Love shooting hoops but really can't get away from the TV?
Well, these basketball anime compilations will surely solve both of those problems!
Not only do they capture the excitement of a hardcore game, but in some cases they also offer amazing storylines and great character development. Which is typical of anime but still fun to watch with a basketball theme.
So let's aim for the stars and watch some anime that Koby would be proud of.
16. Mitsu x Mitsu Drops
Just because it's a sports anime doesn't mean it has to be strictly shown.
Mitsu x Mitsu Drops (Honey x Honey Drops) is a shoujo anime about basketball games.
Hojo Academy has this bizarre master-slave system.
A "slave", also known as a "honey", must do whatever her master requires. In turn, honey is exempt from tuition fees.
Yes, it's weird, but it's an anime, so...
Kai Renge, the star player on the Hojo Academy basketball team, is also the master of Hagino Yuzuru. He is a student, struggling to pay his school fees.
What makes basketball the highlight of this series is what the underdog needsgive up your honey !
In just two episodes the OVA was released last year in 2006) Mitsu x Mitsu Drops really offered an interesting way to use basketball as a plot for romance stories.
15. Me / CKBC
This anime shows how important team chemistry is.
I / CKBC is a two-part OVA released in 2003.
It showcases two main characters: Akane Tachibana as a hardworking gamer and Hitonari Hiiragi as a naturally gifted superstar.
This short but enjoyable anime proves that games can be won if teammates are in harmony with each other.
Basketball scenes are what makes this OVA good.
However, since it's only two episodes, expect a ton of information to be crammed into your head right away! Great for short hours though.
14. Dash Kappei
Here's a basketball anime released way back in 1981 with a whopping 65 episodes.)
Dash Kappei showcases 80s ecchi comedy at its finest.
The story centers on Kappei Sakamoto, really short, less than a meter tall!), a high school student with god-like basketball skills.
Though Kappei's reason for actually playing basketball seems completely wrong: he discovered that the team's coach was wearing white panties.
Ironically, this is his main weakness as he can't stop glancing at his underwear!
Cheerful and full of offbeat jokes, Kappei regains his strength through his panties; winning games with a bizarre technique), Dash Kappei really tries to take basketball seriously, explaining some game terms throughout each episode.
So even if you're not good at basketball, this one might suck you in.
13. Barangay 143
It is now a relatively obscure anime series (relatively, since it is released worldwide through a Philippine channel). And he recently returned with new airings.
Barangay 143 talked about seeing street basketball through the eyes of a Filipino.
The series revolves around Bren Park, a Korean basketball player from the Philippines who joins the local streetball team.
Apart from games, Bren learns more about Filipino culture.
He also learns how important it is to pursue his passions in life.
Despite being a collaboration between a Philippine animation studio and TV Asahi, Barangay 143 exhibits some strange dubbing and animation features.
Put those aside and you still end up with an interesting sports anime that shows just how important basketball is in the Asian scene.
12. Heong-geuli Beseuteu 5
Next comes another obscure anime, Heong-geuli Beseuteu 5.
This film, released in Korea in 1995, proves a common lesson in basketball: it's all about teamwork.
The film is about Kim Yong Woon, a Korean basketball player who became the best in the country.
Despite being famous and persecuted by the biggest schools, Youngwoon decides to join the underdog team.
This is partly because of Coach Yongwoong's advice and because Yeongwoon can really improve as a player by being with players hungry for wins.
It is interesting to see the impact of basketball on different Asian countries.
Heong-geuli Beseuteu 5 actually made a splash locally, the Korea University basketball team at the time provided their voices while singing the movie's theme song!
11. Onagawa Chuu Basuke Bu: 5-nin no Natsu
A special anime released in 2017, Onagawa Chuu Baske Bu: 5-nin no Natsu, is an anime that might just hurt your feelings.
The 2011 Tōhoku earthquake is considered one of the deadliest in Japan. As a result of this disaster, 15,899 people died.
Showing resilience, the girls' basketball team of Onagawa High School continues to play. Even if there are only five permanent players left in the team.
In my opinion, the best anime are the ones that inspire.
And thanks to the love of the game, Onagawa Chuu Baske Bu: 5-nin no Natsu shines brightly.
10. Dear boys
This is a good anime to watch if you're more serious about basketball concepts.
"Dear Boys" follows the typical underdog story seen in shounen anime.
Considered one of Japan's top high school basketball players, Aikawa Kazuhiko surprised the sports world when he decided to transfer to Mizuho High School.
This school is not exactly a place for winners!
However, after taking the initiative and leading a bunch of underdogs, the young star is gaining momentum looking to win the Inter-High Basketball Tournament.
While it has a story that will slowly grow in you, don't be too judgmental about this show's animation. It seems that in some scenes the use of CG doesn't really work.
9. Ro-Kyu-Boo!
Here's something else. Ro-Kyu-Boo! combines the best of loli and basketball anime.
Who would have thought to put them together...
Basically, the anime is about former basketball player Hasegawa Subaru, who stopped playing due to a bizarre scandal. No spoilers yet, check it out first!
Ro-Kyu-Boo! is based on the idea that you can still live out your hoop dreams even if you are not allowed to play.
Now coaching a team of young girls, Subaru must teach the team the basics of winning games.
