From One Piece to Demon Slayer, Anime's Top Creators Are Coming Together For the MLB

Lately, anime and baseball have been teaming up like never before, and not just one, but two major franchises have joined forces with the sport.Demon Slayerand One 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 from One Piece and Fullmetal Alchemist pitching 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 like Fullmetal Alchemist and One 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 even a 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 Slayer and One Piece havealso 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

Both Demon Slayer and One Piece, two of the biggest franchises in anime history, also have ties with the MLB. On April 8, 2025, a special One Piece fan night will be taking place during a Seattle Mariners game. The event will feature exclusive merchandise available for purchase, like One Piece jerseys, and other details that have yet to be revealed. The NBA also hosted their own highly successful One Piece night, at a Los Angeles Lakers game. The fan event boasted an animated video of Luffy playing baseball, One Piece posters 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.

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Finally, a Demon Slayer animation was recently unveiled by the MLB, starring players like Shohei Ohtani and Shota Imanaga animated by ufotable in the Demon Slayer style. The brief video clip perfectly drummed up excitement for both sports and anime, as baseball season enters full swing and Demon 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.

Source: Crunchyroll, X (1)(2), YouTube

Demon Slayer

Created by: Koyoharu Gotouge
First Film: Demon Slayer the Movie: Mugen Train
First TV Show: Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba
Cast: Natsuki Hanae, Akari Kitō, Hiro Shimono, Yoshitsugu Matsuoka, Kengo Kawanishi, Kana Hanazawa, Toshihiko Seki, Saori Hayami, Tomokazu Sugita
Video Game(s): Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- Sweep the Board!, Demon Slayer -Kimetsu no Yaiba- The Hinokami Chronicles
Latest Film: Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba - To the Hashira Training

One Piece

Created by: Eiichiro Oda
First Film: One Piece: The Movie
First TV Show: One Piece
Cast: Kazuya Nakai, Akemi Okamura, Kappei Yamaguchi, Hiroaki Hirata, Ikue Ôtani, Yuriko Yamaguchi
Video Game(s): One Piece: Unlimited World Red, One Piece: Pirate Warriors 3, One Piece: Pirate Warriors 4, One Piece: World Seeker, One Piece Odyssey
Character(s): Monkey D. Luffy, Roronora Zoro, Nami (One Piece), Nico Robin, Usopp (One Piece), Vinsmoke Sanji, Tony Tony Chopper, Franky (One Piece), Jimbei (One Piece)