Top 10 Anime Swimmer Boys
With summer here, it is near impossible to not miss swimming! Whether making a trip to your local beach or kicking back by a pool, this year has us all yearning to break out our swimsuits and go for a dive! That is why we decided to put together this special list to fulfill that swimming urge as we showcase our current list of Top 10 Swimmer Boys of Anime!
Haruka Nanase (Free!)
He only swims free--and this is why Haruka Nanase from Free! - Iwatobi Swim Club reigns supreme!
Referred affectionately as “Haru” by his close friends, he finds his purpose in one place and one place only: the water. His love for swimming goes beyond to the point that he sometimes needs to be stopped from diving into whatever pool of water that can contain him by his own friends! Backed by the work of Kyoto Animation’s stellar animators, Haruka swims with absolute grace and fluidity throughout the series, a point furthered by parallels to imageries of dolphins in certain scenes. While his passion for the water becomes a point of conflict at some parts, his pure love for swimming stays true and is reason enough to make him a top tier swimmer!
Free! - Iwatobi Swim Club is a slice of life anime series that centers around the lives of Iwatobi High School’s swimming club Haruka Nanase, Makoto Tachibana, Nagisa Hazuki, and Rei Ryugazaki. After a fateful and unexpected reunion with fellow swimmer and childhood friend Rin Matsuoka, Haruka and his friends set off on a coming of age journey from rejuvenating their school’s swimming club, determining their paths in life, finding strength in the bonds of their friendship, and so much more!
2. Rin Matsuoka (Free!)
Never straying too far behind as always is everyone’s favorite shark, Rin Matsuoka!
Serving as Haruka’s opposite in Free! - Iwatobi Swim Club, Rin is a joy to watch in the water, from his burning competitive edge during swimming medleys to seeing each colorful layer of his character and history be presented in an engaging and sometimes heart wrenching way. Compared to Haruka’s aloof and quiet nature, Rin is fierce and fiery in the water. Don’t let his aggressiveness fool you though! He makes for a great senpai to his teammates and is a supportive older brother to his younger sister Gou, who also happens to be the manager for the Iwatobi Swim Club. Whether he is trying to better himself for swimming medleys or help the problems of those close to him, Rin stays amazing both in the water and out!
Free! - Iwatobi Swim Club is a slice of life anime series that centers around the lives of Iwatobi High School’s swimming club Haruka Nanase, Makoto Tachibana, Nagisa Hazuki, and Rei Ryugazaki. After a fateful and unexpected reunion with fellow swimmer and childhood friend Rin Matsuoka, Haruka and his friends set off on a coming of age journey from rejuvenating their school’s swimming club, determining their paths in life, finding strength in the bonds of their friendship, and so much more!
3. Tomoki Sakai (Dive!)
His resolve goes sky high as he strives to dive to the depths of the pool!
With eyes as blue as the water and a heart that shines like gold, Tomoki Sakai of the anime Dive!! makes for a wholesome protagonist that has you rooting for him all the way from beginning to end! From his start as a subpar diver to becoming a stellar athlete, each episode makes his journey a pleasure to watch, especially as Tomoki stays true to his earnest self and determined resolve!
Dive!! Is an anime and manga series that follows swimmer Tomoki Sakai. His club, the Mizuki Diving Club, is on its last stand, causing its sponsors to consider withdrawing their support: only on the exception if the club can somehow produce an Olympics-bound diver within the span of one year.
4.Kintaro Oe (Golden Boy)
Still the most iconic swimming moment in anime history, even decades later!
The laughs to be had while watching the raunchy anime comedy classic Golden Boy are countless. And when it comes time to watch our foolish, skirt-chasing protagonist Kintaro to take his mark to swim as demonstration of his skillset--or lack thereof. The animation done by studio A.P.P.P. is at its finest with every wheeze, cough, and sputter that Kintaro lets out in his desperation to stay afloat and make it to the otherside of the pool. While he certainly is no Harkua Nanase or Rin Matsuoka, Kintaro’s swimming style is a joy to watch!
Golden Boy is a 90s anime and manga comedy series that focuses on the misadventures of the lackadaisical womanizer Kintaro Oe. After deciding to drop out of the prestigious Tokyo University despite meeting all the requirements to obtain his law degree, he decides to traverse across Japan, picking up whatever job he can to get him to his next destination, all while clumsily entangling himself in the lives of many gorgeous women.
5.Natsu (Fairy Tail)
Even in water, Natsu is still fired up!
It wouldn’t be a classic episode of Fairy Tail without watching Natsu Dragneel ignite his scorching Fire Dragon Slayer Magic! However, throwing him near any body of water and some fun hijinks are sure to be had! Whether it is displaying a full German Suplex onto poor Lucy Heartfilia, squaring off against Gray Fullbuster in a full throttle swimming race, or dragging the whole cast into some water park shenanigans, Natsu brings out the fiery heat in the pool!
Fairy Tail is an anime and manga series that chronicles the journey of dragon slayer wizard Natsu Dragneel as he seeks out to find his missing father, Igneel. As a member of the renowned guild Fairy Tail, Natsu joins forces with his friends Lucy Heartfilia, Gray Fullbuster, Ezra Scarlet, Happy, and more during the trials and travels across the mythical world of Earth-land.
6. Deku (My Hero Academia)
It may have been just for one episode, but those swimming strokes were Plus Ultra!
