(abbreviated Anime x Para or Ani x Para) is a series of animated short films produced by NHK to promote the 2020 Summer Paralympics in Tokyo. Each episode features a different Paralympic sport and is produced in collaboration with well-known anime and manga creators or franchises.
On February 28, 2020, it was announced that Kyoto Animation had to cancel an episode they were working on, originally due to be aired in August 2019, as due to an arson attack they would be unable to complete it in time for the 2020 Paralympics.
List of episodes No. Sport Release date (Japan) Release date (U.S.) Collaborators 1 Football 5-a-side November 10, 2017 September 8, 2018 Story directed by Yoichi Takahashi, creator of Captain Tsubasa Theme song by Okamoto's 2 Para-athletics November 10, 2017 November 10, 2018 Story by Eisaku Kubonouchi, author of Chocolat Theme song by Sakura Fujiwara 3 Wheelchair tennis August 25, 2018 November 11, 2018 Features real-life athlete Shingo Kunieda, four-time Paralympic medal winner Crossover with Baby Steps Theme song by Leo Ieiri 4 Goalball November 17, 2018 December 9, 2018 Crossover with KochiKame: Tokyo Beat Cops Theme song by Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra 5 Wheelchair rugby December 15, 2018 January 26, 2019 Characters by Tetsuya Chiba, creator of Ashita no Joe Theme song by Mongol800 6 Vision impaired judo March 3, 2019 May 14, 2019 Collaboration with Katsutoshi Kawai, creator of Monkey Turn, who interviewed Junko Hirose, bronze medal winner at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games Theme song by miwa 7 Paracycling July 20, 2019 August 19, 2019 Features real-life athlete Shota Kawamoto Crossover with Yowamushi Pedal Theme song by 04 Limited Sazabys 8 Para-badminton November 12, 2019 January 4, 2020 Collaboration with Kōji Seo, creator of Suzuka and Cross Over Theme song by Kaela Kimura 9 Boccia March 30, 2020 May 25, 2020 Features real-life athlete Takayuki Hirose, member of the silver medal winning team at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games Crossover with Hotaru no Hikari Theme song by Mao Abe 10 Vision impaired marathon March 31, 2020 June 1, 2020 Collaboration with Mashiro Hi, a manga about vision impaired marathon Theme song by LiSA 11 Wheelchair basketball October 18, 2020 November 3, 2020 Crossover with Dear Boys: Act 4 Theme song by Daichi Miura 12 Para table tennis April 25, 2021 June 27, 2021 Features real-life athlete Iwabuchi Koyo, competitor at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games Collaboration with Yoshino Mariko and Miyao Kazutaka, author and illustrator respectively of Team Futari Theme song composed by Tsunku and sung by Yokoyama Daisuke and the NHK Tokyo Children's Chorus 13 Para-alpine skiing February 20, 2022 Features Momo Minamikawa, character based on an interview with real-life athlete Momoka Muraoka Character Design- Hisashi Eguchi Theme song- Awesome City Club "On Your Mark" 14 Para-Snowboard February 20, 2022 Features Mayama, character based on an interview with real-life athlete Keiji Okamoto Character design- Kazuhiko Shimamoto Theme song- WurtS "SPACESHIP" 15 Para-volleyball August 22, 2022 Collaboration with Harigane Service by Tatsuya Ara Theme song by Hatsune Miku and dance group CONDENSE 16 Paracanoe March 12, 2023 Collaboration with Kimi to Kogu - Nagatoro Kōkō Canoe-bu by Ayano Takeda Theme song- otoha "If no Mermaid". 17 Para-archery February 27, 2024 Features real-life athlete Aiko Okazaki, competitor at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games Collaboration with Ushio & Tora by Kazuhiro Fujita Theme song- Burnout Syndromes "Amateras". 18 Goalball March 22, 2024 Collaboration with Welcome to Demon School! Iruma-kun Theme song- Da Pump "Unstoppable".
References
External links Official website (Japanese) Official website (English) YouTube playlist