Dominic Solanke’s love for anime is far from a secret, with the former Bournemouth and current Tottenham Hotspur striker revered for his celebrations, which are inspired by popular series such as Naruto, Jujutsu Kaisen, and Dragon Ball.
For those who may be unaware, anime is a style of Japanese film and television animation, aimed at both adults and children, and is renowned for its unique visual style.
The forward has long been vocal about his enthusiasm for anime, often sharing his latest watch on Instagram, or his innovative anime-inspired football goal edits – combining the two in an unprecedented manner.
Unapologetic in his passion for the medium, Solanke has mentioned in various interviews the inspiration behind his iconic celebrations. And when asked if anime influences his playing style, the England international said:
“You could say [my] mindset. It is just so relentless – the characters not giving up. It is actually always nice to think back to those characters and what they’ve gone through and how hard they worked.”
And so when Solanke hosted a private screening of the newly released and highly anticipated movie, Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle, in collaboration with anime streaming site Crunchyroll, it was a match made in authenticity.
The private screening was the first of its kind, with notable attendees including Liverpool’s Jeremie Frimpong, Chelsea’s Tosin Adarabioyo, and Sheffield Wednesday’s Nathaniel Chalobah.
Perhaps the most significant facet of the partnership between Solanke and Crunchyroll is that it just makes sense. An avid fan linking up with a major provider, coming together to fuse the two worlds of football and anime in the most authentic way possible.
The ability to publicise his interest and receive acclaim reinforces the shifting narrative surrounding footballers and their ability to share their interests, without the fear of backlash, which may have hindered previous generations. It also reveals the innate value for both brands and ballers of authentic collaboration, rubberstamping the long-held belief that for any partnership to thrive, it must be rooted in genuine interest.
Given the development of the game, this partnership may get lost as one of the many that take place, but its significance can’t be understated. The very essence of how football interacts with other industries has been altered massively, and this link-up is yet another reminder that the pendulum has swung in favour of organic collaboration.
Most significantly, not only does it represent a shift in public perception of anime, particularly within the sport, but it also provides a brief glimpse into the much broader relationship between those in the professional game and anime.
Contrary to popular belief, anime isn’t limited to children, and it has fans all across the game. Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konate echoed Solanke’s sentiments about the messages in the shows he watches, sharing, “Sometimes when I watch anime, my Liverpool teammates say to me: ‘Wow, you’re too old to watch that.’ What they don’t understand is that manga/anime is not just a visual pleasure; it inspires me every day. There are real messages!”
View this post on Instagram
Similarly, Solanke’s now Spurs teammate Xavi Simons has often deployed anime-inspired celebrations, and fans in north London will be eagerly anticipating seeing the two playing together on the pitch. Not just for their ability, but for the inevitable link-up and celebration.
Beyond the Premier League, Barcelona star Lamine Yamal often uses anime characters for his profile picture on Instagram, sometimes even matching them with his close friend and international teammate Nico Williams.
More than just entertainment, the essence of spirit and determination that lives within the anime world is clearly a source of inspiration and motivation for all these players.
More than just entertainment, it is clear that the messaging within these series has become a source of inspiration and motivation for these players, following them from their youth into the professional game. The ability to share these interests freely is a testament to the shift in athlete self-expression that is taking place in the game, with athletes able to express themselves unapologetically.
The Solanke x Crunchyroll partnership is a vivid example of the value to ballers in being unapologetic about their passions, and for brands to truly maximise their partnerships with athletes, they must look towards genuine passion and authenticity, as opposed to reach and engagement.
