If you know even a little about anime, you must know that there is one on every subject. Romance, mystery, crime, sports, you name it. The inherent motive of this industry is that there should be something for everybody. And so, today, we will talk about some of the best volleyball anime every fan of the sport must watch!
In anime, sports have always been one of the most popular genres. The thrill one gets while watching characters play in court, combined with the entertainment of animation, gives us an amalgam nothing can beat.
Although there are so many different sports anime you can watch, our main focus today is going to be on volleyball!
Though not many anime series have been released focusing on this game, there indeed have been a few that became really popular and left their mark on the otaku world. So, if you’re a volleyball enthusiast, you’ll be pleasantly surprised to see our list featuring the best anime on volleyball. Let’s not waste any more time and get started!
Best Volleyball Anime to Watch in 2023
9. Attack on Tomorrow (Ashita e Attack!)
Tachibana High School has terminated its volleyball team. But that remains not for long as our protagonist, a young girl named Mimi Hijiri, decides to reinstate the volleyball program and push it, once again, to the heights of glory.
Though it proves to be not an easy feat as the passing of a former member has crumbled the team’s morale. Mimi, however, has made up her mind and, through constant efforts, manages to bring back the team.
This particular bunch includes volleyball enthusiasts whose love for the sport outweighs their expertise in it. But with time, training, and passion, the Tachibana High School Girls Volleyball team becomes a formidable force, setting sights on the upcoming National High School Volleyball Tournament.
It is also worth mentioning that the Attack on Tomorrow anime was made as a tribute to the Japanese Women’s Volleyball Team, who won the gold medal in the 1976 Olympics.
8. Attacker You!
Attacker You is another awesome volleyball anime that every fan of the sport must watch! The story focuses on You Hazuki, who lived in the Japanese countryside with her grandparents. But now she has to relocate to Tokyo with her father, who just returned from Peru. Currently, she is living with her father and adoptive younger brother.
You Hazuki joins her school’s volleyball team and realizes she has a knack for it. However, her father develops an extreme dislike for her playing the game.
Despite her father’s unreasonable disapproval and their team’s abusive and tough coach, her enthusiasm and energy don’t let her give up. Although her start is hard enough to break anyone’s will, You doesn’t let anything come in the way of her dreams. She trains and trains, giving her best during each game, and soon enough finds herself amongst the finest players.
Garnering attention from the media and high-ranked national coaches, You’s dream to join the National Team seems closer to fulfillment than ever.
7. Shoujo Fight: Norainu-Tachi no Odekake
Next on our list featuring the best volleyball anime is Shoujo Fight: Norainu-Tachi no Odekake, which is the story of a young talented high school student, Neri Ooishi. In her younger year at an elementary school, she went to a national volleyball tournament as a team captain. However, things took an unfortunate turn in her middle school, where she spent her time as a mere substitute.
Now joining high school, a very exciting phase of Neri’s life is about to commence. Having another chance, she decides to make a comeback as the skilled player she once was considered. Soon, she joins her high school volleyball team, and with new teammates, a new hope arises in her heart.
Considering these are her last school years, and she might not ever get another chance to prove herself, Neri gives everything she can to become the best volleyball player and play the game she loves dearly.
6. Kougyou Aika Volley Boys
Ah yes, this anime titled Kougyou Aika Volley Boys tells a story that feels more in touch with real life than any else on this list. High school, for some, can be a nightmare. But, for some, it brings an opportunity to escape from their mundane life and glance at something beautiful, girls.
Such were the aspirations with which these three boys, namely, Akagi, Miyamoto, and Tanguchi, set foot in their co-ed high school. However, their fate was so cruel that their class was comprised only of boys, and not a single girl was there.
Desperate for some action, the trio, also infamous around school grounds as the “idiot trio,” plans to make a girl’s volleyball club in an attempt to get close to women. But will this plan of the three students really work out? There’s only one way to find out!
5. Attack No.1
Attack No.1 is the next volleyball anime show to feature on our list. It is one of the oldest anime out there, and it follows the story of Kozue, an enthusiastic middle schooler who loves volleyball. She has made it her life’s goal to represent the Japanese Volleyball Team.
However, there is always a dark side to things that seem shiny and perfect from afar. After making it big, Kozue starts noticing the other side of volleyball and sports in general. Her dissatisfaction with herself doesn’t seem to stop growing when she realizes that the life she always dreamt of is so different from what she expected.
