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Anime characters like Tobio Kageyama are born talented. This article covers ten similar sports anime characters.
In the colorful world of sports anime, there are a lot of gifted individuals. These guys just have talent like no others and show their skills in their sport. Take Tobio Kageyama, for instance, from Haikyuu!!, the volleyball prodigy formerly known as the “King of the Court.”
It is the precision with which Kageyama delivers his sets, his sense of the rhythm of the game, and his instinctive understanding of volleyball that make him stand on the court. But he is not the only natural athlete in anime. Many sports anime feature characters who were simply born with abilities that others have to work years to develop. This article identifies ten sports anime characters who, like Tobio Kageyama, demonstrate that rare, innate ability that can’t be taught.
1. Kaede Rukawa (Slam Dunk)
The first name that comes to mind regarding natural basketball talent in anime is Kaede Rukawa from Slam Dunk. He is the ace of Shohoku High’s basketball team and is compared to NBA stars for his smooth skills and incredible natural ability. Similar to Kageyama, Rukawa was just born with natural talent that most can only wish for.
Rukawa’s similarity to Kageyama extends beyond both players’ skills. It also lies in their serious, no-nonsense approach to their respective sport. He has only basketball on his mind and little curiosity about anything else. He did not even have to try too much to be one of the best on the court. His natural shooting ability, court vision, and skills just put him in that place.
Rukawa also suffers from needing to learn to cooperate with his team the way Kageyama does. He is gifted naturally, yet he likes playing solo rather than passing the ball. Like many talented athletes, Rukawa must learn that raw ability alone is not enough to win championships. Still, his natural talent is undeniable, making him one of the most gifted athletes in sports anime history.
2. Kise Ryouta (Kuroko No Basket)
One of the most naturally talented athletes in all of sports anime is Kuroko no Basket‘s Kise Ryouta. With the ability to copy any move after only seeing it once, he can become unstoppable when he wants to. He also happens to have a lot in common with Tobio Kageyama; both characters can get better and step their game up in an instant simply by watching.
Before even joining the basketball team, Kise was naturally good at every sport he tried. He became bored because everything came too easily to him until basketball finally presented a challenge. His Perfect Copy ability allows him to mimic the special moves of the Generation of Miracles. This makes him an unpredictable foe, able to use any of their techniques against them.
Despite his phenomenal gifts, Kise has to confront the same hurdle that many natural athletes face: learning that effort still matters. Similar to Kageyama, who was also a genius in his position as a setter but had to learn how to work as a team player, Kise needed to strive for more than copying—he needed to create a style of his own.
3. Nagi Seishiro (Blue Lock)
In the cutthroat world of Blue Lock, where strikers compete to become Japan’s next forward, Nagi Seishiro stands out as a raw natural talent similar to Tobio Kageyama. Despite only playing soccer for three months before joining Blue Lock, Nagi displays ball control and technical skills that leave even experienced players in awe.
Nagi’s natural talent manifests in his flawless first touch and ball control, which seem almost magnetic. The ball respects his authority in ways that don’t make any sense. Similar to Kageyama’s setting prowess in volleyball, Nagi’s touch in soccer is something that cannot be taught. For him, it’s instinctual—a natural feel for the game.
What makes Nagi’s story so exciting is that, although phenomenally gifted, he has no initial passion for the sport. Kageyama has always been driven by a desire to compete and win in volleyball, but Nagi plays due to mild interest. It’s the journey of someone who has to find a reason to rise to his talent, and Blue Lock gave him that.
4. Miya Chinen (SK8 the Infinity)
In the world of skateboarding anime, Miya Chinen from SK8 the Infinity stands out as a natural prodigy, much like Tobio Kageyama. At just 13 years old, Miya is a candidate for the Japan national team and already has a manager. For a person of his age, this is quite a big deal.
Miya’s talent was evident at an early age. He could do tricks that took others years to learn after only attempting them a few times. The ease he displays with his natural sense of balance, timing, and awareness on a skateboard looks otherworldly. Just as Kageyama knows where to deliver a volleyball set by simply being in the moment, so too does Miya’s body know how to act on a skateboard.
But as is the case with many naturally gifted players, Miya has a lot of trouble with the emotional side of his sport. His early success segregated him from other kids, leading him to believe that friendship and skateboarding were mutually exclusive. But in their respective shows, Kageyama learns teamwork, and Miya rediscovers his love for skateboarding.
5. Tomoe Yagami (Prince of Stride)
In the fast-paced world of stride racing, Tomoe Yagami from Prince of Stride is an all-natural talent like Tobio Kageyama. Tomoe, as Kakyoin Academy’s stride team member, possesses physical ability and racing instincts that indicate he was clearly born with talent.
Tomoe’s natural gifts are most obvious in his effortless speed and flawless parkour techniques. Where others struggle with complicated movements such as wall runs and vaulting, Tomoe flows through them like a supernatural being. Just as Kageyama can place a volleyball anywhere with exacting precision, Tomoe’s body knows the most streamlined way to maneuver around his surroundings.
What makes Tomoe and Kageyama similar is not just their talent but also how they handle themselves. He possesses immense talent, yet despite that, he has the ability to play without being self-centered. Tomoe’s story demonstrates that innate talent does not preclude working as part of a unit and highlights the value of cooperation. This is something Kageyama learned the hard way by trying to do too much on his own.
