What is Battle Athletes?#
Set in the year 4999, Battle Athletes imagines a future where humanity has traded war for intergalactic athletic competition. The most prestigious of these events is an all-female contest to crown the “Cosmo Beauty.” The story follows Akari Kanzaki, a student at the University Satellite who dreams of claiming the title once held by her mother. Along her journey, Akari must navigate new friendships, fierce rivalries, and the grueling challenges of becoming the ultimate Battle Athlete.
If you are looking to dive into this high-stakes sports world, you can watch the anime on Prime Video.
Is the Anime Really Finished?#
Determining if Battle Athletes is “finished” depends on which version of the story you are following. The franchise has several iterations, including the original 1997 series and an alternate retelling titled Battle Athletes Victory.
More recently, the franchise saw a revival with Battle Athletes Victory ReSTART! (2021), which is an adaptation of the manga Pale Blue Dot Battle Athletes Daiundōkai ReSTART!. Since the source manga for the ReSTART! series concluded in March 2021, viewers can find a sense of closure within that specific arc. However, because the franchise consists of alternate retellings and spinoffs rather than one linear narrative, you can enjoy the various anime entries as distinct experiences.
If you love the characters and want more, you can buy the manga to get the full experience of the ReSTART! storyline.
Who is This Anime For?#
Battle Athletes is best suited for viewers who enjoy a blend of the following:
- Tournament Structures: If you love the thrill of athletes climbing the ranks to become the best, this is for you.
- Sci-Fi Comedy: The futuristic setting combined with comedic character interactions provides a lighthearted atmosphere.
- Sports and Fanservice: The show heavily emphasizes athletic competition paired with classic fanservice themes.
Interested in collecting some gear? You can buy Battle Athletes merchandise to show your support for the Cosmo Beauty competition!
Recommended Watch Order#
Because this series features alternate retellings and adaptations of spinoffs, the order in which you watch can change your experience. For a detailed breakdown of how these series connect, please refer to the relationship tree below the article.
Release Order#
For those who want to experience the franchise as it was aired:
- Battle Athletes (1997)
- Battle Athletes Victory (1997)
- Battle Athletes Victory ReSTART! (2021)
Completionist Order (Including Source Material)#
If you want every single detail and the most comprehensive experience, we recommend incorporating the manga:
- Battle Athletes (1997)
- Battle Athletes Victory (1997)
- Pale Blue Dot Battle Athletes Daiundōkai ReSTART! (Manga)
- Battle Athletes Victory ReSTART! (Anime adaptation of the manga)
For Those Who Prefer the Modern Era#
If you don’t mind starting with newer material and supplementing it with the manga, you can jump straight into the ReSTART! project, though you may miss the context provided by the original 1997 series.
Enjoying our guides? We put a lot of work into investigating these relationship trees so you don’t have to. Support us on Ko-fi to keep the site running!
Battle Athletes • anime • 1997-05-25 to 1998-06-25
└─(alternate retelling)→ Battle Athletes Victory • anime • 1997-10-03 to 1998-03-27
└─(spinoff)→ Pale Blue Dot Battle Athletes Daiundōkai ReSTART! • manga • 2020-06-26 to 2021-03-12 (serialized on Comic Jardin)
└─(adaptation)→ Battle Athletes Victory ReSTART! • anime • 2021-04-10
