Lately, anime and baseball have been teaming up like never before, and not just one, buttwo major franchises have joined forces with the sport.Demon SlayerandOne Pieceboth recently announced collaborations with Major League Baseball, including fan events and exclusive merchandise.
The MLB has also recently announced a new anime-inspired collaboration, titled “Heroes of the Game.“Using this project, talented anime artists are bringing famous baseball players to life through their art, with creators fromOne PieceandFullmetal Alchemistpitching in.
Artists Who Worked on Major Anime Series Have Partnered With the MLB
The Project, Titled ”Heroes of the Game,” Brings Baseball Players to Life in an Anime Art Style
The hand-drawn short films included in the “Heroes of the Game” collectioncenter around MLB players Shohei Ohtani, Paul Skenes, Aaron Judge and Juan Soto.The anime-inspired project features each player drawn in familiar anime art styles that fans will recognize from series likeFullmetal AlchemistandOne Piece,since artists from each of these animes were involved in the production of “Heroes of the Game.” The partnership was directed by Hiroshi Shimizu, a well-known Japanese film director and his skills definitely helped blend the worlds of anime and baseball cohesively, creating a masterpiece for sports and anime fans alike to enjoy.
The official MLB X account has posted a few times about “Heroes of the Game,” revealing stills of the artwork from the project and evena sneak peek trailer. The trailer offers viewers a glimpse at the players included in “Heroes of the Game” as well as the flawless, breathtaking animation provided by so many gifted artists in the anime industry. “Heroes of the Game” is the ultimate team-up between anime and baseball, but it is actually not Major League Baseball’s first experience with anime.Demon SlayerandOne Piecehavealso collaborated with the MLB in recent months.
Demon Slayer and One Piece Partnered With the MLB in 2025
Both Franchises Have Released Sports-Themed Fan Nights and Short Films, Blending Anime and Baseball
BothDemon SlayerandOne Piece,two of the biggest franchises in anime history, also have ties with the MLB. On June 30, 2025, a specialOne Piecefan nightwill be taking place during a Seattle Mariners game.The event will feature exclusive merchandise available for purchase, likeOne Piecejerseys, and other details that have yet to be revealed. The NBA also hosted their own highly successfulOne Piecenight,at a Los Angeles Lakers game. The fan event boasted an animated video of Luffy playing baseball,One Pieceposters and jerseys, and a photobooth.
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Announces Historic Collaboration With the MLB, Teasing Anime’s Global Growth
The hype for the new Demon Slayer film is real, and to celebrate its upcoming release, the series is teaming up with an unexpected collaborator.
Finally, aDemon Slayeranimation was recently unveiled by the MLB,starring players like Shohei Ohtani and Shota Imanaga animated by ufotable in theDemon Slayerstyle. The brief video clip perfectly drummed up excitement for both sports and anime, as baseball season enters full swing andDemon Slayer’sInfinity Castle film franchise rapidly approaches its release date later in 2025. All of these recent collaborations prove that sports and anime can both be appreciated together, and the “Heroes of the Game” partnership is sure to increase fans' appreciation for both categories even more.
