Top 5 Football Anime

football anime

The game of football has been a favorite of many for decades. Its simplicity yet depth makes it a great sport to watch and play. With the popularity of the game, it is no wonder that anime has also embraced this genre. Many popular shonens feature a soccer element to them.

A lot of these anime have a fantasy setting, but some are more grounded. One such example is Blue Lock by Muneyuki Kaneshiro. The story is based on a top secret soccer academy where some of Japan’s best players are trained to become the next national champions. Isagi Yoichi, a talented striker, joins the academy hoping to get a chance to make it big in the world of football. However, this academy also teaches the finer points of the game while forcing its students to put their own egos aside.

Another great realistic football anime is Shoot! which was released in 1993. It follows a group of friends who are very close to qualifying for the national championships. But when one of them gets involved with a gang, the rest of the team must fight for its place in the qualifiers. The story is well-written, and although the characters aren’t the strongest of the bunch, they are able to pull through because of their strong friendship.

Of course, no list of good football anime would be complete without mentioning Haikyu!! The show is based on the real life Kaga Prefecture High School team that made it to the national championships in 2010. The team’s coach is also the actual manager of the professional side, the Kaga Yokohama FC. This gives the show some authenticity that you don’t see in other shows. The story is simple and easy to follow, and the visuals are amazing. The animation is also quite nice and makes this a good show to watch.

If you’re looking for a more unique and action-packed football anime, then look no further than Giant Killing. The manga is about a lower tier soccer team and their eccentric coach who uses questionable tactics to try and make them compete with the giants of the league. It is definitely a good sports anime to watch, but it doesn’t have the same feel of a fun shonen like some of the other titles on this list. Still, it is worth checking out if you are interested in a more serious side of the game. The characters are pretty cool as well. The main character is your typical cookie-cutter sports anime hero, but he is able to pull through and become an awesome player with the help of his friends. The other characters are just as impressive. The only thing that really dragged this one down was the overall feeling of annoyance. Still, it is a good show to check out.