There are a lot of anime out there that showcase the extreme limits of action. Be it a show that deals with humans piloting giant mechs, or shows that focus on powerful human protagonists using supernatural abilities and magic.
But there are some shows that humanize and celebrate the journey of individuals trying to reach their personal goals of reaching heightened physicality. These shows are grounded in reality, for the most part, but more importantly, they celebrate overcoming challenges and inspiring viewers to partake in a healthier lifestyle.
We have listed a bunch of anime below. Shows that we consider are best at portraying the journey of working towards a fitness goal.
Best Health and Fitness Anime of all time
Plus-Sized Elf
Everyone has a guilty pleasure, the prime one of them being the urge to live life on delicious fast foods, the only issue is that it is not a healthy hobby to have. Plus-Sized Elf is an interesting take on the isekai anime genre, which explores the practice of controlling the urge to eat unhealthy.
Elfuda, an Elf who has arrived in the modern world, suddenly discovers French fries and is unable to control her cravings. This newfound unhealthy urge in a completely unfamiliar world led her to become the first-ever plus-sized Elf.
Now she must seek out the help of a massage therapist who is her only hope at shedding some of the newly gained extra pounds.
How Heavy Are The Dumbbells You Lift?
How Heavy Are The Dumbbells You Lift? is one mouthful of a manga title, written by Yabako Sandrovich and illustrated by MAAM. It was adapted into an anime by Doga Kobo animation studio in 2019.
The show has a sort of matching premise to Plus-sized Elf, but differentiates itself from the fantasy and focuses more on actually putting work into the fitness and gyming lifestyle. The story follows Hibiki Sakura, who is struggling with the dilemma of getting overweight from having an enormous appetite.
She takes up the task of fixing this by joining the Silverman Gym, where she befriends a colorful cast of characters. The show explores personal growth with a good pinch of comedy sprinkled all over it.
Ani tore! EX
The premise of Ani tore! EX is fairly simple. It follows a bunch of young girls who are aspiring to become future Idols. Hence, they must work towards keeping themselves in perfect, fit shape. Each episode explores a new workout routine, and the show also received a new season titled Ani Tore! XX.
An alternate title for the show is ‘Anime de training EX,’ with ‘training’ being shortened ‘tore.’ The show, at first glance, may look like it leans towards creepy fanservice, but overall is a genuine show that’s about having fun while working out. It was an original title from Rising Force and Earth Star Entertainment, and it aired in 2015 for 12 episodes.
The Gymnastics Samurai
Although the title has the word ‘Samurai’ in it, The Gymnastics Samurai is far from a show about actual samurai wielding katanas and indulging in sword fights. It is rather a show about Olympic-tier gymnastics, and it does have plenty of action sequences going for it. But unlike the other shows mentioned in this list, The Gymnastics Samurai takes itself seriously.
The show is about a gymnast who was also a former Olympian named Jotaro Aragaki. He never found the height of success in his career, as it was cut short due to an injury to his shoulder. But after a fateful meeting with a foreigner dressed up as a Ninja, his life takes a turn, as he decides to postpone his retirement and get back to his lifelong dream of earning a gold medal in gymnastics.
Yawara!
Probably the oldest title in this list, and created by the legendary mangaka Naoki Urasawa, known for incredible works such as Monster and Pluto. Yawara! was adapted into an anime in 1989 by studio Madhouse.
The show is about Yawara Inokuma, an ordinary high school girl who wants to live a simple yet fashionable life, have a romantic relationship with a boyfriend. But she has to reluctantly uphold her family traditions of being a master Judoka. Fortunately, she exudes immense potential for the sport naturally.
Yawara! is different from the usual trope of anime protagonists who fall in love with a particular sports discipline. Yawara is a naturally talented Judoka, and is unable to fall in love with the sport as it was being forced on her, but with time, she grows to love the martial art.
Baki
Adapted from the manga titled Baki the Grappler, by the creator Keisuke Itagaki, Baki is probably the most ridiculous show out there that goes beyond the normalcy of peak human physicality and masculinity.
The plot of Baki is a simple one; it follows the titular protagonist Baki Hanma, who wants to defeat the world’s strongest man in existence, Yujiro Hanma, his father. At its core, Baki, just like the rest of the shows on this list, explores characters working towards a goal that would lead them to the extremes of physicality and martial arts.
But after a closer inspection, first-time watchers of the show are always blown away by its unrealistic depiction of human feats.
Run with the Wind
Run with the Wind, also titled Kaze ga Tsuyoku Fuiteiru, originally in Japan, is a show that explores the sport of competitive running. Following the story of Kakeru Kurahara, who comes across another individual named Haiji Kiyose while running away after shoplifting.
Circumstances lead to Kakeru meeting a team of novice runners who are brought together to participate in Japan’s most prestigious relay marathon. But with only months remaining for the event, most of them are uninterested in participating.
What follows is an entertaining show about a team of rookies, working hard to become the best runners in the country.
