Baseball in Anime

[PictureGuy]

In honor of the 2021 World Series, starting this Tuesday night, I thought of a thread about baseball in anime. Baseball is big in Japan, having been introduced prior to World War II. (Look up "Moe Berg!")

So I am looking for anime which features baseball. It does not have to be an anime about baseball, just as long as the game figures in one of the episodes.

The only baseball anime I have seen is Big Windup. Ren is the pitcher for a team that always loses, and the team always blames Ren. Switching schools, Ren is ready to give up the game until he is roped into joining his new school’s newly formed team. Finally blessed with a coach and a catcher who believe in him, Ren, a control pitcher, becomes a winner. Hopefully he will eventually become less of a wuss.

Baseball figures in FLCL. Naota’s older brother, not seen in the series, plays ball in the US. The game also plays a role in one episode where it serves as a metaphor for success in life. You have to swing the bat.

Then there is that game in one episode of Dorohedoro. I forget why En has his team infiltrate a ball game, but that is not important. What is important is that this is literally a death match.

In Summer Wars, part of the family is distracted by the high school championship series, as the internet world of OZ is about to be conquered plunging the world into chaos.

Then there is that baseball game in an episode of Assassination Classroom. Koro-sensei cheers his students on like any good teacher would, while biding his time before he destroys the world.

Then there is this bit I found:



This is the English language dub, but you can hear a bit of the original Japanese in spots. A catcher getting hit in the groin is not unusual in baseball, but you won’t find it in any American cartoons of this era.

You got any? Don't just list. Tell us a little about them.

[Lord]

Baseball is fun to watch as long as it's animated

Try watching Diamond no Ace, Major or One Outs. I liked these shows!

[PictureGuy]

Baseball is fun to watch as long as it's animated

Try watching Diamond no Ace, Major or One Outs. I liked these shows!

What is it about these shows which sets them apart from others?

[Lord]

What is it about these shows which sets them apart from others?

Diamond no Ace and Major are both shounen anime, the typical protagonist wants to get stronger with his nakama type of shounen. One outs is different in that regard, the MC is a very skilled pitcher but at the same time he's incredibly clever and he utilizes his intelligence to progress.

[Basara1]

Ippatsu Kanta-kun, but there is no English subtitles Typical shounen, but more family-friendly.

[PictureGuy]

From Big Windup:

[PictureGuy]

In FLCL, Naota (aka Takkun) fails at baseball because he won't swing the bat. But when the chips are down, and lives are in the balance:



Baseball as metaphor.

[Clayton_n]

There's a lot of baseball in anime. It's popular in Japan.

[PictureGuy]

From Dorohedoro, the game will never be the same:

[PictureGuy]

I can't find a baseball clip from Summer Wars, but those scenes are pretty unimportant to the movie, so let's skip that one and go to Assassination Classroom!

[Clayton_n]

paranoia Agent



FLCL



Casey from Pokemon









Fun Fact: A teenage girl named Jackie Mitchell struck out Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig and in doing so got women banned from major league baseball

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/histo...ehrig-4759182/

[PictureGuy]

I already mentioned that FLCL episode.

Paranoia Agent? I guess so. Maybe we should include it. Otherwise Li'l Slugger might get pissed.

[Basara1]

Dragon Ball Super:

[Clayton_n]

Dragon Ball Super:

The first thing Gohan does in school is play baseball

[PictureGuy]

^ Isn't it backwards?

I do remember that episode.

[Basara1]

Gohan plays baseball during PE classes in school, but Yamcha is actually a pro player

[Clayton_n]

Yeah, but Yamcha didn't hold back. You know that's cheating right.

As for FLCL I had the evil girl playing, not the boy.

Theres a Furry Baseball anime called BNA: BRAND NEW ANIMAL

[PictureGuy]

Gohan plays baseball during PE classes in school, but Yamcha is actually a pro player

I don't remember that. BUt it has been a while.

Theres a Furry Baseball anime called BNA: BRAND NEW ANIMAL

Thanks for reminding me of BNA. I liked the series, but haven't thought about it for a while. I forgot about the baseball episode.

[Clayton_n]

I have no idea why any of the DBZ guys are poor... for one thing they know a witch who could probably find gold if they asked.


https://www.fandomspot.com/best-baseball-anime/

[PictureGuy]

^ Bulma's family is rich.

Getting back on topic, how could I forget this one?



I posted it before on a vintage anime thread I started some time ago.

[Clayton_n]

[Kumagawa]

Recently all I can think of is the baseball episode in Brand New Animal, and the bizarre philosophical baseball story that took up the entirety of episode 4 in Sonny Boy.

[PictureGuy]

I don't know Sonny Boy. More info, please.

[Clayton_n]

There's another Casey Jones.,..