Summary
- Anime can creatively incorporate tennis episodes, testing theories and blending them into unique universes.
- Non-sports anime showcase tennis in different ways, from psychological matches to action-packed duels.
- Tennis episodes in anime prove the versatility of storytelling by entertaining fans through innovative match-ups.
The most entertaining random tennis episodes in anime history will always be ed, even by fans who don’t particularly love the sport. This is mostly due to anime’s ability to craft narratives around a pre-established sport while simultaneously highlighting a series’ unique creativity and worldview. There are already plenty of anime series out there that focus more on tennis as a sport like Prince of Tennis, which leans on the side of novelty, and Baby Steps, which prefers realism.
What tennis episodes that appear in non-sports anime provide is the examination of tennis on a higher plane of theory. It asks, “how far removed from tennis can something be to still be considered tennis?” At the same time, the episode must blend into the laws of the set universe, whether it is fantasy-based, action-based, or anything else. As a result, anime that can pull off the “tennis episode” will prove that they are capable of entertaining in any way possible.
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The best sports anime characters are often the rivals, bringing their own unique flair to the challenges the protagonist must face and overcome.
10 Jaden Engages in a Tennis Duel With Marriage On the Line
Yu-Gi-Oh! GX (Studio Gallop), Episode 15
Yu-Gi-Oh! GX is the second anime series of the Yu-Gi-Oh! franchise that centers around the popular trading card game that magically comes to life on the screen. Every Yu-Gi-Oh! anime series puts emphasis on consumerism and strategy-based storytelling, but Yu-Gi-Oh! GX in particular expands on the groundwork laid by the original Yu-Gi-Oh! series. It does not introduce any game-changing mechanics, but the story follows Jaden (Juudai) Yuki's adventures and developments at duel academy.
Though Yu-Gi-Oh! GX definitely had its share of goofy episodes, the series is actually known for going to much darker places than the original series.
Within the span of GX, a tennis-influenced episode reared its head quite early, as the oblivious Jaden is punished and forced to the academy’s tennis club for a day. There, Jaden is challenged by the president of the club to a match (duel). Through many misunderstandings, it becomes a match where the winner gains the title of Alexis Rhodes’ fiancé, though she doesn’t agree, and it turns out Jaden doesn’t even know what the word means. Regardless, Jaden duels club president Harrington, who shows the repertoire of a tennis-based deck with cards incorporating tennis terminology like “ace” or “deuce.”
9 Ryuuko Plays Tennis With a Scissor Blade
Kill la Kill (Studio Trigger), Episode 2
Kill la Kill is an action fantasy anime that focuses on a school setting with a splash of ecchi. The story follows Matoi Ryuuko in her quest to uncover the mystery of her father’s murder. Her exploits eventually bring the scissor-blade-wielding teenager to Honnouji Academy, where the magical powers of uniforms, Life Fibers, and Kamui come to light.
One of Ryuuko’s earliest obstacles is the tennis club captain, whose uniform gives her magical battle prowess that involves violent volleys of tennis balls. Subsequently, Ryuuko rises to the challenge to defend her friend, Mako, who is being bullied by the tennis club . Although she struggles at first, when Ryuuko utilizes the power of her Kamui and scissor blade, she is able to turn the tables on the power-packed tennis match.
8 Saiki s a Fiery Summer Training Camp
The Disastrous Life of Saiki K (J.C. Staff), Episode 22
The Disastrous Life of Saiki K is a gag comedy anime that moves at a hilariously fast and blunt pace. The story follows the life of Saiki Kusuo, a teenager with incredible psychic powers who merely wants to live a normal life. However, even that is not so easy, as Saiki is forced to balance the usage of his powers with ethics, personal motives, and any anomalies that are thrown his way.
