Tennis anime feels rare compared to basketball or soccer shows. Japan loves tennis, yet animated series about the sport stay pretty scarce. This list covers seven standout tennis anime packed with comedy, drama, and matches that keep you on edge. Some players go way beyond normal, and their skills might shock you!
Key Takeaways
The Prince of Tennis leads the pack with over 170 episodes and 60 million manga copies sold. Fans gave it top marks across streaming forums, with 831 rankings from 320 different voters putting it first.
Baby Steps shows tennis realistically. Eiichiro Maruo transforms from bookworm to athlete across two detailed seasons. The series focuses on strategy and mental strength rather than impossible superhuman moves.
Stars Align, also called Hoshiai no Sora, tackles tough topics like family trauma and gender identity alongside high school soft tennis matches. The original season came out in 2019, followed by a special fan movie that continued the story.
The classic Aim for the Ace! from 1973 set early standards for sports anime with strong female leads like Hiromi Oka. It inspired many players, including pro Shuzo Matsuoka, and spawned sequels, movies, and hit songs like “Valentine Kiss.”
Comedy shows like Softenni!, Teekyuu, and the spin-off Usakame add variety to tennis anime. They mix quick jokes and unique characters while still showing teamwork and competition, building on Shueisha’s creative storytelling that spans action-packed matches and everyday life scenes.
Table of Contents
The Prince of Tennis Series
Ryoma Echizen walks onto the court with total confidence in Weekly Sh?nen Jump’s most famous tennis battles. Tenipuri delivers dramatic wins, bold rivalries, and fast matches that remind you why crunchyroll brand classics stay popular.
The Prince of Tennis
Ryoma Echizen joins the Seishun Boys’ Tennis Team and changes everything from his first day. The prince of tennis plays with confidence, skill, and smart tactics you rarely see in high school sports anime. The series runs over 170 episodes packed with variety. Every type of player gets their chance to shine. You’ll find high-stakes matches, wild rivals, team conflicts, and training episodes that keep moving.
This show ranked first among tennis anime based on 831 votes from 320 different voters. Fans earned it that top spot for good reasons. Viewers meet diverse characters across countless original video animations, movies, and even stage musicals based on this manga series from Weekly Sh?nen Jump. Comedy mixes with fierce competition as teams battle on Japanese courts. Players use wild styles that keep fans guessing who wins each point.
I started watching classic sports anime like this because tennis is my favorite sport. Years later, I got hooked on checking stats so much I tried out list of betting apps. As long as you never bet more than you can afford to lose, it just adds fun to watching games off court.
This show’s mix of drama and comedy makes every episode feel like match point.
The Prince of Tennis II
After the excitement in The Prince of Tennis, fans wanted more action. The Prince of Tennis II picks up with Ryoma Echizen and his teammates entering the U-17 training camp. Kunimitsu Tezuka stands tall as a leader among young tennis stars. Rivalries heat up, friendships grow deeper, and matches get fierce on Japan’s biggest tennis stage.
This sequel shows tough training and hard competition. OVAs, theatrical films, and stage musicals grow from this story’s foundation. The anime explores friendship and competition in sports drama style. It pushes personal growth every episode. Fans see influences from Shueisha’s Jump Square magazine while Viz Media brings episodes to streaming services worldwide. The franchise inspires both longtime fans who loved Baby Steps or Ace wo Nerae! and newcomers discovering Japanese anime through names like Tennis no Oujisama or Maki Katsuragi’s soft tennis matches for the first time.
The Prince of Tennis: Best Games!!
Game fans and tennis lovers rushed to watch The Prince of Tennis: Best Games!! for its intense matches and smooth animation. This OVA revisits famous rivalries, including the Seigaku versus Hyotei showdown featured in Tennis no ?jisama: Atobe kara no Okurimono. Each game brings sharp commentary, original strategies, and high-stakes rallies that get hearts racing like Jump Ultimate Stars tournaments on a Nintendo night.
