Anime Manga Explosion: Sports Manga & Anime

・Spotlight on sports manga and anime from Japan

・Behind-the-scenes coverage of the Medalist anime

・Commentary from figure skater Suzuki Akiko on Medalist skating sequences

・Interview with Medalist director Yamamoto Yasutaka

・Anime critic Fujitsu Ryota discusses the historical transformation and evolution of Japanese sports manga and anime

The ANIME MANGA EXPLOSION documentary series (NHK World TV) dives deep into the artistry of the creators behind Japanese manga and anime that electrify audiences worldwide.

On December 28th 2025, ANIME MANGA EXPLOSION will air a special episode about sports manga and anime from Japan.

Anime critic Fujitsu Ryota sheds light on the historical transformations seen in sports manga and anime. The 1960s sports manga boom began with Star of the Giants; in the 1980s, Captain Tsubasa broke with the conventional focus on guts and tenacity; and SLAM DUNK brought a new focus on realism in the 1990s. Fujitsu's commentary on the history of Japanese sports manga focuses on how the depiction of characters has evolved with each era. Soccer match scenes from the Giant Killing anime illustrate the huge impact of 3DCG in energizing anime adaptations of sports manga.

And how are anime adaptations of sports manga evolving now? To find out, our crew went behind the scenes for the anime adaptation of Tsurumaikada's Medalist manga. Discover how the centerpiece figure skating sequences combine 3DCG and 2D digital animation. The production team rented out an ice skate rink to do motion capture videotaping of ice skating and developed their own software for this unprecedented use of motion capture. Professional figure skater Suzuki Akiko talks about her choreography and technical supervision that focused on achieving the realistic depiction of figure skating seen in the anime. Plus, the anime production team shares how they integrated 2D animation into the CG to enhance the dramatic storyline and bring the characters to life. Other rarely-glimpsed aspects of the production process include the creation of sound effects and nuanced depiction of the ice to heighten the reality of the rink. Director Yamamoto Yasutaka appears as well. Don't miss the rare interviews and footage in this episode!

On air: December 28, 2025 (Sun) NHK World TV
28-minute episode broadcast from 12:10, 18:10, 23:10, and next day 5:10 (Japan time)

Free VOD streaming on the NHK World Japan website from the following day.
See the viewing guide for details:
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/ja/tv/howto_watch_in_japan/

Featuring: Suzuki Akiko (professional figure skater), Fujitsu Ryota (anime critic), Yamamoto Yasutaka (director), Yamazoe Takeshi (motion capture director), Koji (3DCG director), Toda Takayuki (3DCG visual director), Koyama Kenji (sound effects), Nakajima Hajime (3DCG animator), Takekawa Hinata (animator)

Narrator: Michael Turpin

Official website: https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/shows/anime_manga/