As 2023 comes to an end, fans of various anime genres look back on the most exciting anime series that aired during the year. And of course, fans of the sports anime genres are not left out. From less common sports like automobile racing to more common ones like basketball, various new sports anime have come out during the year.
While some were new seasons of previously released shows, the expectations fans had for them were not any lower, and some shows exceeded expectations. With shows likeMF Ghostand"Ippon" Again!portraying the cutthroat competition that takes place in various sports, fans of the sports anime genre stayed their toes in 2023.
6Left Hand Layup
MyAnimeList Score: 6.90
Anime shows likeSlam Dunk,Kuroko’s Basketball, andAhiru no Soraare some of the top anime when it comes to basketball sports anime. However, with the 2023 animeLeft Hand Layup, the established great basketball anime may have a competitor.
A Chinese anime series,Left Hand Layupfollows Xu Xingze, a teenage basketball player who aspires to join the basketball team of the top school in his region and win the Final Four tournament, like their star player. However, the direction of his dreams is abruptly changed when his sister accidentally enrolls him in a school with a similar-sounding name. While Xu Xingze has lost the chance to enroll in the school he had in mind, he must now help his current school attain such prowess so that he may achieve his dream.
5"Ippon" Again!
MyAnimeList Score: 7.16
Defeat is one thing that has discouraged many athletes and led them to quit. However, for Michi Sonoda, her defeat turned out to be one thing that kept her in the sport.
Right before her final middle school tournament, Michi Sonoda announced to her friend and teammate, Sanae Takigawa, that she would quit Judo after the tournament. However, her plan for a graceful exit was cut short after her embarrassing loss at the hands of Towa Hiura. As if fatewere pushing her to try again, Michi, Sanae, and Towa meet again in the same high school, and Michi discovers that she has lingering feelings for Judo. Moreover, she may be able to overcome her past defeat. With a friend to guide her and a rival to spur her on, Michi Sonoda’s passion for Judo is reignited.
Studio
TROYCA
As an original anime series portraying the less common butintense sport of automobile racing,Overtake!depicts an F4 Japanese Championship like no other. The series follows the life of Haruka Asahina, a Formula 4 driver who works with Komaki Motors, a small privateer team.
Despite his humble setting and beginning, the freelance photographer Kouya Madoka finds his heart racing after he meets Haruka Asahina. Although in a slump, Madoka decides to support Haruka with his dreams as he overtakes his opponents. While Haruka may not have the best of resources, with enthusiasm and spirit, the man who races is sure to bring about an incredible story.
Bandai Namco Pictures
With her moniker Rainbow Bullet, Evangeline Burton makes money byplaying underground golf games. With her risk-taking approach to the sport, Eve has never known defeat in the sport until she comes across Aoi Amawashi, a girl bred to play golf.
After tasting defeat at Aoi’s hands, the duo becomes intrigued by each other, and Eve promises to have a rematch. However, with the second season of the series, the girls’ rematch is put on hold as they must now participate in the All-Japan Girls High School Gold Doubles Championship. In the shadows of the championships lie hidden plots and dangerous personalities, all of whom have staked a lot and seek to have their candidates win at all costs. Despite the odds against them, Eve and Aoi must claim the trophy for their school.
Felix Film
When most people hear about sports anime, soccer, basketball, or volleyball tend to come to mind. However,MF Ghostis different in thatit portrays a form of car racing as a sport. What’s more, this car racing sport isn’t the usual Formula 1 racing, but a racing circuit called MFG.
The anime series takes place in a society where self-driving electric cars have become commonplace, and combustion-based engine cars have become rare. As 19-year-old Kanata Livington joins the MFG, he races not just to win a trophy at the end, but also to find his missing father. To find his father, Kanata enters the MFG with his father’s surname. He begins to garner attention as he outraces other competitors despite using a car with old and disadvantaged specs.
Kyoto Animation
After becoming enthralled by Tsurune — the sound made by a bowstring when an arrow is released — Minato Narumiya learned Kyudo, a Japanese archery art. Whilehe did temporarily quit the sport due to an unfortunate event, after picking up the bow again, he and his teammates trained to win the prefectural tournament and came out on top.
However, even after winning the tournament, Minato Narumiya and his teammates have little time to celebrate, as they must now focus on winning the national competition. However, the jump in difficulty between the prefectures and nationals leaves them with little hope. With the first season of the series airing in 2018, the second season came in 2023 with lots of surprises and suspenseful moments thatmade the series one of the best sports anime of the year 2023.