Beloved characters like Ryoma Echizen face off against Kaoru Kaidoh or Kunimitsu Tezuka on digital courts smoother than any Game Boy Advance title could show. Fans get their favorite sequences reimagined for old and new viewers who crave the thrill of the series’ most famous moments. Next comes The Prince of Tennis II: U-17 World Cup, where competition reaches worldwide levels and surprises wait at every turn.
The Prince of Tennis II: U-17 World Cup
Ryoma Echizen trades middle school matches for global glory when he joins Japan’s U-17 team in The Prince of Tennis II: U-17 World Cup. The stakes reach new heights with rivals from around the world. Skills sometimes look like they jumped straight out of a Jump Super Stars crossover game. Over 60 million copies sold prove these stories still pull fans, from tank?bon manga volumes to epic OVAs and stage musicals.
Fans voted passionately on popular streaming forums. They named this entry one of the top tennis anime based on 831 rankings from 320 unique voters. Countless fans recall Ryoma lobbing shots that defy physics. “Mada mada dane!” feels like a rally cry every episode. Watching powerhouses like Atobe Keigo clash under pressure never gets old. That’s why Funimation grabbed the streaming rights faster than you can say “tennis no oujisama.”
Baby Steps
Baby Steps shows you Eiichiro Maruo’s slow journey from bookworm to tennis ace. Every smash and setback appears on screen. Watch this if you like real growth with your tournaments.
Baby Steps Season 1
Season 1 introduces Eiichiro Maruo’s new obsession with tennis. A top student signs up for tennis to improve his health. Soon he focuses intensely on the game. He tracks each move and every stat in endless notebooks. Fans of Chihayafuru or Death Note will appreciate his analytical style. Picture Light Yagami on the court instead of tracking names in his notebook.
Each episode explores training drills and match strategies in detail. Tournaments challenge Eiichiro beyond his limits. Slice-of-life segments keep things grounded between competitions. The story values personal growth as much as athletic skill. Characters like Natsu Takasaki receive significant attention too. Lighter moments blend with serious matches, building suspense without the chaos sometimes seen in Kill la Kill or Spy x Family.
If sports romance elements interest you, Baby Steps Season 1 offers both heart and hustle throughout its episodes. Strategy combines with storytelling on these courts, point by point.
Baby Steps Season 2
Eiichiro Maruo grabs his racket again for Baby Steps Season 2. The stakes feel higher and the court even more intense. He faces tougher opponents as he advances in national-level tournaments. The show demonstrates how Eiichiro’s methodical study habits give him an edge. It proves that brains can rival raw power on the court. These episodes show firsthand how mental grit equals muscle value on the tennis court.
His growth goes beyond winning matches. It’s also about handling nerves and building real confidence under pressure. Tennis no Oujisama: Atobe kara no Okurimono fans will recognize some familiar tactics. But Eiichiro’s story stays refreshingly grounded with slice-of-life elements throughout all 75 total episodes of Baby Steps. Fans hungry for another take on young tennis stars may want to check out The New Prince of Tennis next.
Stars Align
Stars Align serves up high school drama, clever tennis tactics, and real struggles. Get ready to binge this heartfelt series right now.
Stars Align Series
Toma Shinjo aims to revive his school’s failing boys’ soft tennis club by bringing in transfer student Maki Katsuragi. This series uses sports drama effectively. It presents heart-pounding matches and explores real-life challenges. The 2019 season ended with an unfinished story that left fans wanting more.
Characters face tough issues like family trauma, abuse, and gender identity. This contrasts with lighter anime such as Teekyuu or Softenni! Studio 8bit creates every match carefully while addressing difficult topics. Fans discuss where it ranks among tennis anime favorites on streaming services, Shueisha’s forums, and anime discussions across the internet.
Stars Align Special Fan Movie
Fans cheered when the Stars Align Special Fan Movie dropped, bridging the cliffhanger in the original series. This installment explored deeper into Maki’s struggle with his family and revealed new tension within the tennis club. The animation stayed true to the show’s fluid style. It captured each serve and volley perfectly. Many caught references from classic sports anime like Aim for the Ace! Subtle nods appeared to icons such as Queen Beryl from Sailor Moon or Hiromi Oka. Streaming on its namesake streaming service made it easier than ever for viewers worldwide.
