Sports anime, almost by definition, rely on direct competition to build drama. Whether they are getting punched repeatedly in the face, lifting heavy objects, or doing a bit of ice skating, these shows have the spirit of competition at their heart, so why do so many of the main characters end up losing the big game at the end? Because anime like Yuri!!! on Ice, Haikyu!!, and Slam Dunk aren’t about winning – they’re about losing. Welcome to Popverse Jump, a weekly column about anime, manga, and the ways in which they impact the world (and the ways the world shapes manga and anime, as a result). This week, we're talking about winning, losing, and the way we're playing the game.

Many of the best sports anime follow the formula that the story isn't really about winning the big match, but losing - and the journey along the way. The main character (and their teammates, where appropriate) face trials and setbacks to make it to the big match. Everything in Yuri!!! on Ice builds up to the Grand Prix Final, with Yuri Katsuki putting his everything into overcoming his anxiety and reaching the pinnacle of ice skating once again. Most of the Haikyu!! manga builds up to Nationals, where Karasuno High School’s volleyball team is seeking to restore its reputation as a powerhouse in the sport. The final chapters of Slam Dunk focus on Sakuragi and his teammates serving as underdogs in the National High School Tournament.

We’re naturally cheering for these characters to win despite the odds, and they all lose. Sakuragi is injured so badly he is hospitalized and Shohoku High loses their next game. Karasuno High falls short of the championship at Nationals. Yuri Katsuki has to settle for silver at the Grand Prix. All of these sports anime build up to a loss for the protagonists, yet they’re still incredibly uplifting. We love them not despite seeing the main character fall short but, in a way, because of how they react to losing.

The personal journey of the protagonist is obviously a contributing factor to this, but it is more than just how our hearts soared watching Yuri embrace Victor not as a coach but as a lover or how we admired Sakuragi for pushing himself in final match to the end despite what it cost him. We love these characters because of how they react to losing. Rather than feel shame or becoming distraught, which would be understandable after falling short of something they worked so hard for, the best sports anime show how champions accept loss as an important part of competition – and life.

Loss and rejection are an inevitable part of life and if you can’t move past those moments where you fall short, you’ll never achieve your dreams. If you let the fear of failure keep you from trying, you’ll never even set foot on the court. That’s why we cheer for the protagonists who lose even though we desperately want them to win. Yuri loses but he regains his confidence and seeks to continue training. The loss at Nationals spurs Hinata on to train in Brazil and, eventually, become a member of Japan’s Olympic volleyball team. It is a trope and a lesson that isn’t limited to anime; the ending of Rocky highlights the “victory in defeat” mindset that we love to see in our sports dramas.

The real lesson we should take away from sports anime isn’t the importance of winning or the value of healthy competition. It is the value of trying, of putting everything out there for the world to see. And, in a way, it is about the value of losing, of using those moments where we fall short to find out who we really are and reach further next time. So go out there, cast off your doubts, and fearlessly… try. Even if you lose, you’ll achieve more than if you had stayed at home and you’ll find yourself in the company of champions either way.

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