Raw Emotion in Sports Anime

Normally, I don't much care for sports, nor do I care for anime that much. (I feel like I'll lose my credibility saying that since I've already made two other blog posts about anime, but I swear it's true! I am not a weeaboo!) I have a casual interest in basketball, as it's the only team sport I've ever played personally, though only in elementary school. Basketball in entertaining and I have a college team that I root for when I bother to watch it. Aside from that, I couldn't care less about athletics. I only exercise to keep myself in shape, not because I derive any enjoyment from it.

That said, lately I have fallen into watching sports anime, specifically Haikyuu!! and Free! Iwatobi Swim Club, which are about volleyball and swimming (obviously) respectively. Swimming is a form of physical activity that I can pretty well tolerate, but of course, I've never done it competitively. In fact, I've never learned proper form. And volleyball is something I've only ever played in gym class or in youth group. Neither setting was really fit for serious competition. The point I'm making is that I know virtually nothing about either of these sports, and yet I find the shows incredibly enthralling!

What is it about sports anime that makes it so entertaining? I think it's because it's so earnest. The characters of sports anime are all driven and passionate. They talk about their sport with determination, as though their high school sports team is the most important thing on the planet. That kind of enthusiasm is contagious. It infects other characters in the show and it stirs me. I'm not about to join a volleyball club or try to find a swim coach, but it does make me feel motivated, even if the feeling is only fleeting.

I also appreciate the simple plot lines. In sports anime, the major conflict always revolves around the game, the meet, the tournament. There aren't crazy twists and turns. It's straight-forward. Of course, there can be tension between players on the team, and individual players may have personal short-comings to overcome, but that just enriches the show and gives you reason to connect with the characters. It's not unexpected. It's healthy drama that only serves to make the team stronger. It's not usually very depressing or burdensome to watch. The worst thing to happen typically is the team losing a game or a race.

The characters are mostly male, which I don't really mind, even as a female viewer. (In the show Free!, I think the characters being mostly male is actually an advantage, since it's kind of fan-servicey). The thing that's nice about them being mostly guys is that they're so unexpectedly expressive and emotive. It's refreshing to see a show where boy characters are open about their feelings and lean on each other for strength. It's rare to see that in most media. Free! is actually more about these interpersonal relationships than it is about swimming. Even characters who are supposed to be cool still cry openly. They tell each other how important they are to each other. They give each other purpose and passion. It's really moving.

Artistically, watching sports anime is really inspiring. Haikyuu!! in particular features really dynamic action sequences of characters running, jumping, and spiking. The animation isn't stiff at all and really makes me want to become better at drawing fluid poses. It's incredibly expressive: it's like I can feel how hard they strike the ball, just from the way their arms bend and snap toward it.

Finally, the soundtracks absolutely slap. I've been listening to the background music from Haikyuu!! while I write fanfiction, and I'm listening to it right now as I type this. The theme songs from both shows get me really amped up, especially when I actually watch the opening sequences. I was in awe when I watched the season three opening of Haikyuu!! for the first time. It perfectly combined the music and snappy, dynamic animation. It was incredibly impressive.

In summary, even though I'm a grown woman with no interest in sports, well-animated shows about high school athletic clubs can still be a source of entertainment and inspiration!