The obsession with soccer isn’t new—even if the upcoming World Cup and the Club World Cup have made people in the US pay even more attention to a sport that is way more popular outside of our borders. Proof positive of that is the amount of soccer-themed shows and movies, and the fact that one of the most popular anime from the ’80s was Captain Tsubasa, a soccer based anime.
With multiple shows, movies and OVA’s, and a protagonist that grows with the show, it’s important to know the right order. So, what order should you watch Captain Tsubasa in? We’ve got the answer.
Captain Tsubasa (1983-1986)
The series that started it all, Captain Tsubasa focuses on Tsubasa Oozora, a Japanese kid who just so happens to be very good at soccer. The series chronicles how Tsubasa trains and competes, as well as the friends he makes in the world of soccer and his opponents. Heavily focused on the actual matches, the show is notorious for taking episodes to show the outcome of games. The series was beloved in Japan, where it gave kids and adults alike a new passion for the sport, and outside of Japan, where it was very well received for its heavy focus on the actual sport.
Captain Tsubasa: The Great European Showdown (1985)
Of course, the story could not just end with the main anime. Instead, multiple movies were released during the original run of the show, starting with Captain Tsubasa: The Great European Showdown. This movie is set right after the end of the elementary school portion of the main series and serves as the foundation for the U-13 International Tournament arc. Notorious for being the movie that introduces a lot of players outside of the Japanese team we’ve followed for most of the show, players we will see again in most cases.
Captain Tsubasa: Danger! All Japan Jr. (1985)
Captain Tsubasa: Danger! All Japan Jr. serves as a direct sequel to Captain Tsubasa: The Great European Showdown and sees the European players we met in the previous movie looking for their chance at revenge against the Japanese team after their earlier victory. This will be the norm for a lot of these movies, and indeed, a lot of the upcoming shows. One team wins, the other will look for a rematch and so on and so on. This is, after all, a show about soccer. There’s always another game to be played.
Captain Tsubasa: Run Towards Tomorrow! (1986)
In some ways a direct follow up to the 1983 anime, and in others, a movie filled with flashbacks to things that happened before, Captain Tsubasa: Run Towards Tomorrow! is very typical of the franchise. Not a lot happens, but we get to spend some time with the players we have, at this point, followed for two movies and an entire series, so it’s still a must for fans of Captain Tsubasa and its characters. Past the middle point, it advances the plot a little bit, with Oliver not playing at his best, and the Japan youth starting training camp sessions.
Captain Tsubasa: World Great Battle! Jr. World Cup (1986)
If Japan ever dreamed of being successful in soccer, it was likely because of the high expectations set by Captain Tsubasa. Captain Tsubasa: World Great Battle! Jr. World Cup serves as the end of the original anime era and sees the typical Japan vs. Europe match turn into an intercontinental world cup that now involves the United States youth team and South America youth team. We won’t spoil who wins, but let’s just say that there’s a reason we have been following the Japanese side, as they get most of the attention.
Captain Tsubasa OVAs
Captain Tsubasa, like many other anime, released a couple of OVAs (Original Video Animation) in between some of its other offerings. New Captain Tsubasa (1989-1990) and Captain Tsubasa: The Strongest Opponent! Netherlands Youth (1994) helped bridge the gap between one series and the next. The last of these OVAs was also released as part of the Jump Super Tour ‘95 film.
New Captain Tsubasa sees all the Japanese all-star teams join forces to compete in France, which gives fans a chance to see all their favorites together. Meanwhile, Captain Tsubasa: The Strongest Opponent! Netherlands Youth is about a series of games between the Japanese youth team and the Netherlands youth team.
Captain Tsubasa J (1994-1995)
This is, in many ways, a remake, or at least partly one, because the first part of Captain Tsubasa J retells the so called “Kid’s Dream” arc, which is basically the elementary school part of the original anime. But the second part goes into new stuff adapted from the manga, like the so called “Word Youth Arc,” that sees Tsubasa go to Brazil to play at Sao Paulo FC. The show also follows the Asian preliminaries and the World Youth tournament, which of course, sees Japan face Brazil in the final.
Captain Tsubasa: Road to 2002 (2001-2002)
Captain Tsubasa: Road to 2002 is another retelling of a lot of the original anime, this time with a retelling of the OVAs as well, and going even further to follow not just Tsubasa, but the main cast of players that have populated the previous installments in their professional careers. The series was released to advertise the 2002 FIFA World Cup in Japan and South Korea. The series was sponsored by Adidas, whose logo can clearly be seen at multiple points during the show. Alas, it would not bring Japan the luck they wanted, as the team was eliminated in the round of 16 in real life.
Captain Tsubasa (2018)
Is it another remake, this time closer to the manga? Yes, it is. Captain Tsubasa follows in the footsteps of other anime franchises who did exactly the same thing in recent years, like Sailor Moon, which debuted Sailor Moon Crystal in 2014. The animation doesn’t change all that much, but the look is cleaner and there’s much less filler in this version of the story. A great watch for those who don’t have the patience to wait for three episodes from the moment Tsubasa hits the ball to the moment we find out if he scores or not.
Where To Watch 'Captain Tsubasa' In Order Online
To discover more about Captain Tsubasa TV shows and movies currently streaming in the US check out the JustWatch streaming guide! You can filter your search by streaming service, genre, price, age rating, and score. Be sure to build your watchlist and receive helpful notifications on what to watch next based on your preferences!
