famous basketball club. There Young-woong meets the other members of the team who are total mavericks, but together they strive to become the best basketball team in the country.
9. Barangay 143
The most interesting thing about Barangay 143 is that it’s a joint venture anime series between the production houses of Filipino and Singaporean firms. Coming to the story, it revolves around Bren Park, a young Filipino-Korean man who rejects his destiny to become a great basketball player when tragedy strikes his family.
When he arrives in Manila to search for his long-lost father, he discovers a passion for street basketball and joins a team of misfits under the legendary Coach B. Tied by their tragic loss and by the game that took everything away from them, Bren and Coach B soon through basketball find solace.
8. Basquash!
Basquash ceases to amaze anyone who gets into the anime for the first time as it’s way odd and bizarre from the rest of the sports genre series. The story fuses mecha with the game of basketball and takes place on a futuristic earth where the popular sport basketball is played with giant robot cars called “Big Foot”.
Being fascinated by the sports, a scrappy group of underdogs led by Dan JD make their own version of the game for street play, renaming it “Basquash”. Determined to prove their worth, Dan and his team set out to make a name for themselves in the world of Basquash.
7. Breakers
Just like Takehiko Inoue’s “Real”, Breakers introduces us to diverse disabled athletes and the sports they rigorously partake in. Each arc (about 3-4 episodes) centers on one particular sport, including wheelchair basketball, highlighting the athletes’ ups and downs of both practice and competition.
The story of the show mainly focuses on an outcast sports scientist named Ren Narita who’s in search of para-athletes who have the potential and capability to compete at the highest level. After coming across four promising athletes, Narita trains and teaches them to discover their potential as competitors.
6. I’ll CKBC
I’ll CKBC is more of a drama-oriented basketball anime that emphasizes the interaction of characters outside of the courts. Regrettably, the anime doesn’t fully sum up the original manga as it’s only two episodes long, but the competitive atmosphere and the dilemma of the characters is something that makes it a must-watch.
The story primarily concerns Hitonari Hiiragi, a promising basketball freshman who decides to quit basketball due to the building pressure on him. However, after meeting Akane Tachibana, Hiiragi’s love for the sport is reignited and he joins the Kouzu High basketball club to pursue his own path with his cherished teammates.
5. Dear Boys
Sometimes the story woven around sports demands itself to be not too serious and keep it light so that anyone can enjoy it. Dear Boys exactly does the same thing through its central protagonist Kazuhiko Aikawa who transfers to Mizuho High School and joins their basketball team only to find out that it’s dysfunctional.
But through sheer persistence and hard work, Kazuhiko inspires other team members to gear up for the national tournament, bringing about a rejuvenation. Anyone looking for a light-hearted, fun, and entertaining basketball anime should start with Dear Boys as long as the animation style doesn’t bother you much.
4. Buzzer Beater
From the author of “Slam Dunk”, Buzzer Beater is a sci-fi-themed inter-planetary basketball anime that takes a different approach towards the genre. Known for its space opera and comedic elements, the series takes place in the near future where the game of basketball is dominated by the physically superior Aliens.
Hideyoshi Tanaka, a homeless basketball prodigy is recruited to join the Earthlings, the first all-human team in the Space League. Hideyoshi and his team aim to go up against the dominators of the sport and bring the basketball championship title back to Earth.
3. Ahiru no Sora
For neutral or basketball anime fans in general, Ahiru no Sora may be worth the watch for its premise alone as it follows the progress of a team, as a whole, making the story more coherent and engaging. The series is centered around Sora Kuramatani who shows obvious talent and love for basketball.
However, there’s just one problem – his short height. Nonetheless, to satisfy his mother’s wish, Sora joins Kuzuryu High only to find out that the basketball club has become a haven for slackers. Determined to revive the team, Sora’s zeal for basketball pushes the group members to give their all for the sport again.
2. Kuroko’s Basketball
Kuroko’s Basketball is a critically acclaimed basketball anime by Production IG with a large following among sports fanatics. Through its engaging plotline and character introduction, the series offers lots of entertainment, drama, and breathtaking moments.
The story follows Tetsuya Kuroko, a former member of the Teikou Middle School basketball team, as he joins the Seirin High School basketball team. He meets some talented teammates there as they work together to lead Seirin to the national championship title.
1. Slam Dunk
Smash-hit classic sports anime by Toei Animation, Slam Dunk began airing in 1993 and gained a massive cult following among basketball and sports enthusiasts. For many, it became a source of inspiration to shape their lives as full-fledged athletes.
Penned by prolific mangaka Takehiko Inoue, Slam Dunk follows Hanamichi Sakuragi, a delinquent who joins his high school basketball team to impress his crush. He is joined by other basketball hopefuls and soon finds out there’s more to the game.
Which one of the following basketball anime is your favorite? Feel free to comment down your thoughts and make sure to recommend some other anime like the ones listed above, also don’t forget to share this article with your fellow otaku friends.
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