The hardships of an athlete and the sweet smell of success after rigorous hard work are accurately depicted in this anime, making Attack No.1 a binge-worthy show.
4. Zoku Attacker You! Kin Medal e no Michi
Next on our list is Zoku Attacker You! Kin Medal e no Michi. This series gives us the thrill and fun of sports and depicts the hardships athletes face outside of the volleyball court.
The main focus of the anime is on a bunch of girls struggling to go through their teenage years smoothly and simultaneously trying to do their best in sports. Through this volleyball anime, we learn to see athletes not only as some people who have talent and everything else figured out perfectly but also as humans who also have personal difficulties, just like the rest of us.
3. Harukana Receive
The next anime on our list is Harukana Receive, a short anime unlike most other titles featured above. It also aired pretty recently and became one of the best volleyball anime in a short time!
Before we talk about Harukana Receive, let’s list down a few types of volleyball. Other anime in this list had stories about traditional volleyball. But there are different types, like beach volleyball, hoover ball, snow volleyball, and sitting volleyball.
This anime focuses on beach volleyball and follows the story of Harukana Oozora, who has recently moved to Okinawa with her grandmother and her cousin, Kanata Higa. One day, while visiting a nearby beach, she sees Narumi Tooi and her friends playing volleyball and joins them. But as Narumi notices Kanata approaching them, the friendly match turns into a serious one.
Later, she learns that Narumi and Kanata were once a formidable duo. But due to her short height, Kanata quit playing, which caused problems for Narumi. Having heard that, our protagonist is adamant about making her cousin return to the game before the junior tournament and helping them win the beach volleyball championship.
2. 2.43: Seiin High School Boys Volleyball Team
2.43: Seiin High School Boys Volleyball Team, aka 2.43: Seiin Koukou Danshi Volley-bu, is also a recent volleyball anime that focuses on a student, Kimichika Hajima, who happens to be a prodigy setter. Having lived abroad for some time, he returns to his hometown, reuniting with his childhood friend.
Kuroba, one of the boys, has an immense talent for volleyball, and soon Hajima notices that too. He convinces his childhood buddy to join the school’s volleyball team and help them win the championship.
But things don’t go as they have planned. Their team ends up losing the tournament due to Kuroba’s anxious nature. Following this disastrous incident, Hajima quits the team, and Kuroba also avoids Hajima as much as possible.
A year passes like that until they meet again as part of their high school’s volleyball club. This time, Hajima promises not to repeat his mistakes and help his friend overcome his anxiety and make him the ace who’d carry his team to multiple wins!
1. Haikyuu!
If you haven’t been living under a rock, Haikyuu being the number one volleyball anime won’t be a surprise. This is, without a doubt, the most popular sports anime and the best volleyball anime to come out in recent times.
Not only is it the greatest volleyball anime, but its manga series is also one of the best-selling series, which says a lot about this title!
The story features Hinata Shoyo, who has dreamt of representing the Japanese National Volleyball Team since childhood. As a kid, he once saw Little Giant, a fantastic volleyball player with short stature, and got so inspired that volleyball became his life.
Being of short height, it is not easy for Shoyo to be a part of the volleyball world. In middle school, he trains alone and creates his own school boys volleyball club, but his team is crushed in the tournament. However, that doesn’t slow him down one bit!
After enrolling in Karasuno High School, he is on his way to becoming a great volleyball player as he finds like-minded people in his new team who live and breathe volleyball. He meets his rival, who is also part of his school volleyball team, and with his rival’s and his team’s help, Shoyo will slowly become the star player!
Conclusion
All kinds of sports anime series are always famous among fans because of their intensity, thrill, and entertainment value. Knowing the personal stories of our main characters, when we see them perform in courts, it’s one thrilling feeling that is difficult to beat.
When it comes to volleyball anime, there aren’t many titles that are better than the ones I listed above. In fact, titles like Haikyuu have brought new meaning to the sport and helped volleyball gain popularity worldwide like never before! It’s not just dumb luck that this title is considered one of the best anime of all time!
When you want to watch some excellent sports anime, come check out our list, as most of the shows featured are filled with intense drama, passion for volleyball, valuable life lessons, and some jaw-dropping moments that are nothing less than a treat for sports fans.
So what are you waiting for? Sit tight and watch any series from our list of the best volleyball anime to get the perfect package of entertainment, thrill, and fun!