Top Swimming Anime Recommendations

Free!

Also known as Free! -Iwatobi Swim Club-.

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

The story revolves around Haruka Nanase, a boy who has always loved to be immersed in water, and to swim in it. Before graduating from elementary school, he participated in a swimming tournament along with his fellow swimming club members, Makoto Tachibana, Nagisa Hazuki, and Rin Matsuoka. After achieving victory, each of the boys went their separate ways.

Time passed, and in the middle of their uneventful high school lives Rin appears and challenges Haruka to a match, showing Haruka his overwhelming power. Not wanting it to end like this, Haruka, gathers together Makoto and Nagisa once again and brings a new member named Rei Ryugazaki to create the Iwatobi High School Swimming Club in order to defeat Rin.



Tags: Swimming , School Club , Primarily Male Cast , Male Protagonist , Cute Boys Doing Cute Things , Coming of Age , Primarily Teen Cast , School , Bisexual

Gake no Ue no Ponyo

Also known as Ponyo.

Studio: Studio Ghibli
Status: Finished
Genres: Adventure , Fantasy

A young boy named Sosuke rescues a goldfish named Ponyo, and they embark on a fantastic journey of friendship and discovery before Ponyo's father, a powerful sorcerer, forces her to return to her home in the sea. But Ponyo's desire to be human upsets the delicate balance of nature and triggers a gigantic storm. Only Ponyo's mother, a beautiful sea goddess, can restore nature's balance and make Ponyo's dreams come true.



Tags: Environmental , Primarily Child Cast , Rural , Magic , Coastal , Anthropomorphism , Natural Disaster , Urban Fantasy , Ships , Female Protagonist , Family Life , Kids , Male Protagonist , Gods , Swimming , Mermaid , Chibi

Itai no wa Iya nano de Bougyoryoku ni Kyokufuri Shitai to Omoimasu.

Also known as BOFURI: I Don't Want to Get Hurt, so I'll Max Out My Defense..

Studio: SILVER LINK.
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Adventure , Comedy , Fantasy , Slice of Life

The story centers on Kaede Honjou, who is invited by her friend Risa Shiramine to play a virtual reality MMO game with her. While Kaede doesn't dislike games, what she really, truly dislikes is being in pain. She creates a character named Maple, and decides to put all her points in VIT to minimize pain. As a result, she moves slowly, can't use magic, and even a rabbit can get the best of her. However, as it turns out, she acquires a skill known as "Absolute Defense" as a result of her pumping points into VIT, as well as a "Counter Skill" that works against special moves. Now, with her ability to nullify all damage, she goes on adventures.



Tags: Video Games , Virtual World , Female Protagonist , Cute Girls Doing Cute Things , Primarily Female Cast , Magic , Henshin , Parody , Animals , Swordplay , Primarily Teen Cast , Battle Royale , Twins , Episodic , Samurai , Monster Girl , Swimming , Steampunk , CGI , Robots , Isekai , Fishing

Dr. STONE: NEW WORLD

Also known as Dr. STONE New World.

Studio: TMS Entertainment
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Adventure , Comedy , Sci-Fi

The third season of Dr. STONE.

Senku and the Kingdom of Science sail to new lands to uncover more scientific secrets!



Tags: Post-Apocalyptic , Survival , Educational , Male Protagonist , Shounen , Primarily Male Cast , Lost Civilization , Ships , Ensemble Cast , Conspiracy , Found Family , Travel , Espionage , Agriculture , Spearplay , Food , Butler , Amnesia , CGI , Asexual , War , Crossdressing , Aliens , Swimming , Chibi

Nagi no Asukara

Also known as A Lull in the Sea (Nagi-Asu: Nagi no Asukara).

Studio: P.A. Works
Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Fantasy , Romance , Slice of Life

Since long ago, human civilization had lived on the ocean floor. However, there were many humans who wanted to live above the surface and they moved to land creating a fundamental separation between the two. After their school closes down, four 14-year-old middle school students from the sea village, Shioshishio, have to attend Mihama Middle School on the surface. What follows is their struggles to adjust to a new environment and the relationships between the sea and land people, while dealing with their own newfound feelings that have just started appearing with the end of their childhood.



