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At this point, anime has becomea mainstream phenomenonenjoyed by millions of people all over the world. The industry has seen a massive boon since the late 2010s and early 2020s, but a large part of the anime fanbase comprises lifelong fans of the medium. Those who were lucky enough to have a childhood decorated by the kinds of amazing stories found in animation twenty, thirty years ago and beyond usually look back on those memories fondly.
Many athletes have shown open love and appreciation for anime and manga in recent years, including various footballers who play in the top flight of English football, the Premier League. Here’s what they were watching in their childhood – classics many fans will recognize, including Akira Toriyama’sDragon Ball.
What’s the Most Watched Childhood Anime in the Premier League?
Footballers Weigh In on Their Favourite Shows From Childhood
In a reel posted to Instagram, the official account of the Premier League interviewed several high-profile players whom football fans will have no problem recognizing. From Brighton and Hove Albion midfielder Kaoru Mitoma, who currently has the most Premier League goals of any Japanese player in history; to Liverpool Captain Virgil van Dijk and Arsenal’s William Saliba; Brentford striker Yoane Wissa and Brighton’s Julio Enciso, the Premier League asked several footballers what their favourite TV show was growing up. There were several answers, ranging from cartoons that aired in a player’s respective region, towidely recognized global phenomena. Among them, western cartoons like Rugrats,Ben 10,SpongeBob SquarePants,The Simpsons, as well as children’s shows likePower RangersandThe Suite Life of Zack and Codywere popular answers, but there were quite a lot of anime answers in the mix.Dragon Ball Zwas the most mentioned anime title, with former Newcastle United and Paraguay attacking midfielder Miguel Almirón, Fulham forward Raúl Jiménez from Mexico, Chelsea and Spain goalkeeper Robert Sanchez, and Everton midfielder Abdulaye Doucoure from Mali all regarding it as one of their childhood favorites.
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Liverpool
The aforementioned Jiménez and Sanchez both showed their immense love for anime, with the former mentioning other titles likePokémon,Saint SeiyaandYu-Gi-Oh!. Brighton’s Kaoru Mitoma lovedDoraemongrowing up (more on that later), while Enciso and West Ham midfielder Edson Álvarez from Mexico loved watching “Los Super Campeones”, known to English-speaking anime fans asthe legendary football animeCaptain Tsubasa, which was huge in Latin America in the late 1990s, early 2000s. Interestingly, the player who has garnered the most attention for his love of all things anime, Tottenham and England striker Dominic Solanke, was not in the video. Solanke has gained a lot of attention from fans of football and anime for his anime-inspired goal celebrations, which call to titles likeOne Piece,Naruto,Jujutsu Kaisenand evenAttack on Titan.
The Continued Overlap Between Football and Anime
The Popularity of Football in Japan Has Spawned Several Anime
Football being imagined through the lens of anime is by no means a new phenomenon, as the sport is quite popular in Japan where anime originates. Titles likeCaptain Tsubasa,Inazuma Eleven, and nowBlue Lockhave all gone on to become immensely successful franchises that combine the excitement and exaggeration of anime with the beautiful game. Even more sober takes on the football niche in sports anime, likeAo AshiorKnight of the Area,have an allure that stems from the allure of the sport itself. During the 2023/24 pre-season,Blue Lock collaborated with Inter Milan, while Real Sociedad midfielder Takefusa Kubo featured in the 2024 End of Year special episode of theDoraemonanime.
This episode made the La Liga outfit the first football club to be an active participant in one of the most popular animated series of all time, deepening the ever-growing connections between this and other sports, and anime. After their win against Brentford on Saturday, January 18, Liverpool players Ibrahima Konaté and Ryan Gravenberch watched the freshly released third episode ofSolo Leveling Season 2 -Arise from the Shadow-while waiting for their team bus to deparrt, a single moment that illustrates the overwhelming ubiquity of anime in the current age.