It may not be as intense as other basketball anime. But Ro-Kyu-Boo! is a winner when it comes to the ecchi and kawaii departments.
8. Breakers
Freshly released this year, Breakers focuses on one aspect of the sport that isn't often featured in mainstream media: the Paralympics.
This anime actually shows four sports: goal ball, para swimming, track and field, and wheelchair basketball.
The first episode, which featured wheelchair basketball as the main event, was a real thrill, showing just how exciting (and talented) paraathletes are.
It's a fascinating take on a different style of basketball that few people would think of. Definitely a unique show worth watching.
7. Bassquash!
Speaking of a different style of basketball, Basquash! since 2009 introduces a completely new form of shooting hoop.
In particular, games with furs. Very Japanese.
In this series, called Big Foot Basketball (BFB), games are usually played in giant arenas.
Dan, the protagonist of the series, inadvertently made Big Foot Streetball famous when he invaded the BFB game.
This anime has a completely different ball game.
In addition to amazing animations, expect a lot of mech improvements when things get tough for Dan and his team.
Also, don't forget about out-of-this-world merchandise placement: the Nike swoosh logo appears on a few legs.
6.Sound signal.
We've already mentioned giant robots, so we might as well play basketball with intergalactic aliens.
Buzzer Beater is a hard court game set in a space setting.
Created by the legendary Takehiko Inoue (who has other works on this list as well), this anime shows humanity's stand against physically superior alien races.
Buzzer Beater is an interplanetary league featuring all kinds of racing and aims to prove that sport is a universal language.
5. Ahiru no Sora
The premiere of Ahiru no Sora began quite recently, at the end of 2019.
The underdog story is one of the core elements of the shonen genre.
But Ahiru no Sora seems to convey it in such a fresh way. Its protagonist, Sora Kurumatani, is familiar to most basketball fans around the world.
He has no height!
However, this does not stop him from trying to be the best.
Paired with some really colorful characters (Sora's team is made up of a motley bunch of criminals), Ahiru no Sora is great for both basketball fights and story-driven drama.
4. Kuroko no basket
Considered one of the most popular sports anime (first aired in 2012), Kuroko no Basket is mesmerizing with amazing basketball games.
But it also has deep character growth and plenty of arcs to keep fans of all genres excited.
Considered to be the invisible member (or in terms of basketball, the sixth person) of the legendary high school basketball team, Kuroko is now entering a new chapter in his life.
Upon entering Seirin High School, Kuroko meets Taiga Kagami.
Taiga is another player looking to make it on stage. Together, these two rookies will make a name for themselves at the Inter-High.
What really makes Kuroko so explosive without the basket is the special moves that most of the characters have.
Of course, this is unrealistic. This is anime.
But most of these moves are still based on real basketball principles.
And combining these techniques really creates some really fun matches!
Kuroko himself is interesting to look at. He may be physically weak, but his ability to confuse and overtake are forces to be reckoned with.
3. Kuroko's Basketball: The Last Game (OVA)
One of the most popular OVAs from the Kuroko no Basket universe is The Last Game.
He shows the world how great it would be if the best players in the seriesjoined forces .
And we're talking about the best of the best here!
Kuroko's former team (from the Generation of Miracles) and Kagami agreed to form a single coordinated team to play against a visiting streetball group in the US.
This film showcases what Kuroko-no-Basket is best known for: an addictive basketball game and bizarre special moves.
In addition, Kuroko no Basket: Last Game offers fans an unforgettable experience.
The Generation of Miracles doesn't really have much of a chance to play together again, so this is a really special time in basketball anime!
2. Slam dunk
No basketball anime list would be complete without Slam Dunk.
With 100 episodes produced between 1993 and 1996, Slam Dunk can be called one of the best anime of the 90s and started much of the Asian basketball craze.
It was originally created by Takehiko Inoue as a simple basketball story (which reflects his own experiences when he entered the game to impress the girls).
But over time, Slam Dunk slowly evolved into a sprawling and gripping tale of commitment, camaraderie and passion.
Given that the protagonist of the story, Hanamichi Sakuragi, isn't exactly the best player on the court, Slam Dunk paints a really good story about how basketball players can grow.
And indeed, what a glorious story Slam Dunk offers!
Maybe it doesn't have as amazing animation as most modern anime (like Kuroko no Basket).
But the history of Slam Dunk is designed for centuries. It's so impressive that fans are still begging for a sequel!
1. Slam Dunk: Shouhoku Saidai no Kiki! Moero Sakuragi Hanamichi (OVA)
There are a few spoilers ahead, so if you don't want to know much about the OVA and still want to experience Slam Dunk for yourself, just watch this. I promise it's great!
What makes Slam Dunk such an awesome anime is that the good guys don't necessarily win every match.
Such is the case with the Shohoku team.
After their defeat in high school, Kainan Sakuragi became inspired to transform himself into a better player, which explains his haircut in the last part of the series.
Aired in 1995, this film follows the Shohoku match immediately after their crushing loss to Kainan.
Given the importance of building team chemistry (even after a loss), Coach Anzai's decision to play a team game against another strong opponent could be the perfect way for Shohoku to improve.
And this seems to show how strong the enemy can help you.
In true Slam Dunk style, this film offers a balanced approach to basketball and life lessons.
Perhaps that's why Slam Dunk has been such a hit: it's a really interesting anime series for just about anyone with any experience.
