Best Sports Anime of 2001

Tennis prodigy Ryouma Echizen returns from America at his father's request, ready to make a splash in the Japanese tennis scene. Determined to become the country's top player, he enrolls at Seishun Academy, which hosts one of the finest middle school tennis teams in Japan. After catching the captain's attention, Ryouma earns a chance to compete for a spot in the starting lineup through the intra-school ranking matches, even though he is only a freshman. The rest of the Seishun Boys' Tennis Team are initially reluctant to accept him due to his age, but his skill and resolve eventually win them over. With their new "super rookie" in tow, Seishun sets out to secure a place in the National Tournament, aiming to claim the championship. To qualify, the team must progress through the Tokyo Prefectural and Kanto Regional tournaments. However, the path ahead is crowded with many strong schools, each with their own unique style of play and motivations. Ryouma and his teammates must learn to work together if they hope to become the champions they dream of being.

From the moment of his birth, Baki Hanma has known nothing but combat—constantly building up every muscle and mastering diverse martial arts styles under the guidance of his mother, Emi Akezawa. He trains relentlessly to prepare himself to confront and ultimately surpass his father, Yuujirou Hanma, a man feared worldwide as the "Ogre" and regarded as the most powerful being on Earth. But when Baki realizes his mother's methods are no longer sufficient, he sets off to forge his own path to strength. Seeking out formidable foes and forging deep, unbreakable friendships with them, he continues to develop both his body and his spirit, as the countdown steadily ticks toward the inevitable clash with his father...

Thirteen-year-old Tyson Granger (Takao Kinomiya), together with his teammates Kai Hiwatari, Max Tate (Max Mizuhura), and Ray Kon (Rei Kon), aims to become the greatest Beybladers in the world. Backed by the technical expertise of the team's resident genius, Kenny (Kyouju), and the immense power of their BitBeasts, the Bladebreakers—armed with their spinning tops known as Blades—strive to reach their goal.

Mitsunari Tokugawa, the mastermind behind the legendary Tokugawa underground fighting arena, has assembled a tournament bringing together 38 elite fighters from around the globe, many of whom are grandmasters of their own martial arts styles. In Tokugawa’s ring, anything is permitted except weapons, allowing every combatant to unleash their full strength and most powerful hidden techniques. Baki Hanma secured his spot in the tournament as the current champion of Tokugawa’s arena. Can he rise to the top and claim victory?

Tsubasa Oozora is utterly devoted to soccer, drawn to the roaring crowd, the velocity of the ball, the intensity of the athletes, and the thrill of pursuing excellence. Driven by the ambition to reach the World Cup, he has dedicated his life to training since he first learned to walk. As he competes for Barcelona in a crucial match, his lifelong dream appears to be within reach. Captain Tsubasa: Road to 2002 chronicles his ascent through the soccer ranks, detailing his beginnings in Nankatsu and his epic quest to perfect the game.

Zoids—powerful animal-shaped combat mechs—are no longer used for warfare but instead have become the centerpiece of organized sporting competitions. The Blitz Team, a group of pilots trying to make a name for themselves in the Zoid battling leagues, gets a lucky break when a wandering junk dealer named Bit Cloud stumbles into their midst. He proves capable of piloting the temperamental Liger Zero, a Zoid that refuses to let anyone else into its cockpit. With Bit and the Liger leading the charge, the Blitz Team steadily climbs the ranks—but along the way, they catch the unwanted attention of the Backdraft Group, an organization of Zoid pilots operating outside the rules set by the Zoid Battle Commission. The Backdraft want powerful Zoids to strengthen their forces, and they have their sights set on the Liger Zero.

The Tobita Crush Gear club has lost nearly all its members and is now on the verge of disbandment. Kouya, who dreams of becoming a Crush Gear Fighting Champion, refuses to let the club disappear and will do anything in his power to keep it running while also aiming to become a Cush Gear Champion.

Goro Kumagaya, a tall and experienced middle-school goalkeeper, aimed to join Yokonan High School, renowned for its elite football program. However, an accident forced him to attend Kawasaki High School, a rival institution with a much lower ranking. There, he connects with skilled players Shingo, Hideki, and Kazuhito Oda. United in the Kawasaki High School football club, the group challenges Yokonan and other opposing schools to elevate their skills and strive for the championship title. Rather than being discouraged by obstacles, the team uses every setback as a chance to grow, a journey that notably includes the revelation of Goro’s innate ability as an ace striker.

A group of schoolchildren is invited to participate in a strongman competition. Just as the first match begins, the bored organizer declares that all bouts will now be fought to the death. None of the competitors object to this change. Who will survive and be crowned the strongest?