This isn't propaganda dressed as animation. Each episode takes a real Paralympic sport and builds a character around it so specific, so human, that you stop thinking about disability as a category and start thinking about what that person wants to win. The collaborative format means every episode feels like a different director's statement, not a checklist. By the time you finish one, you understand why that sport exists, what it demands, and why someone would dedicate their life to it.
Short animated segments from NHK present fictional Paralympic athletes, created through collaborations between well-known manga artists and animation directors. The aim is to spark interest in parasports and the Paralympic Games. The first story centers on blind soccer, with characters designed by Yoichi Takahashi of Captain Tsubasa. The second follows a female sprinter who runs on a prosthetic leg, with designs by Eisaku Kubonouchi. The original broadcasts paired each animated piece with interviews and Paralympic coverage. The project planned to cover more sports in the run-up to 2020.
Streaming Animation × Paralympic: Who Is Your Hero? legally, as of the last catalog refresh. Availability changes by region.
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