Anime Like Free! - Iwatobi Swim Club

Inspired by the electrifying performance of the "Little Giant" during a match, Shouyou Hinata cultivates an intense love for volleyball. Although his middle school journey concludes in heartbreak, his small frame fails to deter him from pursuing victory. Upon enrolling at Karasuno High School, the very institution where the Little Giant once competed, Hinata feels his professional aspirations drawing nearer. However, his confidence wavers when he discovers that Tobio Kageyama, the prodigy responsible for his team's past defeat, has become his new teammate. In a sport ruled by towering athletes, Hinata must forge a partnership with Kageyama and grasp the true essence of teamwork to climb to the summit of the competitive stage.

Following their participation in the Inter-High tournament, the Karasuno High School volleyball team turns their attention to the upcoming Spring tournament. Accepting an invitation from their long-standing rival, Nekoma High, Karasuno joins a major training camp alongside several top Tokyo teams and elite national players. Within this high-pressure environment, they strive to hone their abilities and devise new offensive strategies. Concurrently, Hinata and Kageyama dedicate themselves to mastering a potent technique capable of penetrating even the sturdiest defenses. As the seniors approach graduation, this could be their last opportunity for victory, compelling the Karasuno players to settle internal disputes and push their training to unprecedented heights. Their goal is to overcome both familiar and daunting foes, including their fierce rival Aoba Jousai and its exceptional setter, Tooru Oikawa.

Following their victory over Aoba Jousai High, Karasuno High School, formerly dismissed as "a fallen powerhouse, a crow that can't fly," now confronts the critical phase of the Spring tournament. To secure a spot in the nationals, Karasuno must overcome the imposing Shiratorizawa Academy. Their greatest challenge lies in Shiratorizawa's ace, Wakatoshi Ushijima, who is hailed as the premier player in Miyagi Prefecture and ranks among the nation's three finest aces. Since only the strongest teams advance to the nationals, this match represents the final opportunity for the third-year players to qualify. Consequently, Karasuno must leverage every lesson from their training camp and previous matches to secure a win. As both teams grapple with a blend of anxiety and anticipation, they remain resolute in their quest to triumph in this pivotal third season of Haikyuu!!.

For the last three years, Teikou Middle School has ruled the national basketball league, propelled by their legendary quintet known as the "Generation of Miracles." These five extraordinary players were aided by a mysterious "Phantom Sixth Man," whose contributions were key to their unparalleled success. Yet, as their abilities evolved, their original passion for the sport waned, causing each member to part ways upon entering high school. At Seirin High School, the basketball team seeks fresh talent and recruits two freshmen: Taiga Kagami and Tetsuya Kuroko, whose skills initially appear vastly different. Kagami, who recently returned from America, boasts natural talent and a fiery dedication to basketball. Conversely, Kuroko seems nearly invisible and lacks notable athletic prowess, but he is actually revealed to be the Phantom Sixth Man from the former Generation of Miracles. Driven to demonstrate his own strength, Kuroko dedicates himself to proving his worth to Seirin. Moved by Kuroko's determination, Kagami strikes up a partnership with him, with Kuroko promising to serve as the "shadow" supporting Kagami's "light." Alongside their Seirin teammates, they strive to win the upcoming Interhigh tournament, though they soon encounter challenges from Kuroko's former teammates.

Following their victory over Shiratorizawa Academy, Karasuno High School's volleyball team secures a berth in the national championships. As practice ramps up, setter Tobio Kageyama receives an invitation to the All-Japan Youth Training Camp to face off against the country's elite young talent. At the same time, Kei Tsukishima is chosen for a special rookie camp in Miyagi Prefecture. While Shouyou Hinata is eager to participate, he receives no invitation and feels excluded. Determined not to let this setback dampen his spirit, Hinata transforms his frustration into resolve and secretly infiltrates Tsukishima's rookie camp. Though he is assigned to work as a ball boy, he views the experience as a valuable opportunity for growth. He begins scrutinizing his own skills, observing the tactics and techniques used on the court, and strives to apply these lessons. With the national tournament drawing near, the Karasuno volleyball team focuses on addressing their shortcomings and refining their abilities, all while pursuing their ultimate goal of reaching the top.

