Forum - View topicWhy Aren't Sports Anime More Popular in the U.S?
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chrisb
 Subscriber Posts: 768 Location: USA |
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Sports manga/anime have a pretty big following in Japan with lots of live-action dramas and even movies, and not just stuff like Eyeshield 21 and Prince of Tennis but shows like H2, Slam Dunk, and Princess Nine and many more realistic anime are pretty popular.
I was just wondering why the genre isn't as equally popular in America since the shows actually do have some great quality but they're sort of just ignored entirely. Out of all my anime friends it seems like I'm the only one who enjoys sports anime, but I also enjoy them in real life so do I like them more because I have a connection to the sport? The new baseball series Ofuri is pretty good but it doesn't look like it well gain enough ratings even though it's a pretty popular manga, maybe the yaoi fangirls will help it along though 
Last edited by chrisb on Mon Apr 30, 2007 8:07 pm; edited 2 times in total |
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Josh7289
Posts: 1253 |
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It's probably because in Japan, manga has a much wider appeal, so sports fans do read manga, and sports manga. Over here, manga is much more relegated to the "nerd" crowd, which doesn't play sports. It's not as universal over here, so the people who play sports don't read it.
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Deltakiral
 Posts: 3338 Location: Glendora, CA (Avatar Hei from Darker than BLACK) |
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i think part of the reason why sport manga doesn't do so well in the US is that when you look at most sport stories the beginning is always teaching you how to play a game. And quite frankly most of us already know how to play basketball/football/hockey......wait never mind no one want to make a hockey anime.....GO DUCKS! And so I think a lot of people just drop the series after the first volume, and also lots of sport anime are quite similar in the way the show is done. There certainly is a formula for these shows.....much like House.
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LuckySleven
 Posts: 426 Location: Refer to page 2 |
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Ya since anime/manga is a big industry in Japan the gernes of sports do attract those who dare to read it. While in North America the people "Just Do It" rather than reading on how do it, probably because of all the sport channels there are -_-". Probably the most interesting sport gerne title "in my world" would be Prince of Tennis. It really got me interested in tennis, before I thought it would just be like an oversize ping-pong game but once I read/watched it...I was hooked. Also a Death Note parody comic got me interested in Prince of Tennis. Such as this one 
Last edited by LuckySleven on Tue May 01, 2007 9:06 am; edited 2 times in total |
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digitalkikka
 Posts: 462 Location: Chicago, Illinois |
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I love sports anime/manga. It's funny because I hate playing or watching sports (except golf and tennis) but I absolutely adore watching anime that is focused on any sport.
I'm actually really surprised they aren't more popular here. Even if someone thinks anime is for "nerds" if they're interested in a particular sport and that sport is portrayed well in an anime series, I can't imagine why they wouldn't watch it. Of course many sport-related series focus more on relationships than just playing the game so that could turn some people off to it. But I do remember most of the kids on my HS's sports teams being obsessed with "THE TEAM"... But whatever the reason I think it's too bad since I would love to see more sports anime licensed or at least see the series that are licensed receive more recognition.
Ookiku Furikabutte is the most slashable anime I have ever seen. If more girls were to watch/read this, I'm sure it could be the next Prince of Tennis. |
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chrisb
Subscriber Posts: 768 Location: USA |
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From what I understand, Ofuri already has a huge Boy's Love following in Japan with plenty of doujin, but will the yaoi-fangirls go towards the anime too?
And I agree it is probably the most less-than-subtle-yaoi-moments show I've seen lol, not to mention the opening song which has some questionable lyrics "let's get passionate!" 
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leavemealone88
 Posts: 25 Location: Illinois |
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I don't personally like sports. I don't play them and I haven't been on a team since like 4th grade (soccer). So, an anime about a sport just wouldn't appeal to me just because of the subject it is on. (not to mention that in some of my experiences there are alot of 817**3$ that play sports at my school). Me, personally, I would probably never just start watching a sports anime unless I've heard some(alot) comments saying its like the best anime ever.
