Why aren't sports animes popular?

demecowen · October 27th, 2006, 10:09 PM

Sports genre has never reach the same popularity that other animes genres in the states. One would think it should since the US is very sports driven nation. They have wide range from boxing, soccer, baseball, basketball, etc. for just every possible fan. Alot these sport anime are done well; with great animation and fully developed characters and well-written story.

Yet, it not popular and you find more if you go fansub or import it.

The only reason I think of if, you go by sterotype, the average anime is not into sports they would not be interested in this genre.

Am I right or there is another reason?

Meson · October 27th, 2006, 11:53 PM

I beleive it's not that anime (or mainstream) viewers don't like sport, but rather the unrealistic approaches of the anime that hinders their popularity. At least with live action sports movies there is some ability to suspend disbelief. This isn't the case with most sports anime. Sports anime has to get rid of the science fiction and other fantasy elements they present as reality.

kittynboi · October 28th, 2006, 02:15 AM

They should make a sports anime based on spelunking.

seba_boi · October 28th, 2006, 02:32 AM

Beyblade's a sport...

Lankard · October 28th, 2006, 03:45 AM

All i've really seen for sports is Prince of Tennis, but didnt download anything past the first chapter so i'm not sure how good it is. I personally dont want to read a $10 book about some emo guy that wants to swing a paddle around all day, and call himself the prince of tennis.

Would you rather read about some guy that has to decide between wrestling, or drama club...or would you rather read a story with an interesting storyline about heroing adventures, magical creatures, beautiful women?

yuzuha · October 28th, 2006, 04:09 AM

Personally, I am bored to death by sports, and couldn't even tell you the rules for baseball or tennis, but for some reason I really enjoyed Princess Nine. So, I would think there should be some sports anime that is rather popular over here f~.^)

Ironfrost · October 28th, 2006, 04:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Meson

I beleive it's not that anime (or mainstream) viewers don't like sport, but rather the unrealistic approaches of the anime that hinders their popularity. At least with live action sports movies there is some ability to suspend disbelief. This isn't the case with most sports anime. Sports anime has to get rid of the science fiction and other fantasy elements they present as reality.

But that doesn't explain why it's so popular elsewhere - shows like Captain Tsubasa and Prince of Tennis were huge hits all around the world, not just in Japan. The lack of popularity in the English-speaking world must be related to US/English/Australian anime fans rather than the anime itself.

Soluzar · October 28th, 2006, 06:29 AM

Prince of Tennis, Captain Tsubasa, and Touch are all excellent series, which deserve a bigger American fanbase. Before the first time that I watched a sports anime, I was kind of skeptical, but I soon learned the appeal. Shame there's almost no Captain Tsubasa available in English.

Undrave · October 28th, 2006, 07:18 AM

Prince of Tennis, Hikaru No Go and Eyeshield 21 are gaining popularity in the US. Prince of Tennis and Hikaru No Go are on Toonami Jetstream if I recall.

Not ALL sports anime have crazy sci-fi and fantasy involved in the sport itself. Look at Hikaru No Go...sure there's a ghost but beyond that it's fairly tame in the game itself. There's no exploding goban or monsters coming out of the stones...

I don't like sport myself and I never liked Football but I LOVE Eyeshield 21. I think the problem is that US fans think you have to be a fan of the sport to enjoy the anime/manga while it's quite the contrary. Half the time the main character is a rookie just as you, and discovering the game is part of the fun. Now I understand Football better ^^ before Eyeshield 21 I barely understood the rules :p

fujyoshi · October 28th, 2006, 07:18 AM

Hmm......I can't think of why. Maybe people don't like sports being portrayed in anime or something.

Mika-chan · October 28th, 2006, 08:37 AM

Ack! Change my statement. For some stupid reason I was thinking the topic was about sports anime in Japan, not the US.

With me, I don`t know, it`s more interesting to see real flesh and blood doing sports rather than watching it animated. In general I don`t like sports but I like some sports movies. Even though there are some anime sports shows that are well animated, the "action" scenes never seem to flow well compared to watching real people doing it.

Undrave · October 28th, 2006, 09:18 AM

The thing is, you're not supposed to watch a Sport Anime to see the action, you're suppsoed to watch it for the character driven drama. Otherwise then yea, you're better off watching real sports on TV than watching a Sport Anime, at least the events aren't scripted.

For me it's all in the character and what is on the line. I care more about Sena and the rest of the Devil Bats with their dream of the Christmas Bowl than some millionaire player who just does it as a job and can be exchanged to some other team at any time.

