Fans of fitness might find American Ninja Warrior as one of the most riveting reality shows out there. Instead of directly competing and clashing with other contestants in feats of strength and wit, American Ninja Warrior emphasizes the contest against oneself. Created as a spin-off of Japan’s Sasuke Ninja Warrior, the Western ANW series has a similar concept: contestants attempt to finish an obstacle course with challenges that require immense feats of strength and acrobatics.
Such obstacles are so intense that they often force contestants to think on their feet and use their energy wisely, with some shows highlighting a contestant and how they intelligently overcame obstacles to finish the course within a reasonable amount of time. And with 16 Seasons and counting, some fans of the series may consider some series as standouts for those who want to get acquainted with the show or even those who want to feel inspired.
7 Season 14 (2021)
In a bid to prove that aspiring American Ninja Warriors won’t let the pandemic hinder their performance, competitors in Season 14 prevailed against various obstacles, with the season marking the first in the reality show’s history where more than two (2) contestants reached past Stage 3, and with five (5) contestants reaching the Final Round.
While all of them would time out in the Rope Climb of the Final Round, it was youngster Kaden Lebsack that climbed the top of the final tower faster than everyone else. It was for this reason that the 16-year-old earned the title of Last Ninja Standing, an accolade he’s already earned in the previous season, and one that could very well make him a protagonist in a sports anime.
6 Season 8 (2016)
It was Season 8 back in 2015 that many American Ninja Warrior fans consider one of the most iconic due to many thrilling moments, particularly with the new obstacles featured in the various Qualifying Rounds. Returnee victor from Season 7 Geoff Britten pulls off a shocker as he goes out of the competition right out of the bat in Stage One, a moment now considered one of the biggest blunders in the show.
The spotlight for this season goes to returnee Drew Drechsel, who became a notable competitor in the Atlanta region. Not only did he finish the Qualifying course with the night’s fastest time, but he’s also one of two (2) people to finish Stage Two, the other being another returnee Daniel Gil. Unfortunately, Drew’s miscalculation had him lose on the Hang Climb just like in Season 7, with Daniel also losing to the Ultimate Cliffhanger.
5 Season 11 (2019)
The word “intense” becomes the theme of Season 11 of American Ninja Warrior, especially with the hit reality television show introducing new obstacles with extremely eager competitors. A notable highlight in Season 11 is the rivalry between Drew Drechsel and Daniel Gil in the National Finals, with both competitors earning accolades throughout their runs, akin to rivals of underrated anime shows.
Daniel Gil, in particular, was the fourth ANW competitor in series history to complete Stage 3 throughout a regular season, with Drew being the third. Not only that but Drew also took home the honor of being the third person to achieve total victory in the Final Round, earning himself the title of the third American Ninja Warrior.
4 Season 12 (2020)
Occurring during the height of the pandemic, Season 12 of American Ninja Warrior premiered in 2020 with many changes to adjust to COVID-19 guidelines while keeping the reality show just as exciting for fans. Courses return with the dreaded Power Tower and Mega Wall, with the 50 most popular contenders from other seasons returning with two (2) other Ninjas to compete with them.
This team dynamic added a lot of tension to the series similar to teams in sports anime, especially with the knockout format in place. In Season 12, finishing a course doesn’t automatically entail competing in the semis, as they now had to be in the Top 12 or have completed the Mega Wall to qualify. Moreover, given the knockout format, there’s no Last Ninja Standing prize for the season, with only USD 100,000 going to the winners.
3 Season 9 (2017)
2016 became a big year for American Ninja Warrior fans, especially for Season 9 which became a hit season for its move to put more women competitors in the limelight. For the first time in ANW history, the top five (5) women in each city’s Qualifying Round had qualified for their respective City Finals Round, and the top two (2) women in those had become qualified for the National Finals, regardless of their overall placements. This rule change may have been motivating for a lot of contestants at the time, similar to how good sports anime could be great workout motivators.
Moreover, Season 9 became a game-changer in two (2) ways. Firstly, this is the season that first introduced the ANW Obstacle Design Challenge, of which seven (7) of more than 2,500 fan-submitted obstacle designs made it to the show. Secondly, wildcard competitors were no longer allowed to compete in the Vegas Nationals, as only the Top 2 for women and Top 15 for men, or those who finish their respective City Finals, could compete. While Joe Moravsky became the season’s top competitor, other women participants such as Jesse Labreck, Meagan Martin, and Kacy Catanzaro became standouts in the reality show.
2 Season 6 (2014)
Considered by a lot of fans as one of the more impressive seasons of the reality show, Season 6 of American Ninja Warrior was known to bring back women competitors to the limelight since their hit performances in Season 3. This was evident for contestants Meagan Martin, Michelle Warnky, and Kacy Catanzaro - all three (3) of which were able to scale the difficult Warped Wall, complete their respective City Qualifiers, and proceed to the City Finals. More impressive among this lineup is Kacy, as she became the first Ninja ever to finish both the Dallas Qualifiers and Dallas Finals, making her this season's version of a sports anime protagonist.
Other contestants from various walks of life also made American Ninja Warrior history this season. For instance, Stephen France became the first amputee with a prosthetic limb to qualify in Miami, Jon Stewart became the oldest person to finish the Finals Round at 52 years old, and Brian and Chris Wilczewski became the first brothers to compete in Mount Midoriyama.
1 Season 7 (2015)
Considering how difficult some American Ninja Warrior obstacle courses become, it’s natural for viewers to remember the first time contestants overcome them. This is precisely why Season 7 of the reality television show became so memorable - the season was the first time contestants achieved Total Victory, and “true” American Ninja Warriors were named.
That’s right - “contestants,” Geoff Britten and Isaac Caldiero were the first and second to complete all four (4) courses in the Vegas Nationals and climb the Final Tower, earning them the title of First and Second American Ninja Warrior, respectively. This feat hasn’t been replicated in any other subsequent season, giving them acclaim similar to protagonists of popular sports anime.
American Ninja Warrior Season 14 was released in 2022.