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Papers
 Posts: 8 Location: Nebraska |
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Other then Play Makers that was on ESPN I dont know of many television series about sports, animated or not. It may be that television series focused around sports just arent that popular in the US period.
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kolibri
 Posts: 712 Location: Vancouver |
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Huh, I never thought you'd say that Just the thought of sports anime/manga puts me to sleep but I have to say you made me curious... maybe you'll write me a list of your recommendations 
Sports anime are usually shonen, right? It's quite natural that they would have a BL following, it's about bunch of physical guys who like to get sweaty together... me, I want a pay-off in the end for my man-smex, and slashability just isn't enough of a selling point for me 
Tsk. We'll see about that  Canucks FTW.
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Eruanna
 Posts: 451 Location: Canada |
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Why arent they popular? Because they are boring. >_>
Seriously, sports movies are boring enough. But drag out the simple plot of a sports movie over 25 30 mins episodes? Torture. Any sports movie you come across has the same basic plot. Player has big dreams. Everyone mocks player for some reason, and says he/she cant make it. Player gets wupped. Player learns important lesson. Player makes a big comback. Its been done, and its just not very exciting to watch over and over again. |
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KyuuA4
 Posts: 1371 Location: America, where anime and manga can be made |
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Sport stories are flat out lame. They tend to follow the "Shonen" action formula -- this is in particular to the sporting duels. Even for a TEAM sport - they tend to focus on a specific individual saving the day. Cut me a break here...
If I want to see that, I'd watch Kobe Bryant (who sucks!)...
By the way, I watch the NFL. With the Chicago Bulls winning, I'll pay attention to them too. Then add in the World Cup and the Olympics on even numbered years. |
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Kouji
 Posts: 978 |
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chrisb
Subscriber Posts: 768 Location: USA |
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Most of the replies are commenting on the total cliche shounen aspect but I reccomend not getting your view from stuff like Prince of Tennis and Eyeshield 21 which are pretty lame I'll admit, I admit sports anime are slow but they tend to really flesh out characters and have great "grow-up" characters with realism, check out Princess Nine and H2, both great examples of sports anime done right.
There are some popular sports shows here in America, Friday Night Lights being an excellent movie and great TV show. In Japan there are lots of J-dramas on sports like "Swim Boys", "H2", Ace wo Narae, way too many on girls who play volleyball, and some others with baseball. I'm guessing it's just not an anime thing in the end.... Oh I only really play football and HATE Eyeshield 21, and basbeall is my least favorite sport in real-life but I love movies, anime, dramas on baseball most of all. |
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KyuuA4
Posts: 1371 Location: America, where anime and manga can be made |
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The likes of Princess Nine and Suzuka weren't so great either. Trying to attach a romance theme to sports. I LOL. Although, unlike other sports anime, I actually bothred to complete watching those.
If you ask me, the best fictional sport stories are the ones based on real stories. Your example of Friday Night Lights is one. On a plane trip, I managed to watch the movie Glory Road. An all black team winning the NCAA championship just after the Civil Rights era. Can't make up a story like that so easily - not if it didn't happen anyways. OR Take a sport and make a comedy out of it. Then y'get movies like Major League.
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P€|\||§_|\/|ast@
 Posts: 3498 Location: IN your nightmares |
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I'm actually surprised that sports anime isn't more popular than it currently is, aside from the current level of popularity of anime overall in the US. I would watch a sports anime if it had a good story, romance and comedy even though I profess myself as a sports hater (ala always tempted when I get the question "Gonna watch the Superbowl?" and answering "no I don't follow baseball much").
I think it has to do with the fact that not many sports fans are anime fans and it seems like a reasonable assumption since both hobbies require lots of devotion and time and many busy people don't have the energy to really follow both. But unless you're someone like me who absolutely despises anything related to sports except maybe martial arts I see no reason why sports anime shouldn't be a very appealing type of anime to watch if you are already an anime fan. |
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