Crunchyroll quietly added English dubs on October 15 for The Prince of Tennis: Two Samurais, The First Game and the short A Gift from Atobe, the franchise's 2005 theatrical debut. Konomi's sequel manga also ended in August, and U-17 World Cup Finals Members Decisive Match is airing right now. Tennis anime is getting more attention than it has in years. So we built the board nobody else has: every tennis anime with a real vote base, ranked by SenpaiRanks Consensus.
Quick answer
According to SenpaiRanks, the best tennis anime is Baby Steps 2nd Season (7.80 Consensus), followed by Baby Steps (7.66) and the original The Prince of Tennis (2001, 7.55). Studio Pierrot's Baby Steps wins on realism: a note-taking honor student who learns tennis as a data problem. Prince of Tennis wins on spectacle and sheer volume, with 178 TV episodes from Production I.G plus a long tail of OVAs and films. As of October 15, 2026, Crunchyroll streams the first Prince of Tennis film in English dub and sub, and simulcasts the new U-17 World Cup arc.
The ranked list
1. Baby Steps 2nd Season — 7.80
Studio Pierrot, 2015, 25 episodes. Eiichiro Maruo heads to a Florida academy and finds out how far he is from the pros. It's the rare sports sequel that scores higher than its first season, because the matches get tactical instead of just loud.
2. Baby Steps — 7.66
Studio Pierrot, 2014, 25 episodes. Ei-chan's whole method is a notebook. If you've never watched a tennis anime, start here: it teaches you the sport while it hooks you on the guy.
3. The Prince of Tennis (2001) — 7.55
Production I.G, 178 episodes. Ryoma Echizen and Seigaku invented the "superpowered tennis" genre. Our Prince of Tennis where-to-watch guide maps the whole franchise.
4. The Prince of Tennis: National Tournament Final — 7.55
The 2008 OVA that finishes the manga's Nationals arc, which the TV series never adapted. It ties the TV run on Consensus, and the Semifinal OVA sits at the same 7.55.
5. Stars Align (Hoshiai no Sora) — 7.45
8-bit, 2019, 12 episodes. A boys' soft-tennis club about to be shut down, and a show that is really about the families behind the players. It's the heaviest drama on this list.
6. The Prince of Tennis II — 7.33
2012, 13 episodes. The U-17 training camp opens. Middle schoolers versus high schoolers, and the start of the arc that's still airing today.
7. The New Prince of Tennis vs. Genius 10 — 7.30
2014 OVA, 10 episodes. The camp's top ten take on the challengers. Fan-service tennis done well.
8. Aim for the Ace! 2 — 7.14
1988 OVA, 13 episodes, directed by Osamu Dezaki. Hiromi Oka's story continues in a classic of the shoujo sports genre.
9. The Prince of Tennis: Two Samurais, The First Game — 7.04
Production I.G, 2005 film. Seigaku plays an exhibition on a cruise ship run by a millionaire who wants them to throw the match. It's the one that just got its English dub on Crunchyroll.
10. Aim for the Ace! (1973) — 6.87
Madhouse, 26 episodes. This is where the genre started, and Dezaki's split-screen style still holds up.
Just outside the top 10: U-17 World Cup (6.78) and the gag-short series Teekyuu (6.69 for its third season).
How to pick your first one
If you want realism, go with Baby Steps. If you want spectacle, start with Prince of Tennis 2001 and then the National Tournament OVAs. For emotional drama, pick Stars Align. For history, watch Dezaki's Aim for the Ace!. If you're catching up for the current arc, our U-17 World Cup where-to-watch guide has the order. This board sits under our general best sports anime ranking, next to the volleyball, basketball and baseball boards.
Why the order looks like this
On MyAnimeList, one number blends "lots of people watched it" with "it holds up". SenpaiRanks splits those into Consensus and Quality, and for this genre the two axes mostly agree. That's why Baby Steps edging out the much bigger Prince of Tennis matters: it isn't a niche spike. If you think Ryoma deserves the top spot, rate The Prince of Tennis and your vote moves the board.
More SenpaiRanks guides: Aoashi Season 2 English Dub: Cast, Start Date & Where to Watch, Initial D Watch Order, Where to Watch & Is It Good (2026), Best Anime Movies of the 2010s, Ranked: Where to Watch All 12, and Best Anime Films of the 2000s, Ranked: Top 12 + Where to Watch.
Frequently asked questions
Q: What is the best tennis anime?
A: According to SenpaiRanks, Baby Steps 2nd Season leads at 7.80 Consensus, ahead of Baby Steps (7.66) and The Prince of Tennis (7.55).
Q: Is The Prince of Tennis movie dubbed in English?
A: Yes. Crunchyroll added the English dub of The Prince of Tennis: Two Samurais, The First Game and A Gift from Atobe on October 15, 2026, alongside the Japanese audio.
Q: Where can I watch the new Prince of Tennis anime?
A: Crunchyroll streams The Prince of Tennis II: U-17 World Cup Finals Members Decisive Match as it airs. It premiered September 30, 2026.
Q: Is Baby Steps worth watching?
A: Yes. Both seasons rank above every Prince of Tennis entry on SenpaiRanks, and it's the most realistic tennis anime on the board.
Q: What tennis anime should a beginner watch first?
A: Start with Baby Steps for a grounded intro, or with The Prince of Tennis (2001) if you want over-the-top shonen matches.