The stakes are really high. The suspense. The captivating stories of the underdogs. Competitive sports, when you think about it, include all of the essential characteristics of effective narrative. That’s perhaps why anime doesn’t shy away from telling inspiring stories about sportsmen who are willing to go against the odds. Basketball, on the other hand, has a special place in the hearts of many of us.
You undoubtedly recall pretending to be your favorite player and shooting the game-winning basket before time ran out when you were a kid playing basketball. That’s the kind of magic and enthusiasm that some anime shows can elicit. So, without further ado, here is a list of the top basketball anime that you should definitely watch. The majority of these basketball anime may be found on Funimation, Crunchyroll, or Hulu.
Ahiru no Sora (2019-)
‘Ahiru no Sora’ is easily one of the best basketball anime programs out today, with a pint-sized protagonist and a really motivating tale. Despite the fact that its premise is very typical and centered around the journey of an underdog high school basketball team, what makes movie so compelling is its colorful array of characters. The anime also makes repeated attempts to explain the rules of basketball to the uninitiated. It uses flashbacks to thoroughly investigate all of its characters, and most importantly, it maintains a high level of “shounen spirit.”
Buzzer Beater (2005)
‘Buzzer Beater’ is set in the future, where a young child named Hideyoshi survives on the streets of New York by competing in basketball contests with other youngsters. However, fate intervenes and he is drafted to a professional squad, where he will be pitted against physically superior alien beings that have conquered the game. The stakes are high, and now it’s up to the first-ever all-human team to reclaim the basketball championship that is rightfully theirs.
‘Buzzer Beater’ is an undeniably interesting premise, and it also reminds you of ‘Space Jam’ from Hollywood. Its animation design is a tad rough around the edges, but its comedy and over-the-top basketball action keep you entertained.
Basquash! (2009)
We’ve already seen some amazing mecha-boxing in programs like ‘Megalo Box’ and ‘Levius,’ but the concept of mecha-basketball in anime has yet to be explored. ‘Basquash’ is a one-of-a-kind animation that, as ludicrous as it may sound, flawlessly depicts a never-before-seen futuristic form of basketball. And, of course, because it features enormous mecha robots playing basketball, it makes the game appear much more dazzling and thrilling than it is in real life. ‘Basquash’ is worth a look regardless of whether you like sports anime or not.
The main character of ‘Hoop Dreams,’ Aikawa Kazuhiko, is a standout player and captain of the legendary Tendoji High basketball team. However, when he relocates to a new location, he is responsible for forming a brand new basketball team from the ground up. He accepts the challenge and sets out on a quest to build the ultimate team, with the objective of taking his team all the way to the National Championships.
In comparison to the other anime series on our list, ‘Dear Boys’ has a very serious tone to it and contains very little humor. Even when it comes to basketball, it’s as authentic as an anime can get. If you’re a basketball fanatic, there’s no other show that compares to this one in terms of excitement and drama.
I’ll/CKBC (2002-2003)
‘I’ll/CKBC’ is a two-episode OVA that follows the lives of Tachibana and Hiiragi, two outstanding high school basketball players. Initially, the two athletes are rivals, but when they enroll in the same school and become teammates, everything changes. For a long time, their rivalry persists, but they soon learn that in order to win their “big game,” they must put aside all of their differences.
Unlike the majority of the other anime episodes on this list, ‘I’ll/CKBC’ only employs basketball as a narrative device, and instead of focusing on the game’s action, it focuses on the characters that play it. It is significantly more introspective and mature than most other sports anime, with flashbacks and profound insights into all of the key characters’ personal lives.
Kuroko no Basket (2012-)
‘Kuroko no Basket’ does not quite fit the criteria when it comes to realism, as it has a more “supernatural” feel to it. But it makes it stand out from the rest of the generic sports anime on the market. With the outstanding animation quality and character detailing of ‘Kuroko no Basket,’ Production I.G, which is also famed for its work in ‘Attack on Titan’ and ‘Psycho-Pass,’ has certainly set a new benchmark for other sports anime. Although it isn’t quite as good as ‘Slam Dunk,’ it comes close and undoubtedly qualifies as one of the best current sports anime series.
Ro-Kyu-Bu! (2011)
‘Ro-Kyu-Bu!’ is a unique combination of basketball action and the cliche of “pretty chicks doing sweet things.” It tells the story of Hasegawa Subaru, a talented high school basketball player whose “hoop dreams” are destroyed when his team is forced to shut down. Rather than giving up, he applies all of his basketball knowledge to coaching a young girls’ team.
‘Ro-Kyu-Bu!’ isn’t particularly enticing from a technical sense, and it can be a turnoff for people searching for genuine basketball action. There is no other anime like ‘Ro-Kyu-Bu!’ for those who appreciate sports anime with a cutesy feel to it.
Slam Dunk (1993-1996)
‘Slam Dunk’ transports me back to a time when anime streaming was unheard of, and I eagerly anticipated each new episode every evening. In fact, when ‘Slam Dunk’ initially aired, the entire sports anime genre had yet to be explored, and it nevertheless managed to become a huge hit in Japan. ‘Slam Dunk’ had a great impact and inspired an entire generation of basketball players. It has ageless comedy, hard-hitting drama, and, most importantly, jaw-dropping basketball action. What more could you want?
