Must Watch Sports Anime On NETFLIX

Japanese animation or popularly called 'ANIME' is often referred to as a thing for nerds and geeks but in reality, is a masterpiece and viewed by a lot of people worldwide. Anime has constantly been pushing the boundaries of contemporary visual arts. However, it can be hard to get into it as one has a plethora of choices and a wrong series from the get-go can lead to a very bad experience.

Luckily, Netflix India has a great catalogue of all-time best anime series. But the problem is they also have a lot of bad ones too. As a new viewer, I recommend anyone to start with the sports genre as they are easy on the eyes and the brain. Death Note can be pretty mind-bending and we will leave that for another time. 

Without any further ado, here are my 5 recommendations for you.

 

1. Yowamushi Pedal

The anime focuses on the story of  Onoda Sakimichi who wanted to open an Anime Club in his school but ends up joining the cycling club. The school club has other members who participate in the annual competition with Onoda. The anime does justice to all the characters and gives plenty of time to develop them as well. The race is based on the "TOUR-DE-FRANCE" style and offers a lot of scenic views from the country of Japan. It has plenty of thrilling races and is an absolute treat to watch.

Seasons: 4

IMDB Rating: 7.7/10

2. Ahiru No Sora

     

Basketball is one of the most-watched sports in history. The massive popularity of the sport has led to various anime series on the same. One of my favourites and the highly recommended watch is Ahiru No Sora. It focuses on the story of Sora who joined the high school basketball team to fulfil his mother's wishes but is disappointed to discover that the team is made up of delinquents who have no interest in the sport. The story revolves around this premise and builds upon each character very beautifully. 

Seasons: 1

IMDB Rating: 7.5/10

3. Run With The Wind

   

Run With The Wind was recommended to me by a friend in college. At first, I was not interested in the series after watching the trailer and posters and almost skipped it. After constantly hearing good things about the same, I gave it a try and my mind was blown. The story simply focuses on a group of boys from college who live in the same dorm and are going to participate in the Hakone Ekiden Marathon.

Despite most of them being novices, the training and build-up have been done extremely well and keeps one hooked until the end. A binge-worthy series of just 23 episodes is a must-watch for all the people out there.

Seasons: 1

IMDB Rating: 8.4/10

4. Free!

Free! revolves around the members of the high school swimming team in Japan. The story revolves around friends from Elementary School who separated their ways and reunited later. With a movie on the brink of release, this anime is a must-watch. The animation of the series is top-notch but can be slow-paced to some viewers.

 

Seasons: 3

IMDB Rating: 7.4/10

5. Haikyu!!

Last but not least and my personal favourite is Haikyu!!. It is often said a good sports anime makes you want to play the sport even if you don't know-how. After watching Haikyu, I have been constantly trying to hit smashes like Hinata, our main character. Jokes apart, this is a masterpiece. Proper character development, great story, no unnecessary power-ups and just plain Volleyball. The story of Hinata being a person who is not very tall as compared to his rivals and still on his road to greatness is highly inspiring. This is an anime that is a must-watch for everyone even if they think it is for the nerds and otakus out there.

 Seasons: 4

IMDB Rating: 8.7/10

With this, I conclude my list and hope you have a great time watching all of them. Do let me know your favourites in the list or any other in the comment section. See you in the next article. Do not forget to check my other articles and subscribe.