Now mostly all of the otakus, out there have already watched the show Ao Ashi and have already fallen in love with this show, and even if you aren’t an Ao Ashi fan yet, but you do love sports, we all know that there has always been that one sport which is neglected a bit in the sports anime genre. From the early ages of the anime and manga industry only, the sports genre has been the most popular genre out there and these included many big names which were based on sports such as baseball, volleyball, or basketball, even swimming has been a very popular sport on which animes have been made, however football, the sport which is often regarded as the most watched sport on the planet has lacked when it came to the anime industry. That is where after years, we received the Ao Ashi anime, which has been just amusing and full of fun and so realistic with modern-day references to many legends of the real-life sports world, that it can be regarded as one of the greatest football-based anime series and other than that the writer of the manga of the anime series is none other than, Yugo Kobayashi, one of the biggest names when it comes to the manga industry.
Now as we all know, the first season may come to an end in the following weeks, according to some reports, and though it hasn’t been announced by the makers, it is quite probable based on the fact that we have already received 20 episodes in total, which is quite enough for a single season when it comes to sports animes and stuff like those, however one thing that we can guarantee you, is that a second season will be coming and there is enough content to bring out a second season for the show. The show mainly tells us the story of a prodigy kid who has got an immaculate vision of the football field while playing, and he is scouted out of rags by one of the greatest sports clubs in Japan and he is all set and determined to go pro, to help his family. Though he technically lacks, it’s his journey of coping and getting better than others.
Now if you are looking for some other animes, which have been just like the show Ao Ashi, then no worries we have got your back, we have researched well and brought you the name and descriptions of 15 shows which belong to the same genre and the story is more or less similar to this one and will be a must watch for you all out there.
1. Inazuma Eleven
If you have been an otaku for quite some time, you must have heard the name of this anime series, because when it comes to the sports genre, this anime is regarded as one of the classics and a must-watch on our list too. This anime is also a football or soccer-based anime and follows the story of Raimon Highschool, where there exists a soccer club but that isn’t up to the mark and is also on the verge of being disbanded and that is where the captain of the team and the main character of the show come in, to take the charge, find new players and again push them with more spirit to save the club and the entire idea of playing football. Overall, this show has been very much praised by critics and has got a worldwide fanbase.
Where to watch: This anime series is currently available on the Netflix streaming platform
2. Giant Killing
The name may not seem like a football anime, but it actually is and here the reference to the giants are big teams, with big pockets. In this anime, we concentrate on the team named East Tokyo United which is based on the Tokyo Vardy team in real life who have faced a similar kind of story. The team used to have a rich history but suddenly everything has turned and the team has just passed away from getting relegated to the junior league, and now the team has made sure to bring a new eccentric coach who has previously abandoned the team once when he used to be a great player, but the only thing which keeps the hopes high for the fan is his specialty in killing the giants and bringing back glory to teams. A great journey and a coach’s perspective of the sport.
Where to watch: The anime series is currently available on Funimation for streaming online.
3. Hungry Heart: Wild Striker
This anime series came out in the year 2002 and has been very well known for its great story, as well as the realism it portrays towards the sport. In this anime, we will find the story of two brothers, one who has reached the professional level and is treated as a prodigy, and the other who is just going to enter high school and has lost his complete interest in the sport because of the constant comparing and expectation he has faced regarding himself after seeing his brother. Though everything changes when he gets into high school, as he finds new friends who give him hope and make soccer again fun for them and the boy is all set to prove to everyone, how good and better he is than his brother.
Where to watch: This anime series is currently available for streaming online on 9anime and many other online anime streaming websites.
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4. Whistle!
Now, this anime series bears a great similarity to Kaneda from Ao Ashi because we all know how Kaneda used to lack in his skill and didn’t get into Espirion, but then he transferred to Musashino and rapidly improved. So, this is the same story, a guy who has got the sheer determination to be a pro player someday, and that is why he has decided to shine his skills in a small high school after transferring from a very named school and that is the place where he meets new players, great teachers and many other characters who help him climb slowly to the top and achieve everything he has dreamt in his life. Overall, a great and inspiring story for every soccer player out there.
Where to watch: This anime series is currently available for streaming on the Amazon Prime Videos Platform.
5. Ginga E Kickoff
Now this anime series though being based on football hasn’t been very liked by all anime fans out there and hasn’t been very much realistic too, however still the ratings are huge and you can surely give it a try. The animation quality is quite moderate being an anime from 2012 and it follows the story of Shou Oota who is the captain of his school football team, however, somehow due to certain complications his team gets disbanded and he has lost his all motivation. Though meeting with a famous professional football player, changes everything and he is all set to bring in new players and start his team again, and set on the journey to achieve glory, with the preliminary rounds of the school tournament approaching fats. But the only question that remains by the end is whether he will be successful or miss by just a few numbers.
