Top Football Anime Recommendations

Shigatsu wa Kimi no Uso

Also known as Your lie in April.

Studio: A-1 Pictures
Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Music , Romance , Slice of Life

Piano prodigy Arima Kousei dominated the competition and all child musicians knew his name. But after his mother, who was also his instructor, passed away, he had a mental breakdown while performing at a recital. This resulted in him no longer being able to hear the sound of his piano playing. Two years later, Kousei hasn’t touched the piano and views the world without any flair or color. He was content at living out his life with his good friends Tsubaki and Watari until, one day, a girl changed everything. Miyazono Kaori is a pretty, free spirited violinist whose playing style reflects her personality. Kaori helps Kousei return to the music world and show that it should be free and mold breaking unlike the structured and rigid style Kousei was used to.

Tags: Tragedy , Disability , Primarily Teen Cast , Coming of Age , Classical Music , Rehabilitation , Male Protagonist , Female Protagonist , Unrequited Love , Love Triangle , Heterosexual , School , Philosophy , CGI , Tomboy , Suicide , Shounen , Slapstick , Football

Blue Lock

Also known as BLUE LOCK.

Studio: 8-bit
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Drama , Sports

Japan’s desire for World Cup glory leads the Japanese Football Association to launch a new rigorous training program to find the national team’s next striker. Three hundred high school players are pitted against each other for the position, but only one will come out on top. Who among them will be the striker to usher in a new era of Japanese soccer?



Tags: Football , Male Protagonist , Shounen , Athletics , Primarily Male Cast , Battle Royale , Primarily Teen Cast , Ensemble Cast , Super Power , Revenge , Augmented Reality , CGI , Tragedy , Acting , Language Barrier

Nichijou

Also known as Nichijou - My Ordinary Life.

Studio: Kyoto Animation
Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy , Slice of Life

Nichijou primarily focuses on the daily antics of a trio of childhood friends—high school girls Mio Naganohara, Yuuko Aioi and Mai Minakami—whose stories soon intertwine with the young genius Hakase Shinonome, her robot caretaker Nano, and their talking cat Sakamoto. With every passing day, the lives of these six, as well as of the many people around them, experience both the calms of normal life and the insanity of the absurd. Walking to school, being bitten by a talking crow, spending time with friends, and watching the principal suplex a deer: they are all in a day's work in the extraordinary everyday lives of those in Nichijou.

[Written by MAL Rewrite]

Tags: Surreal Comedy , Episodic , Slapstick , School , Female Protagonist , Ensemble Cast , Primarily Female Cast , Primarily Teen Cast , Achronological Order , Parody , Cute Girls Doing Cute Things , Robots , Shounen , Drawing , Tsundere , Guns , Football , Love Triangle

Kimi ni Todoke

Also known as Kimi ni Todoke: From Me to You.

Studio: Production I.G
Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy , Drama , Romance , Slice of Life

Kuronuma Sawako is completely misunderstood by her classmates. Her timid and sweet demeanor is often mistaken for malicious behavior. This is due to her resemblance to the ghost girl from "The Ring", which has led her peers to give her the nickname Sadako. Longing to make friends and live a normal life, she is naturally drawn to Kazehaya Shouta, the most popular guy in class, whose "100% refreshing" personality earns him great admiration from Sawako. So when Kazehaya starts talking to her, maybe there is hope for the friendships Sawako has always longed for. Maybe...there is even a little hope for some romance in her future.

Tags: Shoujo , Female Protagonist , Coming of Age , School , Primarily Teen Cast , Heterosexual , Kuudere , Love Triangle , Bullying , Tsundere , Chibi , Tomboy , Unrequited Love , Gyaru , Baseball , Football

GREAT PRETENDER

Also known as Great Pretender.

Studio: Wit Studio
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Comedy , Drama , Thriller

Self-styled “Japan's greatest swindler” Makoto Edamura is mainly targeting elder people and occasional foreign travelers. But when he tries to scam an apparently clueless French tourist in Tokyo, he can't possibly imagine that what looked like just another ordinary job is going to take him all the way to Los Angeles, tied upside-down on the famous Hollywood sign… And he is yet to find out what fate awaits him!



Tags: Crime , Anti-Hero , Foreign , Primarily Adult Cast , Male Protagonist , Urban , Work , Mafia , Language Barrier , Triads , Filmmaking , Drawing , Drugs , Gangs , Acting , Heterosexual , Aviation , Tragedy , Bisexual , Slavery , Tomboy , Detective , Nudity , LGBTQ+ Themes , War , Mahjong , Baseball , Tanned Skin , Guns , Terrorism , Football , Boys' Love

Kawaii dake ja Nai Shikimori-san

Also known as Shikimori's Not Just a Cutie.