Following a crushing defeat at the Grand Prix Finale, Yuuri Katsuki, formerly Japan's premier figure skating prospect, retreats to his family home to rethink his career path. At twenty-three, with his prospects for skating stardom dwindling, his fondness for tonkatsu and tendency to put on weight only add to his struggles. However, Yuuri's fortune shifts when a clip of him executing a routine made famous by five-time world champion Victor Nikiforov spreads rapidly online. To Yuuri's astonishment, Victor shows up at his residence and proposes to serve as his coach. Thrilled by this opportunity, Yuuri, a devoted fan, agrees and embarks on a quest to reclaim his spot on the global stage. His journey is complicated by the ambitious Russian skater Yuri Plisetsky, who is just as resolved to overtake Yuuri and secure Victor's mentorship.

After shaking off the "Flightless Crows" moniker with a decisive first-round win against Tsubakihara Academy, Karasuno High School has returned to the national stage. Their next obstacle is Inarizaki High School, the runner-up from the previous Spring Tournament, featuring the intimidating Miya twins. Initially stunned by Inarizaki's raucous and aggressive home crowd, Karasuno rallies behind the energetic cheers of their own supporters. While their offense centers on Shouyou Hinata, the Miya brothers' unconventional tactics catch them off guard, delivering a shocking setback. As the stakes escalate, can Karasuno defeat Inarizaki High and keep their ascent toward the summit of high school volleyball?

After the Interhigh Championship, the Seirin basketball team intensifies their training to earn a place in the Winter Cup. Tetsuya Kuroko and Taiga Kagami confront renewed obstacles as former acquaintances return to their lives, affecting both their drills and personal bonds. As they cultivate new skills and forge fresh alliances, Seirin clashes with formidable opponents from Yousen, Shuutoku, and Touou, institutions renowned for elite high school basketball. These rivals possess exceptional talent and are constantly evolving, pressuring Kuroko to balance his dedication to teamwork against his competitive drive. Past tensions resurface, new matches begin, and the emergence of the "Uncrowned Kings," who seek to topple the reigning champions, elevates the stakes. Can Seirin defeat the Generation of Miracles and achieve their objectives?

Just as Yoichi Isagi was poised to score a decisive goal for his high school soccer team and secure a spot in the nationals, he hesitated and passed the ball, forfeiting his chance. Overwhelmed by frustration and regret, Isagi wonders if his choice was correct. Upon returning home, he receives an unexpected invitation from the Japan Football Union. Through a somewhat arbitrary selection process, Isagi is chosen as one of three hundred U-18 strikers for Blue Lock, a controversial program aimed at cultivating a new star striker for the national team. Contestants must face off in individual and team challenges to demonstrate their value, with only a single victor emerging. Despite his doubts regarding the program's methods, Isagi is resolved to battle his way through the ranks, ready to do whatever is necessary to win, even if it means shattering the dreams of the other 299 hopefuls.

Having bested Yousen High, Seirin's basketball squad progresses to the Winter Cup semifinals, standing alongside Kaijou, Rakuzan, and Shuutoku. Each of these rival schools boasts a member of the Generation of Miracles, presenting Seirin with their most formidable obstacles yet on the road to the championship. In the concluding season of Kuroko no Basket, Kuroko confronts his former teammates once more, striving to demonstrate that raw individual talent is not the sole method for playing basketball. His unwavering conviction that team play is the true essence of the sport will clash against the abilities of a perfect mimic and an absolute authority. As Kuroko endeavors to validate that his approach to the game is "right," he and the entire Seirin High team share a singular ultimate objective: to claim the Winter Cup and surmount the overwhelming dominance of the Generation of Miracles, who have long ruled the middle and high school basketball landscape.

With his father away, Ippo Makunouchi assists his mother in managing their family's fishing boat business. Due to his timid nature, perpetual fatigue, and the lingering scent of the ocean, he frequently becomes a target for local bullies who beat him up. One day, the renowned boxer Mamoru Takamura intervenes during an assault and brings Ippo to the Kamogawa Boxing Gym to recuperate. There, Takamura and his teammates, Masaru Aoki and Tatsuya Kimura, are stunned by Ippo's powerful punches, a strength honed through years of labor at the fishery. Following a brief training stint with Takamura, Ippo reveals his potential in a sparring session against the boxing prodigy Ichirou Miyata. This encounter establishes Miyata as a rival and Genji Kamogawa, the gym's owner and former boxer, as a mentor. As Ippo embarks on his journey toward a professional boxing career, he encounters increasingly formidable opponents. Through victories, defeats, and relentless training, Ippo strives to realize his dream of greatness. His robust physique and indomitable fighting spirit fuel this young boxer's resolve to surmount the obstacles that lie ahead.