Tags: Love Triangle , Coming of Age , Time Skip , Heterosexual , Coastal , Tragedy , Ensemble Cast , Environmental , Gods , School , Age Gap , Amnesia , Lost Civilization , Swimming , Primarily Child Cast , Fishing , Male Protagonist

Bokutachi wa Benkyou ga Dekinai

Also known as We Never Learn: BOKUBEN.

Studio: Studio Silver , Arvo Animation
Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy , Ecchi , Romance , Slice of Life

His late father always said that a useless man should strive to be useful, so to that end, third-year high school student Nariyuki Yuiga dedicated himself to becoming a high-achieving student in his school, despite his history of poor grades. In order to give his destitute family a better life, his ultimate goal is to obtain the special VIP nomination, a prestigious scholarship covering all future university tuition fees. Although Nariyuki could feasibly be a shoe-in for the nomination, he is constantly overshadowed by classmates Rizu Ogata and Fumino Furuhashi in mathematics and literature, respectively.

To his delight, Nariyuki receives the nomination, but there’s a catch: he has to tutor his two star classmates, who are each hopelessly mediocre at the other’s subject of expertise! To make matters worse, the subjects they are horrible at are the same subjects they want to pursue for their future. As the time to submit university applications draws nearer, Nariyuki must find an effective tutoring method for the girls before it’s too late.



Tags: Female Harem , Slapstick , School , Male Protagonist , Primarily Female Cast , Heterosexual , Coming of Age , Swimming , Teacher , Tanned Skin , Kuudere , Tsundere , Tomboy , Maids , Shounen

GOLDEN BOY: Sasurai no Obenkyou Yarou

Also known as GOLDEN BOY.

Studio: APPP
Status: Finished
Genres: Adventure , Comedy , Ecchi

Kintarou Oe doesn't look like it, but he is a genius who completed all his university courses and then quit before graduating. He becomes a wandering student, going from place to place on his bicycle, seeking to learn what he can about life, the world, and women. He is willing and able to do any job he has to prove himself. His travels take him to a variety of locations and a variety of women, each who learns to love the hardworking guy, but not before he can run off.



Tags: Episodic , Work , Seinen , Satire , Male Protagonist , Travel , Female Harem , Cycling , Heterosexual , Nudity , Meta , Motorcycles , Software Development , Office Lady , Tanned Skin , Swimming , Yakuza , Primarily Adult Cast

Kimi to, Nami ni Noretara

Also known as Ride Your Wave.

Studio: Science SARU
Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Fantasy , Romance

Upon entering university, Hinako moves to a coastal town. She loves surfing, and when she's on the waves she's fearless, but still feels uncertain about her future. When a fire wreaks havoc in the town, Hinako encounters young firefighter Minato. As they surf and spend more time together, Hinako feels drawn to someone like Minato who devotes himself to helping other people. Hinako also holds a special place in Minato's heart.


Tags: Tragedy , Surfing , Coming of Age , Female Protagonist , Ghost , Afterlife , Heterosexual , Urban Fantasy , Coastal , Swimming , Firefighters , Primarily Adult Cast , Tsundere , Urban , Male Protagonist , Work , CGI , College

Free!: Eternal Summer

Also known as Free! -Eternal Summer-.

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

Even though it has been a year since the Iwatobi High School Swim Club has been created, new members have yet to join the club. Now that Haruka Nanase and Makoto Tachibana are senior students, along with their younger friends Nagisa Hazuki and Rei Ryuugazaki, they have to find a way to attract new members. If not, the club will be forced to close the following year due to a lack of membership.

Meanwhile, with impending graduation, it is also time for the seniors to decide their plans for the future. Unlike their friend Rin Matsuoka, the new captain of Samezuka Academy Swim Club who is determined to fulfill his dream of being a professional swimmer, Haruka and Makoto are unsure about what career path they want to take.

Further problems arise when an old friend of Rin's, Sousuke Yamazaki, comes to the city to study at Samezuka Academy; the recently scouted swimmer's arrival causes tension in the relationship among him, Rin, and Haruka.