Studio: Doga Kobo
Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy , Romance , Slice of Life

The ultimate "heartthrob girlfriend" appears! Naturally unlucky high school student Izumi's girlfriend is his classmate Shikimori. She has a beautiful smile and kind personality and always seems happy when she's with Izumi. She's a pretty, cute, and loving girlfriend, but when Izumi's in trouble… she transforms into a super cool "heartthrob girlfriend!" The fun lives of the cute and cool Shikimori, Izumi, and their good friends never end!



Tags: Heterosexual , Primarily Teen Cast , Female Protagonist , Male Protagonist , Iyashikei , Tomboy , School , Episodic , Coming of Age , Athletics , Kuudere , Tsundere , Shounen , Meta , Basketball , Gender Bending , Love Triangle , Football , Martial Arts

Gamers!

Also known as GAMERS!.

Studio: PINE JAM
Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy , Drama , Romance , Slice of Life

Keita Amano is a fan of one thing: gaming! Whether he’s on his phone or console, he just loves playing video games. And when the beautiful president of the game club, Karen Tendou, invites him to join, it seems like an EZ choice. Except, he declines! KO’d by the shock, Karen suddenly makes getting close to Amano her main quest. But she’s not the only one interested in him!



Tags: Love Triangle , Video Games , School , Parody , Slapstick , Otaku Culture , Heterosexual , Primarily Teen Cast , School Club , Meta , Tsundere , E-Sports , Nudity , Football

Kobayashi-san Chi no Maidragon S

Also known as Miss Kobayashi's Dragon Maid S.

Studio: Kyoto Animation
Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy , Fantasy , Slice of Life

A strange turn of events leads the Dragon, Tohru, to work as Miss Kobayashi's maid. She occasionally (that's a lie, she often) causes trouble for her beloved Miss Kobayashi while blending into human society and splendidly (that's a lie, only mediocrely) carrying out her maid duties. Her fellow dragons, Kanna, Lucoa, Fafnir, and Elma all find their own places to fit in as well and enjoy interspecies interactions with the humans. Yet while they're all enjoying that laid-back and occasionally turbulent left, the threat of a new Dragon swoops down upon Miss Kobayashi.



Tags: Dragons , Female Protagonist , Monster Girl , Family Life , Found Family , Primarily Female Cast , Maids , Cute Girls Doing Cute Things , Magic , Large Breasts , Urban Fantasy , Seinen , Yuri , Work , Otaku Culture , LGBTQ+ Themes , Office Lady , Philosophy , Nudity , Isekai , Football , Parody , Kemonomimi , Outdoor , Foreign

Kumo desu ga, Nani ka?

Also known as So I'm a Spider, So What?.

Studio: Millepensee , exsa
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Adventure , Comedy , Fantasy , Mystery

I, the protagonist, was just an ordinary high school girl, but suddenly I was reincarnated as a spider monster in a fantasy world. Not only that, but I awakened in a dungeon filled with vicious monsters. Armed with only my human knowledge and my overwhelming positivity, I'm forced to use spiderwebs and traps to defeat far stronger monsters just to stay alive... So begins the labyrinth survival story of a girl with incredible mental strength living as one of the lowest-ranked beasts!



Tags: Isekai , Reincarnation , Monster Girl , Achronological Order , Female Protagonist , Survival , Magic , Anti-Hero , CGI , War , Conspiracy , Demons , Time Skip , Dungeon , Post-Apocalyptic , Gore , Dissociative Identities , Cannibalism , Female Harem , Gender Bending , Vampire , Meta , Transgender , Football , Fishing , LGBTQ+ Themes

Blue Lock VS. U-20 JAPAN

Also known as BLUE LOCK Season 2.

Studio: 8-bit
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Drama , Sports

The second season of Blue Lock.

The hottest soccer matches start again as the U-20 Japan National Team makes their debut!



Tags: Football , Male Protagonist , Shounen , CGI , Battle Royale , Ensemble Cast , Primarily Male Cast , Primarily Teen Cast , Revenge , Estranged Family , Torture , Surreal Comedy , Tanned Skin , Snowscape

Koukyoushihen Eureka Seven

Also known as Eureka Seven.

