Sports activities Anime and the Olympics – This Week in Anime

This week, Nick and Lucas speak about essentially the most anime-like moments of this yr’s Olympics as they dive into the higher relationship between sports activities anime and the Olympics.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by the individuals on this chatlog should not the views of Anime Information Community.
Spoiler Warning for dialogue of the collection forward.

Free! – Iwatobi Swim Membership, Iwa-Kakeru! -Sport Climbing Women-, Haikyu!!, Sk8 the Infinity, Harukana Obtain, Yuri!!! on Ice, Backflip!!, The Gymnastics Samurai, Ping Pong the Animation, Yowamushi Pedal, and Keijo!!!!!!!! are presently streaming on Crunchyroll, whereas “Ippon” Once more! is out there on HIDIVE. The First Slam Dunk is streaming on Apple TV+.

Nick

Lucas, I do not learn about you however my anime viewing expertise has been riddled with holes these final two weeks because of the Olympics. My Hero Academia has been delayed twice. SHY, Spice & Wolf, and Yatagarasu have all gotten pre-empted, and I’ve had sufficient. So it is time for us to make our OWN Olympics! With anime! Then all these jocks will likely be depressed when everybody involves learn us as a substitute of watching them run quick or no matter! They will by no means see it coming!

Lucas

I sympathize with you, Nick. The timing of Olympic broadcasts has disrupted a whole lot of main anime this season and anime watchers all over the place are understandably aggravated. Although I’ve to say, I am getting a whole lot of anime vibes from the Olympics this yr!

There appears to be an attention-grabbing confluence of occasions occurring proper now. Whereas sports activities anime have at all times been round, in earlier many years it was uncommon for these anime to characteristic something past the key well-liked sports activities in Japan. It is why you might have a billion soccer and baseball anime, however perhaps two judo anime—certainly one of which got here out within the final two years. But because the anime manufacturing bubble has expanded—and the aforementioned Tokyo Video games acquired executives on the lookout for synergy—we have gotten increasingly more exhibits about “various” sports activities that simply so occur to indicate up within the Olympics.

Nicely certain, that is all enterprise ultimately—even/particularly for the Olympics themselves. I am simply saying, that we’re at a novel level in historical past the place a much wider swathe of the line-up is being represented in anime. So this yr I made a decision to do an experiment and see if all the assorted sports activities exhibits I’ve watched over the previous few years have made me any higher at following the Olympics. Although I did not must see Slam Dunk to understand this Anthony Edwards poster second.

Ooooh~ that is a enjoyable experiment! I solely acquired into sports activities, and sports activities anime, because of the WI sports activities groups fandoms I inherited from my household, however I might love to listen to how anime modified your relationship with these competitions!

Nicely, principally simply by introducing me to sports activities I wasn’t uncovered to rising up. Dwelling in North Carolina my major level of reference was Faculty-level Basketball and soccer. I used to be conscious of stuff like Michael Phelps’ big run on the 2008 Beijing video games, however till I used to be launched to a narrativized model of aggressive swimming by means of Free!, it did not actually click on with me.

Ah! That is smart! I used to be buddies with simply sufficient individuals on the swim group in highschool that I had a basic concept of the world of aggressive swimming, however I will admit that each swimming and Free! are principally blindspots for me. How is Free!? Outdoors of it being lots of people’s introduction to the “scorching guys doing scorching issues” style of anime, I do know little or no about it.

It is a fairly strong collection. Anybody on the lookout for extra technical perception into the world of swimming will in all probability be dissatisfied, however when you’re down for that good ol’ usual sports activities melodrama, it is a actually good time. It focuses quite a bit on the motivation for competing within the first place, and the way that may battle or coincide with one’s love of swimming in their very own proper. It was additionally Hiroko Utsumi‘s huge break as a director and showcased her love of muscular boys getting very bodily.



Although I will give the caveat that I finished watching after season 2. As soon as Utsumi left, it felt like one thing was lacking so I by no means adopted the later seasons/films.

That one really handed me by completely, regardless that I respect its dedication to outlined abs. I confess I did not even notice bouldering was an occasion on the Olympics till you talked about it. I at all times considered it as a factor youngsters did when there have been no bowling alleys or laser tag locations round their city.

I will take your phrase on that one. Whereas I am certain there is a wealth of issues to be taught there, my plate is sort of full-up. Even with tons of dwell streams and multi-cam setups, it is fairly laborious to maintain up with every part. That is what’s enjoyable in regards to the video games although—it is principally 2 weeks of shonen match arcs, full with built-in narratives. And generally being launched to it by means of anime makes it simpler to glom onto. Due to “Ippon” Once more! I used to be ready for the epic highs and lows of Judo.




Sidenote: the Crew Judo finals had been straight out of an anime, swear to god.

I’m so fortunate that my social media bubble is fairly keyed into the Olympics this yr as a result of I couldn’t sustain with them on my own. Bear in mind the pummel horse specialist and IRL anime protagonist Stephen Nedoroscik? He was the second or third viral hit of the 2024 Olympics and his time within the limelight already appears like a lifetime in the past!



And I hope manga and anime creators are taking note of the Olympics! There are such a lot of inspiring tales, world views, and on-and off-the-court drama taking place over only some weeks. It is rad and components of what we’re seeing may very well be added to any story.

That is smart! It has been a minute, however IIRC Haikyu!! ends with the primary characters competing within the Olympics. Gotta find it irresistible when life imitates artwork!

