NHK’s Anime x Para Returns With a Heartwarming Sledge Hockey Story Designed by Maid-sama! Creator
NHK has unveiled the 20th installment of its long-running Anime x Para: Who is Your Hero? project, continuing its mission to spotlight parasports through anime. The new short aired on NHK E this week and centers on sledge hockey, a fast-paced and powerful Paralympic sport.
What makes this installment especially eye-catching is its character design, handled by Hiro Fujiwara, best known as the creator of Maid-sama!. Her distinct art style brings warmth and emotional depth to the short, perfectly matching the project’s inspirational tone.
The anime stars Nobuhiko Okamoto and Hiroki Yasumoto, while the theme song is performed by Tortoise Matsumoto, adding an uplifting musical touch to the story.
Launched in 2017, Anime x Para is an NHK initiative aimed at increasing public interest in parasports ahead of the Summer and Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games. Over the years, the project has collaborated with major creators and franchises, including Captain Tsubasa for blind soccer, Baby Steps for wheelchair tennis, Yowamushi Pedal for para-cycling, and Welcome to Demon School, Iruma-kun for goalball.
With its blend of sports, anime, and heartfelt storytelling, the latest Anime x Para short once again proves how animation can inspire, educate, and connect audiences to real-world heroes.
Tags: Anime x Para, NHK, Parasports, Sledge Hockey, Hiro Fujiwara, Maid-sama!, Paralympics