6. Wakatoshi Ushijima (Haikyuu!!)
There is no talking about talented anime characters like Tobio Kageyama without mentioning Wakatoshi Ushijima. As the powerful ace for Shiratorizawa Academy and one of Japan’s three greatest aces, Ushijima embodies raw strength and innate talent at its most unrefined.
Ushijima’s greatest gift is his left-handed spike, a feat of pure, raw power and pinpoint placement unmatched by most players. The power of his southpaw hits gives receivers an unusual, difficult-to-receive twist, making it very difficult to receive. This, plus Ushijima’s spiking power—like Kageyama’s setting precision—was given naturally.
What is particularly interesting about Ushijima is the simplicity of his approach to his talent. Kageyama, despite having all his abilities, struggled with working as part of a unit. Ushijima, on the other hand, just thought of himself as lucky and made his advantages work. He doesn’t question or overanalyze—he just blasts the ball.
7. Shintaro Midorima (Kuroko No Basket)
Another Japanese high schooler with incredible natural talent, like Tobio Kageyama, is Midorima Shintaro from Kuroko no Basket. As a member of the Generation of Miracles, Midorima has never missed a shot in a game if unguarded (initially). This is an achievement that is next to impossible, demonstrating his innate talent.
Midorima has an uncanny ability to shoot flawlessly from anywhere on the court, even hitting full-court shots that would be deemed impossible in the eyes of a normal player. Just as Kageyama can place volleyball sets with machine precision, Midorima has hands made for shooting basketballs.
As amazing as his shots are, he was still very strict with himself. There is strict finger-taping to protect his hands and the lucky objects he carries to improve his luck. No amount of practice could give someone the natural touch he possesses. Like Kageyama, though, Midorima had to learn that talent alone was not enough. His perfect shooting had to be integrated into team play to be truly effective. His story reminds us that even the most specialized natural talents need to find their place within a greater strategy.
8. Ryoma Echizen (Prince of Tennis)
In the world of tennis anime, none quite have a character with natural talent like Ryoma Echizen from Prince of Tennis. The 12-year-old tennis prodigy arrived in Japan carrying skills that some high school champions can only hope to have. Just like Tobio Kageyama from Haikyuu!!, he’s got that raw, innate talent.
Ryoma’s skill shows in his shot control, game sense, and ability to learn advanced techniques quickly. He can create new moves during a match and adjust to an opponent’s style with no effort. Much like Kageyama’s tactical genius in volleyball, Ryoma’s tennis skills feel like they’re coded into his DNA. This enables him to play at levels most people can’t—or at least, be capable of at that age.
What makes Ryoma’s journey compelling is the way it forces him to cope with his gifts. For Kageyama, he had to discover the value of working with others, even though he was a genius. For Ryoma, he must learn the value of humility and even find enjoyment in tennis outside of winning. As the series progresses, he comes to understand that although he is capable and talented, there is still more to his path ahead. He learns that connecting with others, seeking growth, and being challenged is what truly makes his talent worthwhile.
9. Itoshi Sae (Blue Lock)
As the older brother of Rin and former Japan U-20 representative, Itoshi Sae from Blue Lock represents another perfect example of a naturally gifted athlete similar to Tobio Kageyama. His incredible vision, technique, and game sense make him one of the most naturally talented players in all of Japan.
Sae’s talent shines through in his ability to control the flow of the entire game from midfield. Similar to Kageyama’s precise sets in volleyball, Sae’s passes seem to know when players will be there before they themselves do. His spatial awareness and feel for the game allow him to do things many other players cannot comprehend, let alone do.
What makes Sae particularly interesting is his view of Japanese soccer despite his incredible gifts. He has seen the international scene and believes natural talent is all that matters. This was a view similar to how Kageyama was once when he was the “King of the Court.” His story makes us wonder what it takes to be great: whether natural talent is worth anything if we do not sweat for it, do not bleed for it, do not work for it.
10. Rin Matsuoka (Free!)
In the swimming anime Free!, Rin Matsuoka is a naturally talented athlete on par with Tobio Kageyama. With his shark-like mouth full of teeth and aggressive swimming style, Rin is a natural and was able to secure a position training in Australia, one of the world’s giants of swimming.
Where Rin really shines is in his butterfly stroke, which looks like the lovechild of power, speed, and technique. Rin’s form while swimming almost seems perfect with little conscious effort, just like Kageyama’s setting abilities. His body knows how to cut through water easily, while others have to exert more effort to achieve the same.
Rin has issues with the mental aspect of his game, like many gifted athletes in anime. Similar to Kageyama’s arc of overcoming his “King of the Court” mentality, Rin needed to learn how to express his competitive side in a way that was good for him. Overseas, he learned the delicate balance between discipline and mental fortitude. Rin’s tale reminds us that even the most naturally gifted athletes can struggle at times with self-doubt and need help rediscovering their passion for the game.
Conclusion
These ten sports anime characters are like Tobio Kageyama, possessing raw talent. What gives these characters their power is not just their talent but their journeys toward understanding what that talent means.
Many struggle with teamwork, like Kageyama himself did. Others battle arrogance or the isolation that comes from being naturally better than their peers. Some even lack the motivation to match their abilities, needing to find personal reasons to pursue greatness. Such journeys remind us that talent may be granted, but greatness must still be earned through hard work.
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