It is certainly one of my favourite endings for something in JUMP as a result of it embraces the joy of world-level competitors. Once more, it is artwork imitating life imitating artwork, since a lot of Japan’s high gamers did what Hinata and different characters did—journey and play in different international locations, even different fields like Seashore Volleyball, to hone themselves for the very best stage of play. It is unbelievable stuff.

Talking of unbelievable stuff, Sk8 the Infinity whips and undoubtedly acquired individuals overrated for skateboarding; even when the model of the game current on the Olympics is fairly closely divorced from the X-games/Tony Hawk’s Professional Skater perspective I affiliate with the sub-culture.

Sadly the IOC has but to just accept full-contact downhill dying skating as an official occasion, however the Olympic skateboarding continues to be fairly enjoyable, even when my physique threatens to show into mud after I notice how younger a few of these athletes are:

Oh god, in the meantime I am fairly certain the final time I used to be ON a skateboard was after I was 11. That is simply unbelievable!

Additionally, since I discussed Seashore Volleyball earlier I ought to in all probability give a shoutout to Harukana Recieve, the uncommon girl-focused sports activities collection. Although if the fanservice within the rock-climbing present put you off, nicely, to illustrate this collection shouldn’t be Shy about its sport that includes a whole lot of swimwear.

Oh rattling! I did not even know there was an anime about seaside volleyball! And, simply so I am not by chance portray myself as a prude, so long as it feels motivated and good-natured, I am down with any costuming and character design.

It is a present that undoubtedly desires to have its cheesecake and eat it too, nevertheless it additionally permits the characters to be motivated and earnest athletes on the identical time. Mileage could fluctuate on how a lot is an excessive amount of, however I had fun with it.

I am glad! Additionally, are you able to imagine we have made it this far right into a sports activities anime chat with out mentioning Yuri!!! on Ice? I do know its Olympic impression hit laborious and quick within the 2018 Winter Video games, however there was a stretch when it was far and away the preferred sports activities anime stateside.

Truthfully, it is as a result of we have already got so many alternative sports activities from the summer season video games to select from. Frankly, Yuuri and the remainder of his winter buddies ought to have to attend till 2026 for us to speak about them. It isn’t like YOI followers aren’t used to years-long waits and disappointment!

Rattling! That burn was extra devastating than a few of the nail-biting losses we have seen from this yr’s competitors!

I am simply saying, we have now far more sports activities to get by means of that I am already having to condense Rhythmic Gymnastics and Common Gymnastics right into a combo occasion. Try Backflip!! when you like good-looking boys in leotards strive The Gymnastics Samurai if you wish to really feel previous on the age of 29.

Oh wow, we do have quite a bit left. Hey gang, if you wish to acquire a brand new appreciation for Ping Pong as an Olympic sport, go try (checks notes) Ping Pong!

Legitimate. Additionally, rattling, there are golf anime and manga left and proper hastily, huh? For my cash, Robotic x Laserbeam is the perfect of the lot, however the lesbian golf anime in all probability performed the most important function in kicking off this development.

Oh, golf is certainly essentially the most “when you do not play this sport you will not get something out of watching it” well-liked pastime on the market. You should a minimum of bum round at a High Golf for a number of hours earlier than tuning into any golf broadcast.

I am fairly certain I do not personal sufficient polo shirts and visors to be allowed in. If something, I want all the hassle going into these golf collection may go in the direction of much more off-beat athletics. Again in 2016, I found that handball guidelines and a correct anime about it could be superb. Simply have a look at this and inform me these aren’t ready-made manga panels.

Oh hell yeah! The game undoubtedly lends itself nicely to the posing and blocking that pops in manga panels.

It is principally like if soccer and dodgeball had a child however everybody needed to leap into the air and throw their complete physique weight behind each rating try. Watching principally any match of it’s a few of the finest display time of the Olympics, and I’d wager cash extra individuals would test it out if it had its personal Haikyu!!.

Whereas much less dynamic than handball, my aforementioned airsoft taking pictures would make for a strong couple of volumes of manga!



Or perhaps I would like illustrations impressed by these sick-as-hell footage? Who can say?

Anime followers have already turned the Turkish pistol silver medalist right into a meme for all their favourite gun-toting anime characters, so I am certain you can get some mileage out of a marksmanship collection. The purpose is, there is a vast world of bizarre and funky issues people select to do with their our bodies for enjoyable and competitors, and simply as vast a spread of anime to inform these tales. There are a lot of issues I’ve left off simply because I have not seen them just like the three totally different Rugby exhibits that got here out in the previous couple of years, or that dumpy-looking browsing present, or that bizarre Water Polo one the place the man had amnesia or one thing.

Hey, Yu-Gi-Oh!‘s getting its personal Olympic rep simply wonderful.



Anyway, my final message is that when you’re an anime fan who’s averted sports activities exhibits, I promise there’s one thing on the market that can fit your tastes and may broaden your horizons. Identical to browsing the totally different choices on Peacock helped me discover new issues to take a look at, there are extra various sports activities anime and manga than ever. If I would make a suggestion: READ CROSS MANAGE.

Completely! I feel I am sticking with Robotic X Laserbeam, for my huge recc of this column, however there’s by no means been a greater time to dive into the world of sports activities anime and manga and I hope everybody studying this offers one thing new an opportunity!

So placed on some sweats, replenish your water bottle, and get on the market! Or prepare for when the Blue Field anime drops and each teenage boy you understand begins caring an entire lot about girls’s basketball.

I imply, they let 3×3 Basketball in so nothing’s unimaginable. Hold these T&A sharply honed, future Olympians!