Reki Kyan is a high schooler obsessed with skateboarding, spending his nights in a dangerous, underground mine participating in illegal races called S. After a brutal crash shatters his board and breaks his arm, Reki is forced to stop skating. During his recovery, he takes a part-time job and meets Langa Hasegawa, a transfer student of mixed Canadian and Japanese descent with no skateboarding background who is facing financial hardship. When a favor for Reki's boss inadvertently drags them into an S race, they find themselves in a perilous position. Although Langa is coerced into competing, she reveals a hidden talent that could unexpectedly alter the course of the race, leaving both her and Reki stunned.

Junk Dog, a combatant in the underground circuit of the Gear-enhanced sport Megalo Box, operates on the principle that silence and submission are the marks of cowards. Although he possesses raw talent, he is compelled to throw matches under the command of his boss, Gansaku Nanbu. His existence shifts when Yuuri, the reigning Megalo Box champion, unexpectedly enters his local ring disguised as an ordinary fighter. Following a swift defeat, Yuuri extends a challenge: if Junk Dog genuinely desires another bout, he must secure a spot in the elite tier by ascending through the ranks of the Megalonia tournament. Fueled by renewed determination and supported by the criminal syndicate that previously exploited him, Junk Dog embarks on this path without a true identity. Adopting the alias "Joe," he starts climbing from the very bottom of the competitive ladder. With merely three months to qualify, Joe must confront adversaries far more perilous than any he has faced before, all in his quest to earn a rematch with Yuuri.

In Chihayafuru, young Chihaya Ayase initially aspired to become a top model like her older sister, Chitose. However, her trajectory changed when she intervened to shield Arata Wataya from their childhood friend and school bully, Taichi Mashima. This pivotal moment introduced Chihaya to competitive karuta, a rapid card game rooted in the Ogura Hyakunin Isshu anthology that requires swift reflexes, memory, and stamina. Enthralled by the competition, she establishes the Shiranami Society alongside Arata and Taichi with the goal of claiming the prestigious Queen of Karuta title. After drifting apart during middle school, Chihaya reunites with both Arata and Taichi in high school, prompting the formation of the Mizusawa High School Karuta Club. Leveraging Taichi's strategic intellect and the vitality of new recruits, the club aims to triumph in the national championships held at the Omi Shrine.

Following his triumph in the savage underground fighting arena, Baki Hanma remains dedicated to surpassing his father, Yuujirou Hanma, the planet's undisputed strongest being. His short-lived tranquility is shattered when Tokugawa Mitsunari, the tournament organizer, approaches him at school. Tokugawa discloses that five elite fighters, who are condemned prisoners from across the globe, have broken free and are making their way to Tokyo driven by a desire to taste defeat. These individuals pose a severe threat, with Baki as a primary target due to his notorious reputation; they are prepared to harm anyone, not just him. This narrative from the second manga series portrays the vicious confrontation between Japan's top fighters and these merciless outlaws from the criminal underworld.

One year after the Iwatobi High School Swim Club was formed, no new members have joined, threatening the club's survival if membership doesn't increase soon. As Haruka Nanase and Makoto Tachibana begin their final year alongside their junior friends Nagisa Hazuki and Rei Ryuugazaki, they work to recruit new members to keep the club alive. At the same time, the approaching graduation makes the seniors think about their futures. While Rin Matsuoka, captain of the Samezuka Academy Swim Club, is determined to become a professional swimmer, Haruka and Makoto remain uncertain about their own career paths. New challenges arise when Sousuke Yamazaki, a recently recruited swimmer and former friend of Rin, moves to the city to attend Samezuka Academy. His arrival complicates the relationships among Rin, Haruka, and himself.

Makoto "Smile" Tsukimoto and Yutaka "Peco" Hoshino have been close friends since childhood, despite their opposite natures. Peco, an overconfident dreamer who wants to become the world's best ping-pong player, often skips practice and irritates his teammates at Katase High School, while Smile, despite his natural talent, frequently holds back in matches. Their bond remains strong through their shared love for ping-pong. When a former Chinese national team player arrives in Japan, Peco convinces Smile to visit Tsujido High School. There, Peco faces Kong Wenge and suffers a quick, crushing defeat that shakes his confidence. Seeing Smile's hidden potential, the Katase High coach starts training him to stop holding back, but Smile remains reluctant unless the game stays fun. As both friends struggle with their reasons for playing, they meet powerful opponents at the inter-high tournament, each dealing with their own inner conflicts. Only the most skilled can survive, and as these young athletes let their unchecked ambitions drive them, the harsh reality of chasing glory becomes clear.

