Major League Baseball (MLB) is tapping into anime’s global appeal with the launch of its bold new 2025 brand campaign, “Heroes of the Game.” Designed to showcase the larger-than-life skill of today’s stars, the campaign brings four of MLB’s most electrifying players—Shohei Ohtani, Aaron Judge, Juan Soto, and rookie phenom Paul Skenes—to life as anime superheroes on a quest for the World Series.
A continuation of MLB’s “Baseball is Something Else” platform, the campaign was created in partnership with Wieden+Kennedy and debuts today across MLB.com, MLB Network, MLB.TV, social media, and select global out-of-home digital placements—including Times Square, Shibuya, Museo Soumaya in Mexico City, and Flannels in London.
The hero film series—available in :75, :30, and :15 versions—combines vivid animation, high-stakes storytelling, and a driving J-Pop score by Ado (of One Piece fame). Animation was crafted by Passion Pictures and Echelle Studios in Japan, with renowned anime director Hiroshi Shimizu (Fullmetal Alchemist, One Piece) overseeing the hand-drawn visuals.
In classic anime style, each featured player is depicted as a mythic figure, using hyper-stylized sequences, slow pans, and intense close-ups to highlight their real-world strengths. The campaign also includes anime-themed content that will roll out across MLB’s social platforms throughout the season, reacting to on-field moments with a graphic flair fans won’t want to miss. Watch below:
To celebrate the campaign and Opening Day 2025, MLB is hosting an installation at the league’s New York headquarters on March 27. The plaza outside the MLB Flagship Store will feature nine life-size “anime-style” baseball cards spotlighting Ohtani, Judge, Soto, Skenes, Ronald Acuña Jr., José Altuve, Bryce Harper, Julio Rodríguez, and Mike Trout—offering fans a chance to step into the animated world.
Following the buzz of last week’s Tokyo Series between the Dodgers and Cubs, MLB is keeping momentum high by embracing its deepening connection to Japanese culture and the global anime community. The decision to spotlight player narratives through anime is a nod not only to international fandom but also to the many players—like Jazz Chisholm Jr., Rodríguez, and Ohtani himself—who are vocal anime fans.
As MLB continues to explore new ways to connect with younger audiences, “Heroes of the Game” positions the league’s most talented players as icons in both sport and style—infusing baseball with the drama and energy of the world’s fastest-growing art form.
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