Studio: bones
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Adventure , Drama , Mecha , Romance , Sci-Fi

Renton is a teenager trapped working as a mechanic in a backwater town. He dreams of joining up with a daredevil group of pilots known as Gekkostate and following in his father's heroic footsteps.

When a mysterious beauty named Eureka shows up asking for a tune-up, Renton soon finds himself drawn into a high-flying mecha dogfight that makes him a target of the military. When the dust settles on the spectacular battle, Renton is invited to join Gekkostate, but he soon discovers that even a dream come true has a dark side.



Tags: Environmental , Coming of Age , Heterosexual , Politics , Super Robot , Philosophy , Surfing , Found Family , Tragedy , Real Robot , War , Military , Ensemble Cast , Terrorism , Kuudere , Aviation , Anti-Hero , Female Protagonist , Male Protagonist , Primarily Adult Cast , Aliens , Guns , Bullying , Clone , Ships , Tanned Skin , Unrequited Love , Parenthood , Football , Nudity , Episodic , Suicide

Aoashi

Also known as Aoashi.

Studio: Production I.G
Status: Finished
Genres: Sports

Ashito Aoi is a young, aspiring soccer player from a backwater town in Japan. His hopes of getting into a high school with a good soccer club are dashed when he causes an incident during a critical match for his team, which results in their loss and elimination from the tournament. Nevertheless, he catches the eye of someone important who happened to be visiting from Tokyo. How will things turn out for Ashito?



Tags: Football , Male Protagonist , Primarily Teen Cast , Primarily Male Cast , Seinen , Ensemble Cast , Heterosexual , Coming of Age , School , Bullying , Time Skip

Meitantei Conan

Also known as Case Closed.

Studio: TMS Entertainment
Status: Releasing
Genres: Adventure , Comedy , Mystery , Psychological

Kudo Shinichi is a seventeen year-old high school detective whom people call the "Modern Sherlock Holmes." However, one night after a date with his childhood sweetheart, Ran, Shinichi witnessed an illegal trade and, caught off his guard, was knocked unconscious and fed a drug that was supposed to kill him... but he woke up and found himself shrunken to a seven year-old. In order to track down the men who did this to him, Shinichi hid his identity and lived with Ran, whose father happened to be a hopeless detective, and with that came a series of murders and mysteries that he must solve.



Note:
- Includes Keisatsu Gakkou-hen - Wild Police Story in episodes 1029, 1038, 1042, 1061
- Episodes 11, 52, 76, 118, 162, 184, 208, 342, 356, 449, 452, 487, 488, 489, 490, 515, 516, 521, 522, 651, 734, 804, 805, 927, 928 aired with a runtime of ~50 minutes as opposed to the standard 25 minute long episode.
- Episodes 96, 129, 174, 219, 263, 304, 383, 479 aired with a runtime of ~90 minutes as opposed to the standard 25 minute long episode.
- Episode 345, 425 aired with a runtime of ~115 minutes as opposed to the standard 25 minute long episode.


Tags: Detective , Tragedy , Crime , Espionage , Age Regression , Conspiracy , Police , Male Protagonist , Fugitive , Ensemble Cast , Episodic , Primarily Teen Cast , Criminal Organization , Shounen , Primarily Adult Cast , Heterosexual , School , Educational , Tsundere , Crossover , Tanned Skin , Love Triangle , Football , Martial Arts , Ojou-sama , Female Harem , Tomboy , Karuta , Magic , Idol , CGI , Video Games

xxxHOLiC

Also known as xxxHOLiC.

Studio: Production I.G
Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy , Drama , Horror , Mystery , Psychological , Supernatural

Watanuki Kimihiro can see spirits and other assorted supernatural creatures, which is quite a bothersome ability he strongly dislikes. On the way home one day, while plagued by some spirits, he is inexplicably compelled to enter a strange house. There, he encounters Yuuko, a mysterious woman who claims to be able to rid him of the ability to see and attract the troublesome creatures – for a price. She demands for him to work at her "store" that grants wishes to people, and thus begins Watanuki's adventures through weird and wonderful events.

Tags: Mythology , Urban Fantasy , Youkai , Male Protagonist , Episodic , Philosophy , Seinen , Animals , Ghost , Denpa , Work , School , Gods , Twins , Archery , Ensemble Cast , Football , Orphan

Inazuma Eleven

Studio: OLM
Status: Finished
Genres: Sports

The main character, Endou Mamoru, is a very talented goalkeeper and the grandson of one of the strongest goalkeepers in Japan, who died before he was born. Even though his skills are incredible his school lacks a real soccer club as the 6 other members don't appear very interested even in training. But as soon as a mysterious forward called Gouenji moves to Endou's town, the young goalkeeper sets out to find and recruit members for his soccer team.