In Keijo!!!!!!!!, the latest sensation in Japanese sports, participants compete on floating circular platforms called "lands" set over a pool, aiming to knock their opponents off using only their breasts and buttocks. This unique and captivating sport has gained massive popularity across Japan, drawing millions of viewers and offering substantial cash prizes. Athletes from various backgrounds join the competition, driven by the dream of becoming the national champion. Nozomi Kaminashi, an enthusiastic 18-year-old who recently graduated from high school, enters the world of keijo with the goal of helping her financially struggling family. Using her gymnastic skills, Nozomi quickly stands out in her first tournament and earns recognition as a formidable competitor. As she advances through the ranks, she forms bonds with teammates and rivals alike. However, Nozomi soon realizes that achieving fame and success comes with rigorous challenges that test her physical prowess and mental fortitude.

In a world where Air Trecks, known as ATs, have become the ultimate craze, these advanced inline skates dominate the nation's attention. Though they come with built-in speed limiters, a daring group called the "Storm Riders" takes the risk of removing them, taking part in secret competitions where rivals battle for prized AT parts or their cherished team badges, which stand for their honor. Itsuki Minami, a middle school student famous for street fights, is driven by a strong desire to soar higher than anyone else. Along with his close friends Kazuma Mikura and Onigiri, the fearless Itsuki pushes forward, determined to overcome every obstacle. His dream takes off when he finds a pair of Air Trecks at home, bringing him closer to mastering the sky.

Tatara Fujita, a timid middle school student who prefers to keep a low profile, becomes a target for bullies who extort him for money. He is rescued by a man named Kaname Sengoku, who brings him to a dance studio. Although Tatara typically avoids such places, he is mesmerized by Sengoku's commanding presence. When he gets the chance to dance with his classmate Shizuku Hanaoka, who regularly trains at the studio, Tatara discovers an exhilarating sensation from performing while being watched by others. Fueled by a genuine determination to improve, Tatara immerses himself in the competitive world of ballroom dance.

In the movie Kuroko's Basketball: Last Game, a street basketball team from America called Jabberwock, whose skills match those of NBA players, comes to Japan for a friendly match against Strky, a team made up of former third-year students who previously competed in the Interhigh and Winter Cup. Jabberwock easily outplays Strky due to their superior ability, and their captain, Nash Gold Jr., insults Japanese players by comparing their playing style to that of monkeys. Feeling insulted, Kagetora Aida issues a challenge for a rematch. Believing his team will dominate again, Nash agrees. Kagetora then assembles Vorpal Swords, a team featuring the members of the Generation of Miracles, including Kuroko Tetsuya and Kagami Taiga, as they are the only ones considered strong enough to face such a formidable opponent.

During the Tokyo Qualifiers, four high school teams—Nekoma High School, Fukurodani High School, Nohebi Academy, and Itachiyama Academy—compete fiercely for the final three spots in the national volleyball championship. Nekoma is determined to prove its ability to compete at the national level despite various challenges. Each team battles to overcome their opponents and address their own weaknesses. The result of the Tokyo Qualifiers will decide which schools earn a place in the prestigious national tournament.

In the second season of Blue Lock, the competition intensifies as only 35 players remain. These aspiring strikers compete for a chance to face Japan’s current U-20 soccer team in an exhibition match. Success would mean becoming the new national U-20 squad, while failure would end the Blue Lock program. Yoichi Isagi is still among the contestants, continuing to discover his true potential. Six of the strongest players have already secured spots in the starting lineup, forcing the other 29 to fight for the final position. During the selection process, each player must choose one of the top six as a partner to prove their value. To overcome the established U-20 team, these players must learn to integrate their unique playing styles seamlessly.

In Slam Dunk, Hanamichi Sakuragi—known for his explosive temper, towering stature, and bright red hair—enrolls at Shohoku High School with a single goal: to find a girlfriend and break his middle school record of 50 rejections. His intimidating reputation makes many students wary of him. Through a series of events, Hanamichi develops two firm convictions: "I hate basketball," and "I desperately need a girlfriend." One day, Haruko Akagi, unaware of Hanamichi's troubled past, approaches him and asks about his interest in basketball. Enchanted by her, he quickly declares his love for the sport. Haruko then leads him to the gym, where she challenges him to perform a slam dunk. Hoping to impress her, Hanamichi attempts the shot but instead smashes his head against the backboard. The basketball team's captain learns of Hanamichi's remarkable athletic ability from Haruko, and he is gradually pulled into the world of basketball, embracing the teamwork and competition of a sport he once despised.