One such instance where Saiki’s patience is put to the test is when his friend Hairo drags Saiki and Nendo over to his tennis club’s practice, claiming to his coach that the pair are incredibly talented. As such, Saiki is implicated by an impromptu tennis match, which he hilariously fails to fail at, because the last thing he wants to do is the tennis club.
7 Conan Is Dragged Into a Tennis Court Mystery
Detective Conan (TMS Entertainment), Episode 602 (Int. 653)
Detective Conan, otherwise known as Cased Closed, follows the hidden exploits of a genius detective, Kudou Shinichi, who is mysteriously attacked and injected with a drug that regulates him to a child’s body. Despite this, Shinichi continues to fight crime behind the scenes under the alias of Conan, as he strives to revert to his past self in endless episodic fashion.
Case Closed is one of the longest-running anime in Japan.
Within the vast catalog of the Detective Conan anime, one particular tennis episode stands out. Although Conan himself does not ever pick up the racquet, the episode’s case is one that takes place entirely in a tennis stadium, after a player mysteriously collapses due to poison. Conan is on the scene to witness it all and must navigate both the tennis side of things and the detective work that is constantly hindered by sub-par agents.
6 Nikuman Shows the Similarities Between Tennis and Karuta
Chihayafuru (Madhouse), Episode 8
Chihayafuru is an amazing anime series that combines all elements of the sports, slice-of-life, and drama genres. The story follows Chihaya Ayase through her karuta journey in both the professional scene and in high school. Karuta is a traditional Japanese card game that demands high thresholds of memory and a pension for poetry. Most importantly, Chihayafuru shows karuta's amazing ability to bring people and communities together.
One character who Chihaya has to work extra hard to convince to her karuta club is Nishida Yusei, who Chihaya, as a child, nicknamed Nikuman-kun, which means meat bun. Chihaya has to push her persuasive skills to the limit because Nishida has apparently given up karuta to play tennis. However, it turns out that Nishida uses karuta rhythms to coordinate his body to play tennis, and is only using tennis as a substitute for the sport he dearly misses.
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Sports anime don't always have to be about basketball, soccer, and tennis. They can even create athletic spectacles out of mahjong, shogi, and poetry.
5 Even Magical Girls Find Time to Play Tennis
Sailor Moon (Toei Animation), Episode 14
Sailor Moon is the classic magical girl anime that really propelled the genre into the public eye. The story follows the life of Tsukino Usagi, who is the destined Sailor Moon, a magical guardian who is tasked with protecting the Earth from evil. The main antagonist of the original series is Queen Beryl and her evil energy-stealing monsters.
One instance in which Usagi must put her powers to use is when she notices anomalies in the tennis player, Saionji Rui. As it turns out, a malevolent energy-stealing monster named Tesuni (a very slight alteration of the word tennis) was possessing Rui’s tennis racquet to steal her energy. From Tesuni’s appearance, an exciting battle unfolds, involving traditional tennis aspects as well as goofy situations like Usagi turning into a tennis ball.
4 L and Light Play a Psychological Match For the Ages
Death Note (Madhouse), Episode 10
Death Note is a supernatural detective anime series that leans towards the darker side of shonen anime. The story follows Light, a highly intelligent teenager who stumbles upon the death note, a magical notebook that will kill anyone whose name is written on its pages via a heart attack. Although Light’s first murders are based on his own sense of justice, his worldview quickly becomes warped as world-renowned detectives such as L catch on to his trail, leading to suspenseful developments of dramatic problem-solving.
Within the psychological battles that often occur between Light and L, early in the series, the two decide to play a tennis match under the guise of scoping out each other's deductive abilities. Despite the plotting that goes on beneath the surface, Light and L actually play a decent set of tennis, which led to many memes surrounding this episode at the time of its release.