Tags: Football , Super Power , Kids , Ensemble Cast , Primarily Teen Cast , Male Protagonist , School Club , Primarily Child Cast , Primarily Male Cast , Aliens , School , Dissociative Identities , Drugs , Gods

Keppeki Danshi! Aoyama-kun

Also known as Clean Freak! Aoyama kun.

Studio: Studio Hibari
Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy , Sports

Aoyama, the handsome young soccer genius that's a representative of Japan. His play style is "cleanliness." He doesn't tackle and doesn't head the ball. If he's doing a throw-in, he'll only do it if he's wearing gloves.



Tags: Male Protagonist , Slapstick , Football , School , Seinen , Disability , Chibi , School Club , Primarily Teen Cast , Primarily Child Cast , Asexual

Sarazanmai

Also known as Sarazanmai.

Studio: MAPPA , Lapin Track
Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy , Drama , Fantasy , Psychological , Supernatural

The stage is Asakusa. One day, three 2nd-year middle school students — Kazuki Yasaka, Tooi Kuji, and Enta Jinnai — meet a mysterious kappa-like creature named Keppi, who forcibly takes their shirikodama (a mythical organ kappa steal through a person's anus) and transforms the boys into kappa.

Keppi informs them, "If you wish to return to your former selves, you must connect in 'that way' and bring me the shirikodama of zombies." Will the three boys be able to connect as they steal shirikodama from zombies?! Meanwhile, two policemen — Reo Niiboshi and Mabu Akutsu — are up to something at the police box where they are stationed.



Tags: Satire , Shapeshifting , Surreal Comedy , Primarily Male Cast , Male Protagonist , Coming of Age , Urban Fantasy , Tragedy , Youkai , Philosophy , Henshin , Zombie , Police , Primarily Teen Cast , Musical Theater , Meta , Boys' Love , Cute Boys Doing Cute Things , LGBTQ+ Themes , Episodic , Slapstick , Crime , Crossdressing , Football , Suicide , Tanned Skin , Bisexual , Delinquents , Idol , Guns , Drugs , Nudity

Blue Lock: EPISODE Nagi

Also known as BLUE LOCK THE MOVIE -EPISODE NAGI-.

Studio: 8-bit
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Drama , Sports

My life was full of boredom. Until I met him.

“That’s a hassle.”
That was second-year high schooler Nagi Seishirou’s favorite phrase as he lived his dull life. Until Reo Mikage, a classmate who dreamed of winning the World Cup, discovered Nagi’s hidden skill, inspiring him to play soccer and share his outstanding talent. Nagi is pulled into Reo's world of soccer and out of his leisurely lifestyle. What fate awaits this prodigy in BLUE LOCK?: A world he’s never known.



Tags: Football , Battle Royale , Athletics , Male Protagonist , Shounen , Primarily Male Cast , Primarily Teen Cast , Ensemble Cast , Super Power , LGBTQ+ Themes , Disability , CGI , Philosophy , School , School Club

DAYS

Also known as DAYS.

Studio: MAPPA
Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy , Drama , Sports

The anime centers on two boys who were never meant to meet: Tsukushi Tsukamoto, who has no special skills but secretly hides a passionate heart, and Jin Kazama, an isolated soccer genius. On a stormy night, the two meet, and that meeting creates a whirlwind in the world of high school soccer.



Tags: Football , School , Shounen , Primarily Male Cast , School Club , Coming of Age , Bullying

Lupin III

Also known as Lupin the 3rd.

Studio: Tokyo Movie Shinsha
Status: Finished
Genres: Adventure , Comedy

Hard-boiled, cocky, classy and silly. These words only begin to describe the amazing master thief Lupin the Third. With the help of some quick gunplay by his partner Jigen, Lupin takes on the world in elaborate heists, classic car chases, and nasty explosions. Fujiko, a buxom redhead with a penchant for betrayal, always gets tangled up in Lupin's capers. The stoic but swift swordsman Goemon is just as inclined to kill Lupin as he is to help him. And Lupin can never seem to lose the relentless Tokyo Police Inspector Zenigata. What sort of trouble will this band of misfits get into next?



Tags: Seinen , Anti-Hero , Fugitive , Episodic , Crime , Male Protagonist , Guns , Primarily Adult Cast , Mafia , Detective , Cars , Police , Samurai , Travel , Crossdressing , Football , Yakuza , Prison