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Proof That No One Likes Sports Anime

Sorry Big Windup!, FUNimation has thrown you out on the streets.

By GodLen   |  Jan. 9, 2010


I hate to sound cliché, but the final nail has been pounded into the coffin of sports anime in America. Bad news has been passed down on to us during Friday’s ANNCast, FUNimation’s guests Adam Sheehan and Lance Heiskell told us that because of low sales, they will not be licensing Big Windup! season two. Heiskell says, "there was not enough of an audience there who bought the series.", and that the low sales have also gave them the excuse of not acquiring other titles like Big Windup!.

This means that if FUNimaiton will not take a chance with sports anime in America, no one will. The death of sports anime is upon us, and I shed a tear for it. Though I personally doubt this will be the last one, I think only the big titles will be licensed from now on; like Prince of Tennis 2, if it ever gets made. Also places like Crunchy Roll could step in and be our supplier as well. So the only thing that is dead is sports anime on DVD.

[Via ANN]
Filed under: Big Windup!
26 Comments
Halberdierv2on Jan. 9, 2010 at 1:46 p.m.
oh well, I disagree that most people dislike sports anime, I like eyeshield 21, and Captain Tsubasa when I was young, and so did my friends.
GodLen staff on Jan. 9, 2010 at 1:58 p.m.
@Halberdierv2: I love it too man, but I think we are a minority. Through like you said if you grew up watching the shows you are more inclined to watch it. Was Tsubasa on broadcast TV when you were a kid?
FLCL1on Jan. 9, 2010 at 2:10 p.m.

i hate all sports anime lol
darkcyderon Jan. 9, 2010 at 2:23 p.m.
I can't really agree with you Len. I personally think that the market Big Windup! normally attracts doesn't even exist in America. Excuse me for not watching but I can't believe that  Big Windup!  is representative of all if any sports anime.
 
Perhaps if they brought over something more exciting like any of the Shounen sports anime or One Outs they'd have better results.
RedZBaylonon Jan. 9, 2010 at 2:25 p.m.
If it was an anime about fast food, americans would buy that shit.
 
AMERICANS ARE FAT JOKES OMG IM SO FUNNY!
JJOR64on Jan. 9, 2010 at 2:37 p.m.
Does Bamboo Blade count as a sports anime because I loved that show.
HSaabedraon Jan. 9, 2010 at 2:49 p.m.
@GodLen: 
I've seen Tsubasa in Spanish in Mexico and Whistle! (known as Supercampeones down there).  Sports anime seem to be one of those genres that are polarizing in the States for some unknown reason.
GodLen staff on Jan. 9, 2010 at 2:49 p.m.
@darkcyder: Of course Big Windup does not represent all sports anime, but to FUNimation it will think twice about licensing sports anime from now on. Even shows like prince of tennis and eyeshield have not sold particularly well. Though sports anime does have a bigger fandom outside of the US with Europe and South American countries.
GodLen staff on Jan. 9, 2010 at 2:50 p.m.
@JJOR64: It is a sports anime, but it is also so much more. Sort of like how Eva is not only just a mecha show. 
darkcyderon Jan. 9, 2010 at 3:15 p.m.
@GodLen: Too true perhaps from now on if they think about getting a sports anime (generally aimed at boys) they should make sure the characters don't have perma-blush.
Konandaon Jan. 9, 2010 at 3:32 p.m.
@GodLen:  
Woa Déjà vu anyway as I said in that other news article, they should liscense a sports anime of an interesting sport such as hockey (ice or street in particular), lacrosse, rugby, bobsledding, snowboarding or association football (soccer). Although I don't think any of these are as popular in Japan as baseball for instance, with the exception of association football.
JJOR64on Jan. 9, 2010 at 3:40 p.m.
@GodLen: That's true.
GodLen staff on Jan. 9, 2010 at 3:47 p.m.
@Konanda:  anything worth saying is worth starting twice. *runs*
Kuma_From_Argentinaon Jan. 9, 2010 at 4:27 p.m.
My second favourite manga is hajime no Ippo, so I like Sports mangas, I read Cap Tsubasa, Eyeshield 21 and prince of tennis... and they are all awesome! 
MorpheusDreamweaveron Jan. 9, 2010 at 4:39 p.m.
I'm sad to see the news from Funi, but I can't really fault them for their business decision. It's not like we haven't seen companies try to get sports anime to work over the years. 
 
I like Eyeshield 21 (I have to get back to watching it, though) and I bought Big Windup.
Halberdierv2on Jan. 9, 2010 at 5:24 p.m.
@Konanda said:
" @GodLen:  
Woa Déjà vu anyway as I said in that other news article, they should liscense a sports anime of an interesting sport such as hockey (ice or street in particular), lacrosse, rugby, bobsledding, snowboarding or association football (soccer). Although I don't think any of these are as popular in Japan as baseball for instance, with the exception of association football. "
well when eyeshield was relesed, people in japan started playing a lot more americal football as a result. maybe they could do a non-US sport, like cricket or something.
CorAutMorson Jan. 9, 2010 at 11:15 p.m.
I'm kinda curious to see if anyone will license the manga. I just hope they don't base it on the sales of the anime. Seems unlikely though.
Nikoon Jan. 9, 2010 at 11:31 p.m.
At least sports anime got a chance. We're never going to see cooking anime. Dammit, Food Network, license Yakitate Japan already!
John_Martoneon Jan. 9, 2010 at 11:38 p.m.
@RedZBaylon said:
" If it was an anime about fast food, americans would buy that shit.  AMERICANS ARE FAT JOKES OMG IM SO FUNNY! "
Aww... I miss you.
GodLen staff on Jan. 10, 2010 at 6:16 a.m.
@Niko said:
" At least sports anime got a chance. We're never going to see cooking anime. Dammit, Food Network, license Yakitate Japan already! "
THIS

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A boy named Mihashi Ren is dragged into his new high school's baseball club, even though he feels he's a lousy pitcher-- he had the position in middle school, but only due to his grandfather's influence as the school principal.

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