- Created by
- Takeshi Obata, Tsugumi Ohba
- TV Show(s)
- Death Note (2006)
- Video Game(s)
- Death Note: Kira Game
- Movie(s)
- Death Note, Death Note 2: The Last Name
- Character(s)
- Light Yagami, L Lawliet, Ryuk, Misa Amane, Near (Death Note), Mello (Death Note), Teru Mikami, Minoru Tanaka
3 Twilight and Nightfall an Underground Doubles Tournament
Spy x Family (Wit Studio & CloverWorks), Episode 22
Spy x Family is an action comedy anime that follows the agenda of the Forger family, which consists of a father, mother, and daughter, none of whom share any blood. However, each have their own reasons for coming together to form their familial unit, each with higher stakes than the next. The father, Lloyd Forger, is a legendary political spy, the mother, Yor Forger, is an assassin by night, and the daughter, Anya Forger, is an orphan with telepathic abilities who knows of her parents’ secrets but must keep her abilities hidden.
Lloyd Forger’s exploits are what push the general narrative of the series forward, as he is the reason the family was initiated in the first place. Under the alias Twilight, Lloyd is constantly on missions to ensure peace between the nations. One such mission is tag-teamed by a fellow member of his organization, Nightfall, as the pair enter an underground tennis tournament in order to infiltrate one of their target’s circles. Hilarious enough, the mission entails winning this tournament, which allows anything from doping to mechanical racquet enhancements.
Spy x Family
- Release Date
- April 9, 2022
- Directors
- Kazuhiro Furuhashi, Takahiro Harada
- Writers
- Kazuhiro Furuhashi, Ichirō Ōkouchi
Cast
Takuya Eguchi-
Atsumi Tanezaki
WHERE TO WATCH
Created by Tatsuya Endo, Spy X Family is an action-adventure comedy anime that follows the misadventures of a found family with unique quirks. The story follows spy Twilight (known as Loid Forger), who, while on assignment, builds a fake family to get closer to his target. Unbeknownst to him, his new family carries their quirks. His wife, Yor, is a kind but deadly assassin, while his daughter, Anya, has telepathic powers - and is the only one who knows their secrets.
- Streaming Service(s)
- Hulu
- Creator(s)
- Tatsuya Endo
2 The Diving Club Plays Drunk Tennis
Grand Blue (Studio Zero-G), Episode 7
Grand Blue Dreaming is a knee-slapping comedy anime that garners most of its laughs through abrupt and oftentimes vulgar gags. The story follows Kitahara Iori, who moves in with his uncle who owns a diving shop in a small coastal town. Subsequently, through one goofy interaction after another, Iori is dragged into the ranks of his university’s diving club, where he not only learns the beauty of diving but also how to party.
One of the 12 episodes-long anime’s funniest episodes is the one where Iori and friends face off against the tennis club, otherwise known as Tinkerbell. Through a series of hilarious exchanges, even the tennis club is not able to stand up to the skill of the diving club’s , and are forced to impair the latter through spiking their water. This leads to each club going back and forth with one out-of-pocket move after another until nearly all the cast have gotten some screen time on the tennis court.
1 Hachiman Shows How Far Practicing Alone Can Go
My Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU (Brain's Base), Episode 3
My Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU is one of the most deeply themed romantic comedy anime of the recent decade. Its story follows Hikigaya Hachiman, a pessimistic high schooler who isn’t afraid to voice his opinions and has a tendency to intentionally make himself out to be a public enemy. All of these qualities are gradually exposed after Hikigaya s his school’s volunteer service club, a club that tries to solve the problems of anyone who comes for a consultation. The depth of Hikigaya’s personality is slowly revealed in the opening few episodes, one of which involves playing tennis.
In this episode, Hikigaya shows the extent of his aversion towards collectivism as he faces off against two of the most popular students in his class. Using a special serve that has been honed through hours of solo practice, Hikigaya hits a lob so high that it bounces in the service box and out of the court, making it impossible to reach. Through a single shot, Hikigaya is able to convey the essence of his ideals while providing riveting match-play, which is why SNAFU's third episode is the best tennis episode in the history of non-tennis anime.
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