In episode 1 of Season 3 for My Hero Academia, the loveable students of Class 1A think back to the previous events of Season 2 as a helpful refresher for viewers during their P.E. class at the pool. Here, a swimming contest is held amongst the guys, where Quirks--their superhero abilities--are allowed. While the likes of Bakugou and Todoroki are using their explosions and ice abilities to zoom their way over the water, our protagonist Deku stays in the pool to actually swim--with the added boost of his One for All power! From when he started off as an earnest Quirkless with big dreams of following in the footsteps of his idol All Might, this splashy and flashy display of his growth serves as a delightful moment for fans who have followed his journey throughout the series!
In a world of superheroes and villains, My Hero Academia follows Midoriya “Deku” Izuku and his journey to become the Number One Hero in the world. Whether fighting for justice or evil, the supernatural powers and abilities of heroes and villains are known as Quirks. Once lacking superheroes of any sort (known as “Quirkless” in the series), he attains the power of his superhero idol All Might, soon following in his footsteps as a group of evildoers known as the League of Villains seek to turn the world of heroism up on its head
7.Marlon (Pokemon)
He isn’t the last Gym Leader for nothing!
Serving as the final Gym Leader in Pokemon Black and White 2 and having a splashing cameo in the Pokemon the Series: Black & White anime, Marlon is a Gym Leader with compassion as vast as his Wailord! Though he only fights with 3 Pokemon in his Gym battle, he certainly proves to players that he is no pushover. And for a Trainer who rocks such an eclectic, trippy pair of blue pants, you would expect for a Gym Leader of his calibre to be one with the ocean!
Pokemon the Series: Black & White centers around the ongoing journey of Pokemon Trainer Ash Ketchum in his quest to become a Pokemon Master. In a universe full of unique, magnificent creatures known as Pokemon, Ash travels across different regions with his electric mouse Pokemon, Pikachu. While exploring the unknown that lies in wait within the Unova region, he is joined with his new companions Iris and Cilan.
8.Narancia (JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Golden Wind)
Though the context surrounding this swim may be heartbreaking, it serves as an absolutely incredible moment in the season!
From his first introduction in JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Golden Wind, Narancia Ghirga is debuted as a mischievous but hot tempered youth who may be sluggish when it comes to math lessons, but quick to the blade if the situation (and his anger) calls for it! Backed by the explosive power of his Stand--powerful spiritual manifestations of an individual’s psyche--Aerosmith, he is a force to be reckoned with in the mafioso world as the show progresses! However, there soon comes a moment when the fate of the group calls into question, and he must decide whether he wants to join or back out. While hesitant at first, Narancia soon--and literally--takes the plunge as he follows the rest of the gang, willing to risk it all to protect what he cherishes most.
JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure: Golden Wind takes the series to Italy, following the journey of Giorno Giovanna, an Italian youth who wishes to rise to the top of the mafia group in the country’s underworld, Passione. Upon awakening to a mysterious newfound power by the name of Stand and having a fateful encounter with one of Passione’s members, Bruno Bucciarati, Giorno goes on to prove himself of being worthy to be at the top while encountering friend and foe each step of the way!
9.Roronoa Zoro (One Piece)
For a character as iconic as One Piece’s Roronoa Zoro, the first two things that
immediately come to mind at the sound of his name as his moss green hair and his three
swords for his Santoryu style of fighting. However, it would appear we can add survivalist expert to his notable features! During the Drum Island Arc of the series, Zoro makes the very bold but not too wise choice to take a swim in the frigid water to refresh and strengthen his physical and mental resolve--after deciding to take off the layers of warm clothing he initially bundled up with! What ensues is absolute hilarity that only the Straw Hat Pirates’ swordsman can provide!
Among one of the most recognized anime and manga series in the world, One Piece follows the adventures of the Straw Hat Pirates and their captain, Monkey D. Luffy. Upon consuming a Devil Fruit, he gains the ability to stretch his body around like that of rubber. Joined by his group of friends who are among some of the most recognized and iconic characters in anime, he sails together with his crew to find the highly sought after treasure known as One Piece in order to become King of the Pirates.
10.Sora (Kingdom Hearts)
Of course Sora would be a great swimmer--especially when he’s in the hands of the player!
While water levels are often derided in video games, there is still a charm and wonder to Square-Enix’s faithful recreation of The Little Mermaid’s Atlantica in Kingdom Hearts and Kingdom Hearts II. With Atlantica was fully explorable in the first installment and a series of rhythm game levels in the second, there is much fun to be had while controlling our protagonist Sora, who has been made into a merman to better fit in within the underwater world. Joined by his companions, an octopus Donald Duck and a turtle Goofy Goof, players literally dive into the aquatic world of Ariel as they experience this much beloved Disney movie under a J-RPG lens!
Kingdom Hearts is an epic collaboration between Square-Enix and Disney where Final Fantasy and Mickey Mouse collide! The series follows around Sora and his journey after his home is overrun by shadowy creatures known as the Heartless. Soon awakening to the powers of the mythical weapon Keyblade, he is joined by Donald Duck and Goofy as they travel across different worlds to find Sora’s friends Riku and Kairi, and the king of Donald’s and Goofy’s world, Mickey Mouse himself! Meeting familiar faces from other Square-Enix titles such as Final Fantasy VII and The World Ends With You, and a plethora of Disney classics, the trio are in for the adventure of a lifetime!
That’ll do it for now! We hope this look at some of the top-tier swimmers in anime has you feeling refreshed! We hope to see more fun summertime swimming moments this anime season!