“Sometimes a single match changes everything.”
The movie answered lingering questions without avoiding real teenage problems. Fans spotted little Easter eggs hinting at everything from Shueisha’s manga roots to playful references about Tsukino Usagi meeting Case Closed detectives off-court. Sharp dialogue and relatable drama kept fans talking long after credits rolled.
Aim for the Ace!
Aim for the Ace! brings intense tennis drama, strong female leads, and even a catchy Valentine Kiss cover. Check it out if you want to see where sports anime smashed its early serve.
Aim for the Ace! (Original Series)
Hiromi Oka starts as a high school freshman who dreams big after watching Reika “Ochofujin” Ryuzaki dominate on the court. Her story unfolds in Shueisha’s classic tennis anime from the 1970s. Each training session pushes her to break past her own limits. She deals with fierce rivals constantly. Hard coach Jin Munakata never lets up. His tough love shapes Hiromi’s drive for greatness.
Aspiring athletes see their own struggles reflected in Hiromi’s climb to success. Famous pro Shuzo Matsuoka admits this show made him pick up a racket in real life. Ambition runs wild here, but so do doubt and heartbreak as team drama heats up. The original series set the bar for all sports anime that followed. It even influenced music like “Valentine Kiss” found later in Cased Closed or other pop culture hits. Next up, newer takes on the legend keep fans coming back for more action-packed matches with Shin Ace wo Nerae!
Shin Ace wo Nerae!
Fans of Aim for the Ace! (Original Series) get a deeper look into Hiromi Oka’s growth with Shin Ace wo Nerae! The sequel pushes the stakes higher. Hiromi faces more skilled rivals who force her to level up both mentally and physically. The series first aired in 1978. Even now, fans still point to its bold animation and dramatic style. Competition gets fierce on court. But teamwork shines when her friends rally by her side.
Shin Ace wo Nerae! had a big impact on anime and real tennis around Japan. Stories about training, setbacks, and wins inspired many new players. They picked up rackets just like their favorite characters. Shueisha’s deep connection with manga culture helped spread these stories far beyond TV screens. Themes of strong rivalry mixed with character building keep audiences coming back. They return every time another match begins.
Aim for the Ace! Final Stage
Aim for the Ace! Final Stage fills every match with emotion and grit. Hiromi faces pressure from her coach and teammates. Each game becomes a test of willpower. The animation style keeps its classic roots. It reminds viewers of early Shueisha’s popular series from the late ’70s. Viewers witness intensifying rivalries between high school players. These players stay composed under pressure.
The story moves quickly, even during tense moments on the court. Sudden-death points create suspense. Viewers wait to see which player wins at the last second. Character development shines as Hiromi learns to trust herself. She stops chasing perfection. Tennis is challenging. This anime shows it honestly by depicting both victory and heartbreak. It never glosses over the difficulties.
Other Notable Tennis Anime
Quirky characters swing rackets and joke through each match in these shows. Check out what Shueisha’s inspired creators have made if you crave laughs with your next serve.
Softenni!
Softenni! spins its story around a middle school girls’ soft tennis club with dreams of winning nationals. The series blends Shueisha’s signature sports drama with bursts of ecchi humor. It captures the awkward, hilarious trials of adolescence. Asuna Harukaze stands at center court. She struggles at first but works hard to sharpen her skills through pure effort and lots of laughs.
Each character faces oddball challenges. These range from wild misunderstandings to bizarre training routines. While Softenni! belongs to a less common category among tennis anime, it puts strong focus on teamwork and growth in competition. Fans get both energetic matches and comedy, sometimes in the same swing. This makes the series a true standout for fans craving something different on their watchlist.
