10 More Fun Shows To Watch!
Slam Dunk is a great basketball anime. It delves into the lives of our cast inside and outside the court and feels more grounded compared to most sports anime. Slam Dunk contains a remarkable cast with great personalities and viewers will enjoy seeing them develop as the series progresses. The anime tackles themes regarding friendship, sportsmanship, and teamwork and will certainly get you excited about basketball, regardless if you’re a fan or not.
Fear not if you’re having trouble finding anime similar to Slam Dunk! We’ve discovered 10 alternate shows that’ll give you a similar experience as Slam Dunk.
Additionally, for each anime we’ve reviewed, we’ve included a link that allows you to view our full thoughts about the series to see if it’s worth your time.
So without further ado, we present 10 TV shows that should whet your appetite when you’ve finished streaming Slam Dunk!
Kuroko’s Basketball
Similarities – Basketball & Characters
Kuroko’s Basketball and Slam Dunk are incredible basketball-themed anime. While the former features more supernatural aspects, it captures the same heart and soul for the sport as Slam Dunk. From its wonderful characters to its excellent use of court strategy and techniques, Kuroko’s Basketball will leave you at the edge of your seat.
That said, this anime adopts more shonen elements than Slam Dunk. Kuroko Basketball features characters performing signature moves akin to techniques you’d find in shows like Naruto or My Hero Academia. From enhanced speed to insane copy abilities, you’ll automatically grow accustomed to the exaggerated ways our characters play basketball in this show.
Unfortunately, the show doesn’t delve too much into our characters’ lives off the court. However, if you’re clamoring for a basketball anime with some insane competitions and friendly themes, give this one a shot.
Great Teacher Onizuka
Similarities – School-Like Setting & Characters
Great Teacher Onizuka is an anime that’ll leave you laughing hysterically. It provides excellent humor and touches upon lighthearted subjects to balance things out. It follows Eikichi, a former gang leader turned teacher. His goal is to score a date with a girl he finds attractive. While Eikichi may not get what he was after, he’ll later obtain something far better.
This is an incredible anime that touches upon the joys of youth and the obstacles that come with it. You’ll grow attached to Eikichi’s character and adore the wholesome bond he forms with faculty and students alike. Although he gets roped into sexual and delinquent activities, it’s his wholesome side that’ll make you grow fond of his character.
That said, you’ll find yourself giggling at Eikichi’s failed romantic attempts. If you’re looking for a funny slice-of-life anime with clever jokes and humorous slapstick, give this one a shot.
Ahiru No Sora
Similarities – Realistic Interpretation of Basketball
Ahiru No Sora feels like a modern equivalent to Slam Dunk. Not only is it a basketball anime, but it delves into topics outside of the sport to stand apart from other shows like it. In it, we follow Sora Kurumatani, who adores basketball but can’t escape his short height. Despite his small stature, Sora’s determined to become the best basketball player ever.
To satisfy his mother’s wishes, he enrolls in Kuzuryuu High School to become a member of its basketball club. Unfortunately, his new teammates don’t share the same passion for the sport as he does. He challenges the boys to a match in hopes of recovering their love for the sport. Through countless sessions, Sora plans to reignite his school’s passion for the sport and lead his team to victory.
This series doesn’t hold back on its drama. Like Slam Dunk, most of Ahiru No Sora’s cast come from delinquent backgrounds and viewers will enjoy uncovering more about them as the show progresses. You’ll be satisfied with how much these characters grow by the end of the narrative and seeing them work together to defeat numerous obstacles. If you’re looking for another basketball anime with a realistic take on the sport, check out Ahiru No Sora.
Ace of Diamond
Similarities – Story & Characters
Baseball is a noteworthy sport. While it doesn’t hold a candle to American Football or basketball today, it’s a sport many adolescents, kids, and adults love playing with their friends and family. Ace of Diamond is an excellent example of how fun the sport can be from a storytelling perspective and features a likable cast you can’t help but embrace.
Visually, this anime outclasses Slam Dunk. You’ll adore seeing our characters hit home runs and make an effort to secure bases and victories in each game. No match feels lifeless or dull and the same can be said for its cast. Fans will adore seeing our characters strive to improve their skills in the show. The relationships they establish and maintain our wholesome and will remind folks of their youth.
In addition to some added suspense for most games, Ace of Diamond is a fabulous sports series to watch after Slam Dunk.
Hajime No Ippo
Similarities – Characters & Comedy
Hajime No Ippo is an ongoing sports anime with much passion put into it. It contains a brilliant narrative, some motivational dialogue, and epic battles that’ll get your heart pumping. With ounces of facial and sensual humor thrown in the mix, you’re sure to walk away from Hajime No Ippo smiling and highly satisfied.
This anime follows Ippo, a kind-hearted boy who struggles to support his mother and fight bullies. Eventually, Ippo meets a boxing champion named Takamura. After several training montages, Ippo inevitably impresses Takamura to the point where he joins him in becoming a fabulous boxer. This road won’t be an easy one, but Ippo will make sure to give it his best shot.
