A soccer anime featuring a cast of eccentric animals in sports attire seems quite dated for the early 21st century, but it aired during the year of the World Cup in Japan and South Korea, and its very young audience viewed these tropes with fresh eyes. Hidemaru is a spirited fox; his friends include bunnies, dogs, horses, and a pair of sturdy hippo girls. Based on the manga Hidemaru the Soccer Boy by Makoto Mizobuchi, serialized in CoroCoro Comics.