[Written by MAL Rewrite]

Tags: Swimming , School Club , Primarily Male Cast , Male Protagonist , Coming of Age , Kuudere , Primarily Teen Cast , School , Rehabilitation , Foreign

Amagami SS

Also known as Amagami SS.

Studio: AIC
Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy , Romance , Slice of Life

Two years ago, Junichi Tachibana had his heart broken by a girl who stood him up on a date on Christmas Eve. Now a second-year student in high school, Junichi is wary of love because of his past and dislikes celebrating Christmas. However this Christmas, his encounter with one of six girls from his school: Haruka Morishima, Kaoru Tanamachi, Sae Nakata, Ai Nanasaki, Rihoko Sakurai, or Tsukasa Ayatsuji will finally open up his heart to love again.

Tags: Ensemble Cast , School , Male Protagonist , Heterosexual , Alternate Universe , Primarily Female Cast , Kuudere , Female Harem , School Club , Time Manipulation , Swimming

Sword Art Online: Extra Edition

Also known as Sword Art Online EXTRA EDITION.

Studio: A-1 Pictures
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Adventure , Fantasy , Romance

Yui wants to see a whale with Kirito during an underwater quest in Alfeim Online. During the quest however, it is revealed Leafa cannot swim. Asuna and the other female characters decide to train Suguha in a real-world pool to help her in ALO. Meanwhile, Kirito meets a certain someone.

Tags: Virtual World , Isekai , Video Games , Primarily Female Cast , Male Protagonist , Love Triangle , Female Harem , Female Protagonist , Primarily Teen Cast , Heterosexual , Swimming

BECK

Also known as Beck: Mongolian Chop Squad.

Studio: MADHOUSE
Status: Finished
Genres: Comedy , Drama , Music , Slice of Life

Tanaka Yukio, better known by his nickname Koyuki is a 14 year old who feels disconnected from life in general. Through the act of saving a mismatched dog, he meets guitarist Minami Ryuusuke, and becomes involved in Ryuusuke's new band BECK. Koyuki's life starts to change as the band struggles towards fame.


Tags: Band , Coming of Age , Urban , Rock Music , School , Primarily Male Cast , Male Protagonist , Bullying , Female Protagonist , Shounen , Ensemble Cast , Love Triangle , Baseball , Gyaru , Hip-hop Music , Swimming

Uchiage Hanabi, Shita kara Miru ka? Yoko kara Miru ka?

Also known as Fireworks.

Studio: Shaft
Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Romance , Supernatural

The film is set on one day during summer vacation, and follows a group of boys who try to view a fireworks display from the town lighthouse to see if they look round or flat when viewed from the side. Meanwhile, one of the boys, Norimichi, receives an invitation from his crush Nazuna to run away with her.



Tags: Time Manipulation , Alternate Universe , Heterosexual , Urban Fantasy , Philosophy , Rural , Coming of Age , Male Protagonist , Primarily Teen Cast , School , POV , Swimming , Love Triangle

Akebi-chan no Sailor Fuku

Also known as Akebi’s Sailor Uniform.

Studio: CloverWorks
Status: Finished
Genres: Slice of Life

It’s Komichi Akebi’s first year of junior high and she has her heart set on one thing: Robai Private Academy’s sailor uniform. As the next chapter of her life gets closer, she dreams of all the exciting new experiences she’ll get to have—school lunches, classes, club activities, and of course, making lots of friends! With her favorite outfit on, Komichi feels ready for anything.



Tags: Female Protagonist , Cute Girls Doing Cute Things , Primarily Female Cast , School , Rural , Feet , Coming of Age , Iyashikei , Primarily Teen Cast , Ensemble Cast , Episodic , Family Life , Seinen , School Club , Slapstick , Tennis , Cheerleading , Swimming , Volleyball , Tomboy , Fishing , Primarily Child Cast

Free!: Dive to the Future

Also known as Free! -Dive to the Future-.

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

Haruka Nanase, now attending college in Tokyo, has an unexpected encounter with Shiina Asahi, an old friend and teammate from his middle school years. This encounter leads old and painful memories to resurface, while new challenges await on the road to competing on an international level.