The fights will please hardcore folks while the lighthearted content may entice some to shed tears. Hajime No Ippo is an emotional roller coaster that gradually gets better over time. If you’re looking for an incredible boxing anime to dive into with a hint of supernatural elements, give this one a shot.
Naruto
Similarities – Characters & Themes
Despite focusing on two different genres Naruto and Slam Dunk are alike in many ways. Both series highlighted the importance of teamwork and ambition. They give viewers a taste of our characters’ lives outside of their occupations. They contain some degree of humor that allows presents viewers chances to breathe from the dramatic and action moments.
Most importantly, both anime feature characters who have a goal to achieve and will stop at nothing to accomplish those dreams. On the flip side, Naruto feels more brutal in comparison to Slam Dunk. The characters in this show get involved in deadly situations where their lives are always on the line. At the end of the day, Naruto is a wonderful classic from Shonen Jump’s catalog of shows.
If you’re looking for an incredible anime with a stunning adventure, a likable cast, and epic battles, check it out.
Space Brothers
Similarities – Comedy & Slice of Life
Space Brothers is an incredible slice-of-life anime. This show follows two ambitious brothers who’ll stop at nothing to achieve their dreams of becoming phenomenal astronauts. While it doesn’t involve sports, both brothers evoke similar feelings of hope and ambition like our cast in Slam Dunk.
On that note, this series offers some top-notch comedy. You’ll enjoy the show’s slapstick and witty jokes. The banter between the brothers and the side characters will leave you laughing hysterically. This anime places just enough hurdles in our characters’ way to make their methods of overcoming those obstacles feel rewarding and satisfying.
If you enjoy anime that feature protagonists who undergo personal growth and change, you’ll get a kick out of this one.
Ao Ashi
Similarities – Themes
Ao Ashi is a fun soccer anime with a great emphasis on sportsmanship and teamwork. It follows a boy named Ashito, whose known for his self-centered play style and unpredictable moves on the soccer field. Without Ashito, his team would fail. Unfortunately, this exact phenomenon happens after he gets removed from a game for acting rambunctious.
Although Ashito’s team loses, a youth team coach named Tatsuya offers Ashito a chance to try out for a new team in Tokyo. Although Tokyo’s unfamiliar territory to Ashito, he accepts Tatsuya’s offer. This anime knows how to break down the fundamentals of soccer well, allowing anyone to get into the show.
Viewers will get to see the struggles that befall soccer players and coaches. At the same time, the anime gives viewers a chance to peer into Ashito’s life off the court. If you’re searching for a show with excellent relationship-building components, great animation, and an exhilarating soundtrack, give this one a shot.
Gintama
Similarities – Characters & Comedy
Once again, we arrive at another anime that has nothing to do with sports. However, Gintama is a lot like Slam Dunk. Although it evokes a comedic and samurai focus, the show dabbles into some mature scenarios. The scenarios will implement our cast in deadly scenarios that can cost them their lives.
Our tale follows Sakata Gintoki. He’s a carefree samurai who runs the Yorozuya. This is a business that tackles small missions for a price. Along the way, Gintoki meets new people with supernatural abilities. Together, they venture off into a world inhabited by all walks of life in hopes of making a quick paycheck.
Gintoki and Hanamichi start off as loners but grow to appreciate the people who enter their lives. The side characters play a vital role in moving the story forward and fans will enjoy seeing the chemistry both groups share. If you’re okay with a mostly comedic show with a hint of maturity, give Gintama a shot.
Yu Yu Hakusho
Similarities – Themes & Characters
Yoshihiro Togashi is a fantastic manga author that brought fans stellar works like Level E, Yu Yu Hakusho, and Hunter X Hunter. Yu Yu Hakusho may be an action-centric show, but it shares strong similarities with Slam Dunk. Not only are both 90s hits, but these shows offer a strong male cast and touch upon themes of friendship and perseverance.
In it, we follow a delinquent named Yusuke Urameshi who could care less about following rules or studying. One day, Yusuke sacrifices himself to save a girl from getting hit by an oncoming vehicle. This results in Yusuke dying and being transformed into a spirit. A woman named Botan takes Yusuke to meet the spirit realm’s prince, Koenma.
Koenma offers Yusuke a chance to become his spirit detective. If he completes Koenma’s missions, he’ll give Yusuke another shot at life. Not wanting to remain a spirit forever, Yusuke accepts Koenma’s offer, leading to him embarking on a life-changing adventure. This is an incredible anime with common shonen elements from tournament arcs to ever-growing villains. If you adored following Hanamichi’s journey in Slam Dunk, Yusuke’s mystical quests in Yu Yu Hakusho should suffice.
You can read our interview with one of the Yu Yu Hakusho Live-Action SFX artists here!
So there we have it, our 10 anime/TV show alternatives to watch when you’ve caught up with Slam Dunk!
What do you think of our picks? Do you agree? Are there any notable omissions? Let us know in the comments below!