Which Baseball Anime is Your Favorite? 3rd Place: Daiya no A, 2nd Place: Major, And 1st Place is That Title with a Confirmed Sequel! #Yakyuu no Hi

August 9th is “Baseball Day”. It was established due to the Goroawase (a Japanese wordplay) of “ya (8) kyuu (9)” for “yakyuu” (baseball). Baseball is one of the most popular genres among sports anime. Many titles have depicted passionate dramas over the years. From struggling to reach the professional world, to high school baseball players fostering friendships through games, or incredible, fiery plays exploding on the field, each work offers a diverse and captivating experience.

With that in mind, Anime! Anime! conducted a reader survey titled “When you think of baseball anime?”, following up on last year’s survey. We received 405 responses during the survey period from July 24th to July 31st. The gender ratio was approximately 40% male and 60% female, with a slight majority of female respondents. The age distribution was predominantly younger, with about 45% being 19 years old or younger, and around 15% each for those in their 20s and 30s.

1st Place
2nd Place
3rd Place
Other Fan Comments!
Full Top 10 Ranking

Previous Year’s Results (2024): https://animeanime.jp/article/2024/08/09/85919.html

From Orthodox to Unique Works! Rediscovering the Charm of Baseball Through Anime

1st Place

Taking the top spot at 1st place is *Boukyaku Battery*. With approximately 37% of the votes, it has secured the number one position for two consecutive years.

Boukyaku Battery Key Visual (C) Mikawa Eko / Shueisha・KADOKAWA・MAPPA

Fans raved about the series, with comments such as, “This baseball anime unexpectedly starts with the genius catcher, Kaname Kei, losing his memory. Even though I knew nothing about baseball rules, it was fascinating to learn alongside Kaname Kei, who also started from zero knowledge.” Another fan shared, “I burst out laughing at Kaname Kei’s one-liner gag, ‘Paige~!’ I initially thought it was a comedy anime, but the interesting part is the serious gap between the gags and the solid play theories and game development in the actual baseball scenes.” It seems the series truly appeals to both seasoned baseball fans and newcomers alike.

Many were also deeply moved by the story, saying, “Each character carries an unforgettable past, and the story of them overcoming those struggles together really touched my heart. It beautifully expresses the importance of striving forward, even if not everyone gets to experience a bright and carefree youth.” These comments highlight how the characters’ perseverance inspired viewers. This popular work, which has a second season already confirmed, rightfully earned its high ranking.

2nd Place

Coming in at 2nd place is *Major*. With an approval rating of approximately 15%, it has held the second spot for two consecutive years.

Major Key Visual (C) Mitsuda Takuya / Shogakukan・NHK・NEP・ShoPro

In addition to high praise for the work itself, with comments like, “This is a grand baseball anime that thoroughly depicts Shigeno Gorou’s turbulent baseball life. The battles against changing rivals across different eras – from Little League to middle and high school, and then the Major League – are absolutely thrilling! It’s packed with tears, laughter, and powerful emotions,” many readers also cited *Major* as the anime that ignited their passion for baseball. “I got hooked after watching the anime as a child, and that’s how I became interested in baseball,” one reader shared.

Furthermore, some readers found striking similarities between the anime’s iconic scenes and real-life events. One fan commented, “The 2023 WBC finals felt just like a recreation of Gorou vs. Gibson Jr. To think that a similar drama would unfold in reality over a decade after the broadcast…!” It’s clear that *Major* continues to resonate deeply with its fanbase.

3rd Place

Securing 3rd place is *Daiya no A*. With an approval rating of approximately 14%, the top three titles remained consistent with last year’s rankings.

Daiya no A actII Key Visual (C) Terajima Yuuji / Kodansha / “Daiya no A actII” Production Committee・TV Tokyo

The realistic portrayal of the sport is a significant draw, with fans commenting, “The protagonist is scouted by a prestigious baseball school and aims to become the ace while competing with his companions through dormitory life. There are no fantasy elements like ‘magic pitches’; instead, I was deeply moved by the serious and gritty青春 (seishun/youth) of the high school baseball players,” and “Set in a powerful private school, each game is meticulously depicted, and the players’ feelings are conveyed remarkably well. All the students from every high school are working so hard, it made me want all of them to go to Koshien!”

The series also received strong support from those with baseball experience, with one noting, “For me, who started playing baseball in high school, this work is like a textbook.” With the broadcast of its sequel, *Daiya no A actII Second Season*, confirmed for 2026, even greater excitement is anticipated for the franchise.

Other Fan Comments!

For *Hachigatsu no Cinderella Nine*, a fan commented, “I admired Tsubasa’s bright personality and enthusiasm for establishing a girls’ hardball baseball club. Her teaching methods were so excellent that even I, with no baseball experience, could learn how to play catch by following her advice! The game might have ended its service, but I really want to see a continuation of the anime!!”

Hachigatsu no Cinderella Nine Key Visual (C) Akatsuki Inc. / Anime “Hachigatsu no Cinderella Nine” Production Committee

*Miracle Giants Doumu-kun*, a viewer noted, “It’s surprising that professional baseball teams appear by their real names in this anime, despite being from the Heisei era. What’s more, even active players show up! Also, Melody-chan, who came from the Major League, was super cute.”

For *Jujutsu Kaisen*, a fan said, “On the second day of the Kyoto Sister School Exchange Event, Gojou Satoru unexpectedly initiated a baseball match. I laughed at the spirited direction of the Jujutsu Koshien, with plays unique to Jujutsu Sorcerers and even baseball broadcast-style introduction captions!”

Jujutsu Kaisen 1st Season Key Visual 3 (C) Akutami Gege / Shueisha・Jujutsu Kaisen Production Committee

And for *Ballpark de Tsukamaete!*, which aired this year, a vote was received with the comment, “Baseball can’t be played by players alone. If you watch this work, which focuses on various stadium staff such as beer vendors and security guards, you’re sure to love baseball even more!”

Anime Ballpark de Tsukamaete! Visual (C) Suga Tatsurou / Kodansha / “Ballpark de Tsukamaete!” Production Committee

This survey saw a wide range of baseball anime ranked, from the original classic *Kyojin no Hoshi* to the 2020s broadcast of *Boukyaku Battery*. Furthermore, votes were even cast for the 1940s Disney film *Make Mine Music*, a result that truly demonstrates how deeply and widely the sport of baseball has been loved for many years. Don’t miss the Top 20 ranking on the next page!

Full Top 10 Ranking

[Which baseball anime? 2025 Edition]

Boukyaku Battery
Major
Daiya no A
Touch
Kyojin no Hoshi
Dokaben
Captain
Ookiku Furikabutte
Ballpark de Tsukamaete!
Tama Yomi

(Response period: July 24, 2025 – July 31, 2025)

Next page: Ranking 20th place onwards revealed

Other ongoing survey themes are here! Please share your thoughts.

https://animeanime.jp/special/1898/recent/

*This survey is part of a larger consciousness survey regarding readers’ current interest and attention towards anime works and characters. The results are not intended to determine superiority or inferiority among any characters or works. We hope this article serves as an opportunity to discover new works and characters, or to deepen your understanding and interest in them.

《Takahashi Katsunori》
_

Source

Which Baseball Anime is Your Favorite? 3rd Place: Daiya no A, 2nd Place: Major, And 1st Place is That Title with a Confirmed Sequel! #Yakyuu no Hi <2025 Edition>

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