The sudden merge of anime, music, and gym culture exploded in popularity due to a mix of nostalgia, meme culture, and the natural synergy between anime's motivational storytelling and workout intensity. Anime like Dragon Ball Z, Naruto, and My Hero Academia feature high-energy soundtracks and underdog training arcs that resonate with fitness enthusiasts, turning tracks like You Say Run or Sasuke’s Theme into gym anthems.
Social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram amplified the trend through viral edits—think Rock Lee’s training montages or "Sigma Grindset" memes—pairing anime clips with phonk or EDM remixes to hype up workouts. The rise of fitness influencers who use anime aesthetics, along with Gen Z and millennials blending their fandoms into gym life, solidified the trend.
Now, gyms are filled with anime OSTs, workout montages styled like shonen power-ups, and even athletes using anime themes for motivation, creating a culture where lifting weights feels like a protagonist’s training arc. It’s the perfect crossover of adrenaline, nostalgia, and self-improvement.