Sports anime has become one of the most talked about genres. From hits like Haikyuu!! to Kuroko no Basket, different series have drawn many viewers in. One of the most beloved aspects of sports anime is the dedication and teamwork that is a constant throughout the stories. These stories are so moving that even the least athletic of anime fans can fall in love with them.
However, not every second of sports anime is about togetherness and mutual support. Sometimes, characters have to argue to realize their love of the game and the importance of teammates. These disagreements are more than just simple misunderstandings; they end up leaving characters distraught and questioning their abilities in the game. There’s a reason why this is such a common theme in sports anime.
Hinata and Kageyama Need Some Work in Haikyuu!!
Haikyuu!! follows protagonist Shoyo Hinata on his journey to becoming a professional volleyball player. The majority of the series focuses on his time as a first-year student at Karasuno High School, where he serves as a middle blocker for the volleyball club. On his first day, he runs into Tobio Kageyama, a rival player from his middle school days. Kageyama is the starting setter for the Karasuno Volleyball Club but has had some trouble in the past with his teammates. He was deemed the “King of the Court” due to his desire to dictate his teammates. Once he starts working with Hinata, he learns to trust his new teammates and their individual playing abilities. While most of Kageyama and Hinata’s interactions end in petty arguments, their largest disagreement impacts the entire team, as Hinata and Kageyama’s strength as a duo earns them many points during matches.
Hinata expresses to Kageyama that he wants to grow as a player by changing things up. Kageyama disagrees because he thinks his sets are perfect and Hinata shouldn’t have an issue with them. Previously, Hinata would spike with his eyes closed, relying on Kageyama’s expert aim for setting the ball directly to where Hinata’s arm was swinging. However, Hinata realizes that he won’t always have Kageyama as his setter, which inspires him to try spiking with his eyes open. It’s not surprising to see how badly the two fail once Hinata made this decision. Hinata’s choice causes a big rift between the pair, and they are advised to train separately by their coach, Keishin Ukai. During their time apart, the boys identify that they need to grow separately and adapt to each other equally in order to work as teammates. By working alone, the two are able to then return as better players, both individually and as a pair.
Reki and Langa Find Their Passion in SK8 the Infinity.jpg)
SK8 the Infinity delves into the terrifying world of underground skateboarding competitions known as S. High school student Reki Kyan introduces Langa Hasegawa, a transfer student from Canada, to his passion for skateboarding. It doesn’t take Langa long to start skating like a professional thanks to his past snowboarding experience. The duo falls in love with skating together and attending S with other skateboarders. It isn’t until Reki ends up in a terrifying race against the sadistic founder of S, Adam, who isn’t afraid to play rough and hurt his competitors, that things change. Adam challenges Langa to a race after Adam falls in love with Langa’s skating style. Reki begs Langa to not race against Adam, but Langa goes against Reki’s wishes. This decision causes the relationship between the two teens to become rocky.
The two end up arguing about the importance of the race. Reki doesn’t want Langa to compete because he is afraid of Langa getting hurt by Adam. Langa insists on racing Adam because he’s never raced against an opponent like him before. It isn’t until Reki isn’t with Langa at S that Langa realizes what he truly loves about skateboarding. Although the thrill and competition is fun, he only enjoys this because he’s able to skate with Reki. Their argument is a turning point in realizing the love that initially formed Langa’s passion for skateboarding.
Iwatobi Swim Club and Rin Matsuoka in Free!.jpg)
One of the biggest breakups in sports anime history is in Free!. The story follows four boys who restart the Iwatobi High School’s swim team after it had been disbanded due to a lack of members in the years prior. Three of the boys — Haruka Nanase, Makoto Tachibana and Nagisa Hazuki — grew up swimming competitively together, while the other, Rei Ryugazaki, was recruited by them. In the past, Haruka, Makoto and Nagisa would swim relay races with Rin Matsuoka, who left to train in Australia. As high school students, the three friends discover that Rin has returned and joined the Samezuka Academy swim club. While friends in the past, Rin now sees the three as his bitter competition.
Interactions between the two schools are filled with tension as the unresolved issues between Rin and his old friends get in the way. Even worse for the Iwatobi boys is the fact that they don’t understand Rin’s hostility toward them. Rin’s desire to get better and beat Iwatobi ends up negatively impacting him, and he loses his spot on the Samezuka relay team. However, he is still given the chance to compete. The Iwatobi boys make the decision to have Rin join their relay team — a decision that changes Rin’s outlook on swimming by discovering what’s truly important to him. While he does love the competitive aspect, the most important to him is swimming with friends.
Teamwork is extremely important in sports anime, and it’s the reason why so many viewers tune in to begin with. However, for each character to grow, they must face difficulties, thereby realizing where their weaknesses are and how they can become stronger. The “breakup” between two or more characters allows them to reflect on their relationships with other players while also identifying where they must improve. Without these disputes, characters wouldn’t be able to recognize the importance of friendship and why they’re so passionate about their sport.
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