Sports anime have become quite popular among the anime community, with multiple new releases crossing over into various niche sports and telling new stories. Tales of teamwork, camaraderie, and dedication fill fans with motivation to reach for the stars, just like the hard-working teams in their favorite anime. Whether it is basketball, ice skating, or even ballroom dance, there are a number of fantastic anime that dive into the world of competitive sports.

RELATED: Best Anime Openings Of All Time, Ranked

However, sometimes an anime can fall short of its manga predecessor and leave a longing for more complex adaptations. As a result, some sports anime become overshadowed by their manga altogether. Here are some iconic sports anime with better manga series.

7 Diamond No Ace

daimond no ace anime

Created by manga author Yuji Terajima, Diamond No Ace is a sensational story that follows a high school baseball team on their journey to the national championship and victory. Diamond No Ace became very popular during the mid-2000s and received an anime adaptation consisting of seventy-five episodes.

While the Diamond No Ace anime was praised for its story, some considered the manga a much better option for its detail to the choreography of real-life baseball and its stunning art. Nevertheless, the manga continues to be serialized, which many fans have flocked to as the story continues.

6 Hajime No Ippo

hajime no ippo

Hajime No Ippo is one of the most famous boxing anime in the world; the IP has seen quite a few anime installments following several manga arcs by the author, Jyoji Morikawa. The Hajime No Ippo anime is widely popular, but this is another situation where the manga's artwork is vastly superior.

RELATED: Most Iconic Kid Detectives In Anime

Breathtaking angles and intense impacts fill every page of the manga that keep fans turning every page and eagerly awaiting the next chapter when they are done. Consisting of over one thousand chapters, it is not hard to understand why the manga has such a dedicated reader base.

5 Slam Dunk

slam dunk anime

Slam Dunk is a classic among basketball sports anime; the entire roster of characters is iconic in their own right and has left a strong impression within the manga and anime community. The author of Slam Dunk, Takehiko Inoue, is a highly respected writer and artist celebrated for his work in the industry and praised for the highly acclaimed Vagabond manga.

RELATED: Iconic Sci-Fi Anime With Better Manga Series

The Slam Dunk anime was far from disappointing but was a far cry from the spectacular visuals and intricate details that were prominent in the manga. Consisting of fifty-six issues, the Slam Dunk manga will always be cherished by veteran fans and those who newly discovered the series for years to come.

4 Ashita No Joe

ashita no joe anime

Ikki Kajiwarra is the maestro behind the work of art known as Ashita No Joe, a boxing manga that paved the way for series like Megalobox and Hajime No Ippo. The series received multiple anime adaptations, including a feature-length animated film.

While both animated iterations of the manga were truly well crafted, the manga had a leg over the anime due to Kajiwara’s intricate storytelling and the impactful depth of his characters that could only be truly displayed in the manga. Ashita No Joe was a triumphant tale but was filled with struggle and complex emotions that echoed off the pages of the manga beautifully, leaving readers in awe.

3 Eyeshield 21

eyeshield 21 anime

Eyeshield 21 is a magnificent exploration into the great sport of football. The story follows Sena Kobayakawa, a young man searching for where he belongs in life who is roped into joining his school's football team. However, Sena considers himself a weak individual and believes he will bring the team down until his superior running speed levels the playing field and fills Sena with hope.

RELATED: Best Manhwa Like The Breaker

The Eyeshield 21 anime went for one-hundred and forty-five episodes and received high praise; however, compared to the manga and the dynamic illustrations of Yusuke Murata, some fans considered the series lacking.

2 Initial D

initial d anime

Initial D is a juggernaut series with a massive cult following to match. There have been several animated installments, including three feature films of the classic series that many fans have enjoyed since its release in 1998. The anime is considered a perfect manifestation of Shuichi Shigeno’s work and has stood the test of time as a classic series among industry top sellers.

RELATED: Best Isekai Anime To Watch If You Like Rising of The Shield Hero

However, the series was unable to realize the level of details and polish the original manga had to offer. The Initial D manga placed readers in the passenger seat during every turn and cross over the finish line, making it a tough act to follow.

1 Hinomaru Sumo

hinomaru sumo anime

The world of Sumo is a famous and respected piece of Japanese culture with a history of over one hundred years. Hinomaru Sumo is a spectacular story that dives into the world of Sumo and is a wonderful introduction to the struggles contenders go through.

An anime adaptation was released, and while it received a full series order, many fans of the story considered it was lacking visually compared to the dynamics of the manga. The Hinomaru Sumo anime consisted of twenty-four episodes but no news of a second season to finish out the manga's two hundred and fifty chapters.

MORE: Best Anime Openings Of All Time, Ranked