Where to watch: This anime series is currently available for streaming on 9anime and many other online anime streaming platforms.
6. Aoki Densetsu Shoot
Now this anime is another classic legendary anime on our list and though being an anime from the 1900s, the story and the animation quality have been really good comparatively. The anime follows the story of a trio, a group of three friends, who have been in love with the sport of soccer since childhood and now they have come together again in high school to chase their dream with new friends, new teachers, and new people around them. This anime series is just a football journey of a friend group with great adventures and very realistic matches that you will truly enjoy. This series has also received many great ratings from notable sites.
Where to watch: This anime series is currently available for streaming on 9anime and many other online anime streaming platforms.
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7. Area No Kishi
Now this anime series has been a very notable name when it came to sports anime and has also been showered with love from fans all over the world. One of the biggest reasons for the hype behind this anime is the brother story it mainly portrays. The anime series is based on two brothers and as usual, we all know how much all otakus love brother bonds, and this anime shows how two brothers, who love the sport of soccer and with their other friends from an early age have the same aim to represent their county in the world cup one day and for that, they have new hurdles every now and then to face and they have to go through fierce training and extreme mental stability.
Where to watch: This anime series is currently available for streaming on 9anime and many other online anime streaming platforms.
8. Haikyu
Now as there haven’t already been many animes based on football, we still found many other names that were notable enough but the reviews regarding those shows were absolutely not worth it, and thus we may change the sport but something that is going to stay constant is the spirit of sports. Haikyu has already been one of the most notable names in the world of sports anime and if you don’t know, it’s actually a volleyball-based anime where we see the team Karasuno rising back to their golden years, with their child prodigy Kageyama and a great player with extreme determination Hinata.
Where to watch: This anime series is currently available on the Netflix streaming platform
9. Free!
Now we will move to another sport which has been very famous in the anime genre and that is swimming. Free came out just a few years back and when it comes to sports anime, it has been treated as one of the greatest of all time. Free follows the story of a naturally gifted swimmer who has joined his high school swimming club with new friends and is all set to compete against his childhood rival who has gone to his rival school.
Where to watch: This anime series is currently available for streaming on 9anime and many other online anime streaming platforms.
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10. Kuroko’s Basketball
Now, this has been again referred to as one of the greatest animes of all time and if you have been an otaku for some time, you surely have heard of this anime, Kuroko No Basket, which has been the greatest basketball anime series of all time and follows the story of a generation of miracle with 6 students who have got incredible abilities and used to be together in secondary school and now in high school they have parted ways and forgot the meaning of team play as them consider themselves to be the best, but that is where one of the members comes and Kuroko ends up chasing everything.
Where to watch: This anime series is currently available on the Netflix streaming platform.
11. Victory Kickoff
Now moving back to the football genre, this has been another football anime series that may not be very much appreciated but is actually very good. The story hasn’t got anything unique but is very touchy at some point, we see an association football team formed by elementary school players, and they have all got big dreams, and to end up being pros someday and that is what the story revolves around.
Where to watch: This anime series is currently available for streaming on 9anime and many other online anime streaming platforms.
12. Tsurune
Now though being from the sports genre, if you are looking for an anime with excellent graphics and songs, this anime is just made for you. However, the sports that have been concentrated in this anime series are very uncommon, Tsurune is based on Kyudo, or as we may say archery, and it follows the story of a great archer, who ends up facing a big shock after his last middle school tournament and decides to quit practising the sport. However, everything changes in high school as his new friends pull him up and push him to achieve his dreams.
Where to watch: This anime series is currently available for streaming on 9anime and many other online anime streaming platforms.
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13. Captain Tsubasa
We again move back to the football sector, where we find this anime to have received quite great ratings and though it is dating back to the 1980s, there are many fans of this anime all over the world. It tells us the story of an 11 years old kid who is the captain of his school team, which is in a different town from where he used to live at first, and now to fulfill his dream of playing in the world cup, he goes on pushing his team to be the best out there.
Where to watch: This anime series is currently available for streaming on 9anime and many other online anime streaming platforms.
14. Slam Dunk
When it comes to sports anime, this legendary anime can’t is forgotten from the list anyhow, slam dunk has been one of the greatest basketball animes of all time, and it’s basically a basketball team story with great players and great and realistic animation. Overall, a great show and worth a watch for sports lovers out there.
Where to watch: This anime series is currently available for streaming on 9anime and many other online anime streaming platforms.
15. Moero! Top Striker
The last one on our list is a football anime too and tells us the story of a football enthusiast who has travelled to Europe to learn the sport and ends up joining a small week team in which he ends up pushing himself and the others out there to achieve greater skills and club glory.
Where to watch: This anime series is currently available for streaming on 9anime and many other online anime streaming platforms.
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