Key foods
- Underdogs in sports anime show inspiring journeys from weak to strong.
- Characters fight for dreams against powerful opponents through determination and teamwork.
- Stories like Yuamoshi's Pedal, Kuroko's Basketball, and Ace of Diamonds show the underdog rising to the top.
There are subordinates in all walks of life. These people are labeled as the weakest link, seen as having no potential and the least chance of being the best or winning. Often times, they're grossly underrated, but they're a work in progress, and when the work is done, they emerge to shine and go from weak to strong.
In the world of sports anime, there are underdogs, and there are stories that showcase the exciting and inspiring journey of an underdog as he triumphs. Watching a team or individual rise from humble beginnings, overcome obstacles and challenges resonates with audiences and creates a sense of hope and excitement. These characters fight for their dreams against powerful opponents through raw determination, teamwork, or personal growth.
1 Yumoshi pedal
Sakamichi Onoda goes from cycling for fun to becoming a professional cyclist
Onoda has been riding a bicycle since the fourth grade. Now in high school, he still rides his bike every week, unconsciously fulfilling the requirements to become a professional cyclist. On a weekly ride, Imaizumi, a student at Onoda's high school, sees him practicing riding and is initially unthreatened by Onoda, even mocking his bike until he sees Onoda riding down the hill he is practicing on. goes up Seamlessly, Imaizumi convinces Onoda to join their school's cycling club, which he does.
Onoda is weak in this anime because he starts cycling as a complete beginner with no professional cycling knowledge. His innate talent and determination made him stand out and compete against seasoned athletes. Joining the cycling club strengthened Onoda's character as he grew from a shy kid to a confident one.
2 Kuroko basketball
Kuroko takes it upon himself to ensure that the High Seirin basketball team reaches the top.
When high school scholars graduate, they split up and go to different high schools, creating new experiences, etc. Teiko Middle School had five star players who made their basketball team nationally known and after graduation, they all went on 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 going up against teams featuring other star players from Teiko Middle School.
The weak point of this anime is Seirin High. Sirin is a relatively new and unknown school in the basketball world, and with the help of Kuroko and Kagami, the team overcomes powerful opponents to prove their strength.
3 Ace of Diamonds
Sawamura's goal is to be one of the best
Sawamura is gifted as a left-handed pitcher in baseball. This talent gets a scout interested in him, and he receives an offer to join the elite baseball program at Seido High School, a powerhouse in high school baseball. Seidou High is home to the best baseball players in the country, and out of all of them, Sawamura seems the weakest and most unskilled, even with his potential and talent.
Not wanting to be the underdog, Sawamura tries to be the lone star of the team. That won't be easy, as Sawamura starts out as an unpolished pitcher with plenty of potential but no real technique. He must work tirelessly to improve his control, learn new pitches, and face fierce competition for the team's more talented players.
4 Haikyuu!!
Hinata again champions her magnificent school team
Volleyball catches Hinata's attention and the young boy, though inexperienced, is ready to strive to become a star volleyball player just like the Karasuno High players he saw on TV. Unfortunately for Hinata, Karasono's high volleyball team isn't what she saw on TV, and the once glorious team filled with champions is now empty and it's up to Hinata to recruit the player.
Karasono High School is considered an underdog due to their relegation. With the help of Hinata and Kageyama, the two explosives take it upon themselves to try to rebuild Karasuno High's volleyball club and restore their championship reputation, making them a formidable competitor against more prestigious schools.
5 Hajime no Ippo
Ipo Makonuchi turns from a bully victim to a professional boxer
This boxing-themed animation follows the stories of Ipoh Makonuchi, a shy kid who is constantly bullied, but one day, a random stranger helps him after his bullies knock him out. . The stranger turns out to be a novice boxer named Mamoru Takamura, and he takes Ipoh to his gym, where he treats his wounds and waits for him to wake up.
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10 best animations about boxing
These animes come with their own different take on boxing while creating interesting themes from competition to friendship.
Ipoh was weak to 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. Through relentless training and fierce determination, Ipoh grows from a weak and inexperienced warrior. He rises through the ranks, faces skilled opponents, and eventually becomes a professional boxer. The once shy Ippo that viewers knew from the beginning becomes a confident and powerful individual who overcomes his bullies and pushes his limits.
6 Salariman Club
Mikoto Shiratori tries to become a professional
Salariman Club It mixes badminton and corporate life, focusing on a group of salarymen who work corporate jobs and play competitive badminton for their companies. One such salary is Mikoto Shiratori, who was once a force in the badminton world. Mikoto was a child prodigy, but a game destroyed her status and confidence, pushing her to the ground to pick up the beads. Instead, he joins the sales department at Sunlight Beverage and slowly finds himself back into the sport.
Mikoto is considered a weakling due to her fall from grace and unwillingness to return to the sport. His defeat destroyed his confidence and unfortunately he was unable to come back, causing other players to think of him as weak. However, during the anime, his stay at Sunlight Beverage causes him to rebuild his confidence, skills, and trust in himself and his fellow players. He overcomes his past and eventually becomes the underdog who excels in the sport once again.
