9 sports anime you need to watch if you love Haikyuu!!
Images via IMDb and Netflix
Anime has this uncanny power to draw you into worlds you never thought you'd care about. Sports anime takes that further—it turns even the most sports-indifferent viewers into passionate believers.
Haikyuu!! did this effortlessly, leaving even the most uninterested viewer cheering at the top of their lungs for volleyball matches. But it wasn't volleyball that captured hearts; it was the intensity of Hinata's relentless spirit, the hunger in Kageyama's eyes, and the sheer willpower to overcome limitations.
If you're still nursing that ache Haikyuu!! left behind and looking for stories that fill the void, here's your chance. These anime recommendations are not ranked, as they each bring their unique flavor, heartbreak, triumph, and a whirlwind of emotions. Consider this your personal guide to sports anime worth the journey. NOT ranked and in no particular order, because emotions should never be ranked:
Kuroko no Basket
captures the chaos and chemistry of team dynamics
If you loved the electrifying team dynamics in Haikyuu!!, Kuroko no Basket is your next obsession.
Like Karasuno High, Seirin basketball team also centers around an unforgettable freshman duo: Tetsuya Kuroko, the almost-invisible but genius passer, and Taiga Kagami, the fiery, powerful player who aims to dominate. Together, they face off against the legendary "Generation of Miracles," a group of prodigious players from rival schools, each possessing a near-superhuman talent.
This series matches Haikyuu!! stride-for-stride in passion and adrenaline, but trades volleyball courts for the dazzling arena of basketball, with moves and emotions that will keep your pulse racing.
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Run With the Wind reminds you that greatness comes from within
Run With the Wind emerges from Production I.G.—the same studio behind Haikyuu!!—but replaces explosive spikes and leaps with long-distance runs. It revolves around Haiji, a determined university student, and Kakeru, a gifted yet disillusioned former runner. Together, they assemble a team from their dormitory—filled with students who can barely run a mile—to compete in Japan's prestigious Hakone Ekiden marathon.
It's a story told with beautiful subtlety, exploring themes of friendship, redemption, and the quiet yet powerful drive to achieve the impossible. If Haikyuu!! taught you that anyone can reach greatness with effort, Run With the Wind reminds you that greatness often begins quietly, step by step.
Welcome to the Ballroom shows how dance can carry the same weight as sport
Welcome to the Ballroom shares its DNA with Haikyuu!!—same creators, same passionate underdog storyline—but this time the sport is ballroom dancing.
Tatara Fujita is shy and unsure of his place until he stumbles into a dance studio. There, he discovers a world that offers him a chance to shine. Like Hinata watching the Little Giant play volleyball, Tatara's first glimpse of dancing sparks something powerful within him.
Ballroom dancing in this anime is fierce, competitive, and physically demanding, vividly captured by the stunning animation that made Haikyuu!! so immersive.
It's a fresh spin on the sports genre, reminding us that passion often surprises us in the least likely places.
Yuri!! on Ice blends artistry, athletics, and identity
Figure skating isn't traditionally grouped with volleyball or basketball, but Yuri!!! On Ice shows you precisely why it should be. At its heart is Yuuri Katsuki, a figure skater past his supposed prime, struggling with anxiety and self-doubt. His life transforms when legendary skater Victor Nikiforov becomes his mentor—and more.
The show became iconic not just for its beautiful skating choreography and gripping competition scenes but for its honest, heartfelt portrayal of LGBTQ+ relationships.
Like Haikyuu!!, it demonstrates that sports are as much about personal growth and emotional depth as they are about physical prowess.
Blue Lock asks what happens when teamwork is no longer the answer
While Haikyuu!! taught us the beauty of teamwork, Blue Lock introduces a drastically different philosophy. Japan's national football team, desperate for a superstar striker, adopts a brutal strategy: gather the nation's best young talents and pit them against each other in a ruthless competition.
Only one player emerges victorious; everyone else forfeits the chance to represent Japan forever. Blue Lock pushes boundaries, emphasizing raw individual ambition over collective harmony.
It's tense, unpredictable, and relentless, making you question whether selfishness might sometimes be justified in the pursuit of greatness.
Chihayafuru brings competition into the realm of poetry
At first glance, Karuta—a traditional Japanese card game involving poetry memorization—may seem distant from conventional sports.
But Chihayafuru proves that competition and passion come in many forms. Chihaya Ayase dreams of becoming Japan's top Karuta player, and as she pursues this seemingly quiet game, the intensity, rivalry, and strategic depth become clear. Beautifully blending cultural heritage with youthful ambition, Chihayafuru mirrors Haikyuu!!'s devotion to detailed, authentic portrayals of competition and teamwork, with characters you root for deeply and passionately.
Free! is a celebration of water, youth, and friendship
Free! revolves around Haruka Nanase, a high school swimmer whose passion for water transcends competitive medals. Together with childhood friends and rivals, Haruka forms a swimming team, confronting personal and athletic obstacles. It's a story of friendships tested by rivalry and ambition, where characters grow beyond their past limitations. Like Haikyuu!!, Free! beautifully illustrates the bonds created through sport and the powerful emotions involved in pursuing something you genuinely love.
Ping Pong the Animation
is raw, real, and unlike anything else
Ping Pong The Animation is distinctive—visually unique and profoundly emotional. It follows childhood friends Smile and Peco, both table tennis prodigies with opposite attitudes towards the game. Smile, reserved and methodical, struggles with holding back his potential, while Peco, naturally talented yet uncommitted, questions his motivation after defeat. This anime's artistic style initially surprises, but quickly becomes essential to conveying the rawness of emotion and depth of character exploration.
It's storytelling at its finest—real, honest, and gripping—capturing the emotional stakes that made Haikyuu!! so unforgettable.
Slam Dunk
is the godfather of basketball anime
Few sports anime have shaped their genre as powerfully as Slam Dunk. Following Hanamichi Sakuragi—a rebellious high-schooler who joins the basketball team to impress a girl—the series becomes a deeply personal tale of growth, teamwork, and rivalry. Slam Dunk isn't just popular; it practically ignited Japan's interest in basketball, making it culturally impactful beyond the anime realm.
Just as Haikyuu!! brought volleyball into mainstream conversations, Slam Dunk captured a generation, making basketball a household sport in Japan.
Its charm lies in its blend of humor, drama, and authentic portrayal of adolescent struggles and triumphs.
Each of these anime will bring you something unique: passion, introspection, laughter, or tears. They're not ranked because emotional journeys can't be neatly ordered. They're felt, lived, and remembered.
So if Haikyuu!! left you yearning for another emotional rollercoaster filled with grit, sweat, friendship, and raw human spirit, these anime promise exactly that. Dive in and prepare to cheer, cry, and fall in love all over again.
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