Best Sports Anime of 2020

Following their decisive triumph against Shiratorizawa Academy, the Karasuno High School volleyball squad secures their long-deserved spot in the national championships. As training intensifies, star setter Tobio Kageyama receives an invitation to the All-Japan Youth Training Camp to compete alongside other elite national talents. At the same time, Kei Tsukishima is selected for a specialized rookie camp for first-year players held in Miyagi Prefecture. Without any invitations of his own, an enthusiastic Shouyou Hinata feels a sense of abandonment. Yet, Hinata refuses to give up. Channeling his disappointment into drive, he takes the bold step of sneaking into the same rookie camp as Tsukishima. Although he only manages to secure a position as a ball boy, Hinata views this as a prime chance for growth. He starts to deeply reflect on his own abilities while studying the wealth of information unfolding on the court, figuring out how to utilize it effectively. With the highly anticipated national tournament drawing near, the Karasuno volleyball team works hard to address their vulnerabilities and polish their techniques, all with the ultimate goal of reaching the pinnacle!

Once known as the "Flightless Crows" and considered a fallen powerhouse, Karasuno High School has finally soared at nationals. After a dominating performance against Tsubakihara Academy in their opening match, the team now faces its most difficult challenge yet: Inarizaki High School, the runners-up from the previous Spring Tournament. Adding to the difficulty, Karasuno must contend with the formidable twin brothers, the Miya duo. From the opening whistle, Karasuno is overwhelmed by the noise and jeers from Inarizaki's supporters but regains its momentum thanks to its own loyal fans. The team also builds momentum through an attack centered on Shouyou Hinata, yet the unorthodox play of Atsumu and Osamu Miya lands an unexpected blow that leaves Karasuno stunned. As the match between these two teams intensifies, the stakes rise. Can Karasuno defeat Inarizaki High and clear the obstacles threatening their climb to the top?

Video games—especially puzzle games—had always been the focus of Konomi Kasahara's life. But when she enters Hanamiya High School, she resolves to break free from that routine. While exploring the halls for a new hobby, she stumbles upon a massive wall belonging to the school's rock climbing team. Intrigued, she tries climbing it and realizes she can apply her puzzle-solving abilities to find the best route to the top. Convinced she has discovered her true passion, Konomi quickly joins the club. As she works to sharpen her climbing skills, she and the rest of the Hanamiya Climbing Team will come to understand the essence of being a "sports climber" and strive for success in upcoming tournaments.

Natsuza Yuzuki has played rugby as a left-winger since childhood, rapidly emerging as a standout player in the Kansai University League after entering Doushisha University. However, his athletic career is derailed by a severe motorcycle accident that results in a spinal hernia, rendering him unable to continue playing. With no other options, he assumes the role of manager, dedicating himself to helping his team secure a league championship. The squad he oversees is a peculiar mix of personalities, including his calm best friend and full-back Seiichirou Jingyouji, the volatile first-year Yasunari Tsuru—who resents Natsuza for taking his former left-winger spot—and Yuu Mashiro, who struggles to establish himself as a scrum half. Although Natsuza throws himself into coaching, the team still feels lacking. He becomes determined to recruit Ibuki Ueka, the genius fly-half and former ace who abruptly quit rugby a year prior.

At the height of his gymnastics career, Joutarou Aragaki—known as Samurai due to his distinctive hairdo—experiences a shoulder injury after his wife passes away. Half a decade later, he still tests the boundaries of his physical endurance as part of Japan's national gymnastics squad. Nevertheless, his intense regimen yields no improvement. Coach Noriyuki Amakusa suggests that he step down from competition. Accompanied by his lively and encouraging nine-year-old daughter Rei, Joutarou visits Ego Wonderland to deliver the disappointing news. But their outing takes an unexpected turn when they meet a strange boy who calls himself a ninja, Leonardo. Leonardo tags along to their house and repeatedly spoils Joutarou's efforts to inform Rei about his retirement. Discovering that Leonardo wants to see him perform gymnastics once more, Joutarou shocks the nation by declaring he will not retire. He commits himself to the most formidable endeavor of his career, determined to show that he truly belongs in the world of gymnastics.

Since childhood, Yomi Takeda and Tamaki Yamazaki have shared a deep love for baseball. They would play catch whenever they had the chance, and during those moments, Yomi realized she had a special ability to throw the ball in a way that seemed almost magical. The two girls made a promise to continue playing baseball even as they grew older, but soon after, they were separated. In the following years, Tamaki developed into a talented catcher, whereas Yomi, despite her natural pitching gift, struggled to advance in the sport. Choosing to give up on her passion, Yomi begins her first year at Shin Koshigaya High School. She tries her best to stay away from anything related to baseball, but she soon encounters the twins Yoshino and Ibuki Kawaguchi, both of whom are passionate about the game. Furthermore, she unexpectedly runs into Tamaki, and just like in the old days, they decide to play catch—rekindling Yomi's desire to pitch. Now reunited, Yomi and Tamaki aim to keep the promise they made as children. Together with Yoshino and Ibuki, they work to bring back their school's baseball team, which has been inactive. More players eventually join until their roster is full, and the newly formed girls' baseball team of Shin Koshigaya sets its sights on nothing less than winning the national championships.

After overcoming the internal struggles he faced earlier, Daigo Shigeno keeps playing baseball and becomes the captain of Fuurin Private Academy Middle School's baseball team. Together with Mutsuko Sakura, his elementary school classmate, he hopes to lead the squad to success. But due to unforeseen circumstances, the Fuurin baseball team ends up with only six members: Daigo, Mutsuko, Yayoi Sawa, Tao Sagara, Seira Kandori, and Hiromu Tanba. With a lineup that is mostly female and short on experience, the team finds it difficult to earn the confidence and trust of new recruits—Akira Nishina, Anita Kabashima, and Chisato Fujii. Confronted by obstacles like the absence of a real coach, troublesome newcomers, and a shortage of players, Daigo's determination is tested as he works to unite the team in time for their first tournament.

A vase painter in Ancient Greece, Demetrios is often criticized for his inability to stay calm and act decisively during emergencies. One day, lightning strikes him and sends him to Tokyo in 1964, the year Japan first hosted the Summer Olympics. Taken in by a family that simply dismisses him as an odd foreigner, Demetrios finds himself bringing back knowledge from the modern world each time he is zapped by lightning and returns to his own era. Through constant trips between the two periods, he learns to gain the respect of his fellow villagers and develop self-confidence—all in time to become stronger, organize his own Olympic games back home, and take part in them.

The series focuses on para-athletes who cross paths with an outcast sports scientist, Ren Narita. It presents four narratives covering wheelchair basketball, track and high jump, goalball, and paralympic swimming.

Second season of Mukashi Keibanashi.