Captain Tsubasa

Tsubasa Ozora loves playing football since he was a little child. After moving to the japanese town of Nankatsu together with his mother, the 11-year-old boy quickly finds friends and joins the local football team of his elementary school. Together with his newly made friends and Brazilian mentor Roberto, Tsubasa starts his exciting journey to chase after his most desired dream - one day winning the FIFA World Cup.

Captain Tsubasa (1983-1986) is a Japanese animated sports series created for TV Tokyo, a classic shonen football anime. When young Tsubasa Ozora moves with his mother to the small town of Nankatsu, the gifted eleven-year-old quickly joins the local elementary school football team and forms friendships with his new teammates. Guided by Brazilian mentor Roberto, he pursues a single, audacious goal: one day winning the FIFA World Cup. Each episode is built from practice drills, friendly rivalries, and tournament matches, with exaggerated, emotionally charged set pieces that turn ordinary games into dramatic contests of skill and will. The tone is earnest, warm, and energetic, celebrating teamwork, perseverance, and the thrill of competition. The series spans five seasons and 128 episodes, following one continuing story in which the team grows steadily more formidable. Fans of Hajime no Ippo, Haikyu!! and Inazuma Eleven will find resonance in its underdog spirit and childhood rivalries. Its gentle, uplifting energy makes it an approachable and endlessly rewatchable entry for younger viewers and sports enthusiasts alike.

Viewers broadly regard the series as a warm, energetic sports anime with strong audience ratings that rise across its seasons.

• Hajime no Ipposhared shonen sports anime tone, child protagonist chasing a dream through competition
• Haikyu!!childhood rivalry and team sport growth in a youth sports anime
• Inazuma Elevenwholesome sports anime with an earnest young hero and team camaraderie

Release Date

1983-10-13

Episode runtime

24 min

Rating

7.9 / 10 (845)

What is Captain Tsubasa about?

An 11-year-old football prodigy moves to the town of Nankatsu and builds a team of friends toward his dream of winning the World Cup.

What is Captain Tsubasa like to watch?

Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Captain Tsubasa as brisk, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as simple.

Is Captain Tsubasa violent?

No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in Captain Tsubasa.

What did critics think of Captain Tsubasa?

Viewers broadly regard the series as a warm, energetic sports anime with strong audience ratings that rise across its seasons.

Which shows are like Captain Tsubasa?

Shows with a similar feel include Hajime no Ippo, Haikyu!!, and Inazuma Eleven.

How long is Captain Tsubasa?

Captain Tsubasa: 5 seasons, 128 episodes.

Is Captain Tsubasa still running?

No, Captain Tsubasa has ended.

Where can I watch Captain Tsubasa?

In United States, Captain Tsubasa streams on Hoopla.