For a bit of a Super Bowl night discussion, I guess it may be a good idea to talk a bit about sports anime. Personally, I’m not a sports fan. I cringe when the NFL schedules are announced, and groan when Final Four discussions come up. However, at the same time, I absolutely adore sports anime. Shows like Princess Nine, Fighting Spirit (Hajime no Ippo), and even Dan Doh (to an extent) tend to be favorites to recommend to people looking for something new or just plain different.
Of course, the strange looks begin after these mentions, until I mention the rationale. Mainly, this consists of the fact that the average sports anime is little more than a character drama with trappings of a given sport. Sure, games are played, teams are formed, and some strategy is discussed mid-episode. But usually, that’s about where the “sports” aspect ends. The human element is definitely front-and-center through these shows, and provides an experience that I find far more compelling. So, tonight, as everyone enjoyed the big game, I decided to celebrate the evening my own way. A night that began with Eyeshield 21, before moving to other titles was far more to my speed.
