In the world of sports anime, there are underdogs and there are stories that show the exciting and inspiring journey of an underdog as he triumphs. Watching a team or individual grow from humble beginnings, overcome obstacles, and defy the odds resonates with audiences, generating a sense of hope and excitement. These characters fight for their dreams against powerful opponents through sheer determination, teamwork, or personal growth.
1
Yowamushi Pedal
Sakamichi Onoda goes from riding a bike for fun to being a professional cyclist
Onoda has been riding his bike since fourth grade. Now in high school, he still rides his bike every week and unknowingly meets the requirements to become a professional cyclist. On a weekly ride, Imaizumi, a fellow student from Onoda’s high school, watches him practicing his horse riding, and at first, he does not feel threatened by Onoda and even makes fun of his bike until he sees Onoda riding up the hill. that you are practicing. without problems. Imaizumi convinces Onoda to join his school’s bicycle racing club, and he does.
Onoda is the underdog in this anime, as he starts riding a bike as a total beginner with no knowledge of professional cycling. His natural talent and determination made him stand out and rise to compete against experienced athletes. Joining the bike club boosted Onoda’s personality as he went from being a shy kid to being confident.
2
Kuroko’s basketball
Kuroko takes on the responsibility of ensuring that the Seirin High basketball team reaches the top.
When high school students graduate, they split up and go to different high schools, creating new experiences, etc. Teiko High School had five star players who made their basketball team known throughout the country, and after graduating, they all went to different high schools. The sixth unknown player, Kuroko, goes to Seirin High and joins the basketball team. Together with Kagami, they make a name for Seirin by taking on the teams that house Teiko High School’s other star players.
The loser of this anime is Seirin High. Seirin is a relatively new and unknown school in the world of basketball, and the team, with the help of Kuroko and Kagami, defeats powerful opponents to prove their strength.
3
diamond ace
Sawamura aspires to be the ace among the best
Sawamura is talented as a left-handed pitcher in baseball. This talent causes a scout to take an interest in him and he receives an offer to join the elite baseball program at Seidou High School, a powerhouse in high school baseball. Seidou High is home to the best baseball players in the country, and among them all, Sawamura seems to be the weakest and least qualified, even with his potential and talent.
Not wanting to be the loser, Sawamura strives to be the team’s ace. This isn’t easy, as Sawamura starts out as a raw pitcher with a lot of potential but no real technique. He must work tirelessly to improve his control, learn new pitches, and face fierce competition to catch up with the most talented players on the team.
4
Haikyuu!!
Hinata once again makes champions of her once glorious school team
Volleyball catches Hinata’s attention, and the young man, although inexperienced, is ready to strive to become a star volleyball player just like the Karasuno High players he saw on television. Unfortunately for Hinata, the Karasuno High Volleyball team is not as he saw it on television, and the once glorious team full of champions is now empty, and it is up to Hinata to recruit players.
Karasuno High School is considered an underdog team due to how badly they have fallen. With the help of Hinata and Kageyama, this explosive duo is tasked with working hard to rebuild the Karasuno High volleyball club, restore their champion reputation, and make them a formidable competitor against more established schools.
5
Hajime No Ippo
Ippo Makunouchi goes from being a bully victim to a professional boxer
This boxing-themed anime follows the stories of Ippo Makunouchi, a shy boy who is constantly bullied, but one day, a random stranger helps him after his bullies knock him out. This stranger turns out to be a rookie boxer named Mamoru Takamura, and he takes Ippo to his gym, where he treats his wounds and waits for him to wake up.
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Ippo had not been a favorite of his bullies, but Takamura saw potential in him and introduced him to boxing. Takamura gave him some boxing videos to watch and this sparked his interest in boxing. With relentless training and fierce determination, Ippo goes from being a weak and inexperienced fighter. He rises through the ranks, faces increasingly skilled opponents, and eventually becomes a professional boxer. The once shy Ippo that viewers knew from the beginning grows into a confident and powerful person, outmaneuvering his bullies and pushing his limits.
6
Salaried club
Mikoto Shiratori fights to be the professional she once was
Salaried club combines badminton and corporate life, focusing on a group of salarymen who work corporate jobs and play competitive badminton for their companies. One of these earners is Mikoto Shiratori, who was once a force in the badminton world. Mikoto was a child prodigy, but one game robbed him of his status and confidence, pushing him to the ground to pick up the pieces. Instead of doing that, he joins the sales department at Sunlight Beverage and slowly finds himself getting back into the sport.
Mikoto is considered a loser due to his fall from grace and his reluctance to return to the sport. His loss shattered his confidence and unfortunately he was unable to return, causing other players to perceive him as weak. However, throughout the anime, his stay at Sunlight Beverage causes him to regain his confidence, his abilities, and his trust in himself and his companions. He overcomes his past and eventually becomes the underdog who wins while excelling in the sport once again.