Did ya know that when Captain Tsubasa came out soccer was not that popular in Japan? And you can same the same with Eyeshield 21 and Ame-Foot. The sport itself really has nothing to do with the popularity of a sport anime.

I'm still waiting for a Ice Hockey Sport Manga/Anime though XD

crow-kun · October 29th, 2006, 12:39 PM

No one plays ice hockey in japan

LOSTyears · October 29th, 2006, 01:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mika-chan

With me, I don`t know, it`s more interesting to see real flesh and blood doing sports rather than watching it animated.

I think thats one of the reasons why, that and some don't really want to watch a fleshed out story surrounding the sport. Personally I feel adding drama to sports makes it more potent to watch, the show Friday Night Lights is a good example of that.
Another reason might be that a good chunk of the anime fan base are not really sports orientated people, hearing some of the responses in the thread so far adds some proof to that.

I for one LOVE sports anime

Hajime no Ippo and Touch rank very high on my list, I'm continuing to enjoy Eyeshield 21 and getting ready to start Slam Dunk. Think eventually sports anime will catch fire here, they just need a primetime slot to get going.

Ketaru · October 29th, 2006, 01:24 PM

The only sports manga I've had experience with is Whistle!, suffice to say I didn't enjoy it much. Something about the main character, Shou, was just so...typical shounen. You know: hotblooded, passionate, innocent and nice to a fault (story affectiveness wise), steadfast "I'll never give up!" These sort of people might be attractive in real life. But it sure seems contrived when it comes to fiction.

This probably isn't true of all sports manga, but it was enough to turn me off to the idea of sports manga for a while.

October 27th, 2006, 10:09 PM	#1
demecowen old school, mecha style Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Chicago Posts: 153	Why aren't sports animes popular? Sports genre has never reach the same popularity that other animes genres in the states. One would think it should since the US is very sports driven nation. They have wide range from boxing, soccer, baseball, basketball, etc. for just every possible fan. Alot these sport anime are done well; with great animation and fully developed characters and well-written story. Yet, it not popular and you find more if you go fansub or import it. The only reason I think of if, you go by sterotype, the average anime is not into sports they would not be interested in this genre. Am I right or there is another reason? __________________ Never forget your past, focus on the present, take a glance to the future.

October 27th, 2006, 11:53 PM	#2
Meson Hockey is back! Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Buffalo, NY Posts: 901 Blog Entries: 1	I beleive it's not that anime (or mainstream) viewers don't like sport, but rather the unrealistic approaches of the anime that hinders their popularity. At least with live action sports movies there is some ability to suspend disbelief. This isn't the case with most sports anime. Sports anime has to get rid of the science fiction and other fantasy elements they present as reality. __________________ ToonRadio Anime music whenever you want it. Now serving up AN's podcast every Friday. <BernardM> For the record Eureka Seven is the Two Girls one Cup of mecha Series

October 28th, 2006, 02:15 AM	#3
kittynboi Redux Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Tampa, FL. Posts: 469	They should make a sports anime based on spelunking. __________________ Homer:He thinks he has all the money in the world. But theres one thing he can't buy with his money. Marge:Whats that? Homer:..........a dinosaur. PRIDE OMG UR ANIMU http://twitter.com/JBarkerDesigns

October 28th, 2006, 02:32 AM	#4
seba_boi angels open the doors for me. Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Erth Posts: 2,208	*Beyblade's a sport... __________________ LONG LIVE YOKO KANNO!!!* Brawl Code-- FISH: 2062 8831 8143 MarioKart Code--1075 1340 9855 Tatsunoko Vs. Capcom Code--MEH!: 5328-2318-7355

October 28th, 2006, 04:09 AM	#6
yuzuha yami no kami Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Nebraska Posts: 143	Personally, I am bored to death by sports, and couldn't even tell you the rules for baseball or tennis, but for some reason I really enjoyed Princess Nine. So, I would think there should be some sports anime that is rather popular over here f~.^) __________________ Sub. freak. --------- Sue ikki mi hatenu yume no hotsure kana- Choko

October 28th, 2006, 03:45 AM	#5
Lankard Registered User Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Loderia Posts: 102	All i've really seen for sports is Prince of Tennis, but didnt download anything past the first chapter so i'm not sure how good it is. I personally dont want to read a $10 book about some emo guy that wants to swing a paddle around all day, and call himself the prince of tennis. Would you rather read about some guy that has to decide between wrestling, or drama club...or would you rather read a story with an interesting storyline about heroing adventures, magical creatures, beautiful women?