Tags: Swimming , Male Protagonist , Primarily Adult Cast , Primarily Male Cast , School Club , Cute Boys Doing Cute Things , Foreign , College , Tomboy , Time Skip

Medaka Box

Also known as Medaka Box.

Studio: Gainax
Status: Finished
Genres: Action , Comedy

When newly elected Student Council President Medaka Kurokami institutes her idea for a suggestion box where people can submit problems that need to be solved, she's expecting things like rescuing lost puppies and giving advice. What she and her best friend Zenkichi find instead, however, are the first hints of an unbelievable secret, and their school, Hakoniwa Academy, and Medaka herself are somehow at the very center of the growing maelstrom! As what seemed like an innocent past time turns into a dangerous game, Medaka and her recruits to the Student Council discover new depths to both themselves and their own unexpected abilities. And then things get really out of control!



Tags: School , Super Power , Martial Arts , Female Protagonist , Primarily Teen Cast , Shounen , Swimming , Judo

Hyouka: Motsubeki Mono wa

Also known as Hyouka: What Should Be Had.

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

Was bundled with the third volume of the manga.

It's another regular day, with Houtarou Oreki sitting at home as usual; that is until his sister Tomoe ropes him into working as a lifeguard at the local swimming pool. Upon reaching the pool, Oreki coincidentally meets the other members of the Classics Club. Eru Chitanda notices that a white object that was on a woman's ear a while ago suddenly disappeared, which leaves her curious about the mystery behind it.

Hyouka: Motsubeki Mono wa features Oreki and the rest of the Classics Club as they have fun at the pool and solve the mystery that has piqued Chitanda's curiosity.



Tags: Detective , Work , Male Protagonist , Primarily Teen Cast , Tsundere , Female Protagonist , School Club , Swimming , Nudity

Kaijuu no Kodomo

Also known as Children of the Sea.

Studio: Studio 4°C
Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Mystery , Supernatural

One summer vacation, Ruka meets two boys, "Umi" and "Sora," whose upbringing contains strange and wonderful secrets. Drawn to their beautiful swimming, almost more like flying, Ruka and the adults who know them are intertwined in a complex mesh...
Meanwhile, an unexplained anomaly is occurring all over the world: fish are disappearing. Thus begins a marine adventure of boys and girls to captivate all the senses!

Tags: Philosophy , Primarily Child Cast , Space , Environmental , Animals , Cosmic Horror , Female Protagonist , Coming of Age , Mythology , Swimming , Seinen , Astronomy , Urban , CGI , Bullying , Ships , Kaiju , Monster Boy , Handball , Amnesia

RE-MAIN

Also known as RE-MAIN.

Studio: MAPPA
Status: Finished
Genres: Drama , Sports

Just after winning a national water polo title in his third year of junior high, a car accident left Minato Kiyomizu in a coma. Nearly a year passes before he awakes, but with no memory of his last school year. Now in high school with a fresh start, he leaves the sport behind, but a promise has him returning to it. However, his new team is weak, and that’s just a sign for more problems to come.



Tags: School Club , Swimming , Male Protagonist , Amnesia , Primarily Male Cast , Tragedy , School , Anti-Hero , Cute Boys Doing Cute Things , Primarily Teen Cast , Ensemble Cast , Family Life , Tanned Skin , Suicide

Sounan desu ka?

Also known as Are You Lost?.

Studio: Ezo’la
Status: Finished
Genres: Adventure , Comedy , Ecchi

Because of a plane crash … starting today, we're spending the springtime of our lives on a desert island!! There's nothing here, so we have to make everything!! And eat everything!! (Ugh!) Check out our high-school-girl survival story of courage and knowledge. We're actually doing pretty well! We learn how to eat cicadas, how to build traps, a simple allergy test, how to eat hermit crabs, etc.



Tags: Survival , Primarily Female Cast , Coastal , Educational , Cute Girls Doing Cute Things , Primarily Teen Cast , Seinen , Nudity , Gyaru , Fishing , Swimming