Teekyuu
Teekyuu spins comedy gold from the frantic daily lives of a high school girls’ tennis club. Kondou Koyori must keep up with her offbeat senior teammates. They create chaos on and off the court. The show throws out rapid-fire jokes in every short episode. This makes it easy to binge without losing steam. Tennis matches erupt into bursts of wild animation. They’re packed with absurd humor that makes each rally unforgettable.
Fans see plenty of character growth. Club members stumble through practice and friendship with equal clumsiness. Teekyuu stands alongside hits like The Prince of Tennis and Baby Steps for its impact in anime about tennis. Geek culture celebrates how this series breaks expectations. It captures personal development found in sports stories. Even Usakame shows up as a fun parallel spinoff. It features familiar faces from the tennis scene.
Usakame
Usakame spins laughs off a tennis court, following the rival team of high schoolers from Teekyu. The show focuses on comedy with wild antics and a slower pace than its original. Instead of rapid-fire jokes every second like Teekyu, Usakame focuses more on quirky slice-of-life moments. Ayako, Kurumi, and their friends bring that oddball style to each episode. They still show real tennis action mixed into the chaos.
Fans find themselves rooting for this underdog club. They chase wins against their zany rivals. Expect character-driven humor instead of non-stop gags. Think awkward silences paired with clever punchlines about rackets flying or missed serves! Released as a spin-off in 2016, Usakame keeps things lighthearted. It never loses sight of sports spirit amid all the giggles and mischief.
Why Tennis Anime Stands Out in the Sports Genre
Tennis anime holds a unique position in the sports genre because it’s so rare, despite tennis being popular in Japan. The Prince of Tennis set a benchmark in this niche. Its impact shows in newer series, from extraordinary shots to high-stakes rivalries. These shows go beyond wins and losses. They focus on profound character development. Fans cheered for Echizen Ryoma’s skills. They also supported his personal growth.
Authors make intense training sessions and strong emotions central themes. In Baby Steps, Eiichiro Maruo relies on pure strategy rather than natural talent. This makes practice scenes as engaging as match point rallies. Stars Align presents Kuzu High School’s team facing not only challenging matches but also significant social issues. It combines real-life problems with sports drama for extra depth rarely seen elsewhere.
Series like Aim for the Ace! have influenced how people see tennis since 1973. This shows how a niche can shape culture over time. For more information on sports animation, compare your favorites with this basketball anime series.
How Will Tennis Anime Evolve in 2025?
Animators will advance techniques using sharper animation and tighter match scenes. Writers may focus on stories that combine strategy with friendships. Fans want characters who think quickly under pressure, not just those who hit the ball hard. Digital tools like CGI will likely enhance action sequences. Each rally will appear more realistic. Directors might use music from genres beyond J-pop or rock for added style.
More series could give equal attention to both girls’ and boys’ teams. This provides representation for everyone on the court. Older shows often depicted players as superhuman. Now creators aim for relatable character development. Viewers prefer rivals who are complex yet believable. They want underdogs to succeed through determination rather than impossible tricks in every episode.
Studios in 2025 might explore interactive viewing options or short-form spin-offs online. Fans could watch highlights between major matches. Anime will offer new perspectives while maintaining its focus on teamwork and intense competition.
People Also Ask
What makes tennis anime series so gripping for viewers?
Tennis anime series blend fast-paced matches with character drama. You get to see rivalries, friendships, and wild trick shots that defy gravity. Each episode keeps you guessing who will win the next point.
Are these tennis anime shows suitable for beginners to the sport?
Absolutely; most of these series explain rules as they go along. Even if you’ve never picked up a racket, you’ll follow every serve and volley without missing a beat.
Which tennis anime should I start with if I want strong storytelling?
Try “The Prince of Tennis.” It mixes intense games with personal growth stories. The characters face setbacks but keep swinging until they find their groove.
Do any of the best tennis anime feature real-life techniques or just fantasy moves?
You’ll spot both in these shows; some stick close to actual gameplay while others toss in over-the-top smashes that would make even pros blink twice. Either way, each match is packed with energy and surprises that pull you right into the action.