October 28th, 2006, 06:29 AM	#8
Soluzar Double rainbow! Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: All the way across the sky... Posts: 13,579 Blog Entries: 45	Prince of Tennis, Captain Tsubasa, and Touch are all excellent series, which deserve a bigger American fanbase. Before the first time that I watched a sports anime, I was kind of skeptical, but I soon learned the appeal. Shame there's almost no Captain Tsubasa available in English. __________________ One day men will ask... "Where did it start?" We shall tell them it started here. Join the ranks of Team Soluzar! Protect the forum against the threat of unexpected Prons incursions. Your forum needs YOU.

October 28th, 2006, 07:18 AM	#9
Undrave Forgettable -Type U-kun Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Quebec, Canada Posts: 1,987	Prince of Tennis, Hikaru No Go and Eyeshield 21 are gaining popularity in the US. Prince of Tennis and Hikaru No Go are on Toonami Jetstream if I recall. Not ALL sports anime have crazy sci-fi and fantasy involved in the sport itself. Look at Hikaru No Go...sure there's a ghost but beyond that it's fairly tame in the game itself. There's no exploding goban or monsters coming out of the stones... I don't like sport myself and I never liked Football but I LOVE Eyeshield 21. I think the problem is that US fans think you have to be a fan of the sport to enjoy the anime/manga while it's quite the contrary. Half the time the main character is a rookie just as you, and discovering the game is part of the fun. Now I understand Football better ^^ before Eyeshield 21 I barely understood the rules :p __________________ "I dealt with him in the time honored fashion." "Duel at sunrise?" "Cobra down the pants! And it was closer to 3 or 4 in the afternoon..." Last edited by Undrave; October 28th, 2006 at 07:23 AM.

October 28th, 2006, 07:18 AM	#10
fujyoshi Registered User Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 11,205 Blog Entries: 4	Hmm......I can't think of why. Maybe people don't like sports being portrayed in anime or something.

October 28th, 2006, 08:37 AM	#11
Mika-chan Registered User Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Silver Spring, MD Posts: 193	Ack! Change my statement. For some stupid reason I was thinking the topic was about sports anime in Japan, not the US. With me, I don`t know, it`s more interesting to see real flesh and blood doing sports rather than watching it animated. In general I don`t like sports but I like some sports movies. Even though there are some anime sports shows that are well animated, the "action" scenes never seem to flow well compared to watching real people doing it. __________________ I'm not tall I'm just above average.

October 28th, 2006, 09:18 AM	#12
Undrave Forgettable -Type U-kun Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Quebec, Canada Posts: 1,987	The thing is, you're not supposed to watch a Sport Anime to see the action, you're suppsoed to watch it for the character driven drama. Otherwise then yea, you're better off watching real sports on TV than watching a Sport Anime, at least the events aren't scripted. For me it's all in the character and what is on the line. I care more about Sena and the rest of the Devil Bats with their dream of the Christmas Bowl than some millionaire player who just does it as a job and can be exchanged to some other team at any time. Did ya know that when Captain Tsubasa came out soccer was not that popular in Japan? And you can same the same with Eyeshield 21 and Ame-Foot. The sport itself really has nothing to do with the popularity of a sport anime. I'm still waiting for a Ice Hockey Sport Manga/Anime though XD __________________ "I dealt with him in the time honored fashion." "Duel at sunrise?" "Cobra down the pants! And it was closer to 3 or 4 in the afternoon..."

October 29th, 2006, 12:39 PM	#13
crow-kun Karasu-meh Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 2,100	No one plays ice hockey in japan __________________ "If you're going to take pity on yourself, don't kill people in the first place. Don't avert your eyes away from death. Look forward. Look at the people you're killing in the face. And don't forget them. Don't forget. Don't forget. They won't forget you either." Zolf J. Kimbley "The Crimson Alchemist" Edward, Winry, Alphonse

October 29th, 2006, 01:24 PM	#15
Ketaru Ever-changing Avatars... Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: By the Kite-Eating Tree Posts: 1,161	The only sports manga I've had experience with is Whistle!, suffice to say I didn't enjoy it much. Something about the main character, Shou, was just so...typical shounen. You know: hotblooded, passionate, innocent and nice to a fault (story affectiveness wise), steadfast "I'll never give up!" These sort of people might be attractive in real life. But it sure seems contrived when it comes to fiction. This probably isn't true of all sports manga, but it was enough to turn me off to the idea of sports manga for a while. __________________ Signature Picture I Would Use if Signatures Could Show Pictures...