[Art] Cool illustration ideas for sports days and athletic festivals

Deputy Editor of RAG MUSICsasashina
Deputy Editor of RAG MUSIC. JFC-certified fact-checker. I’m Sasashina, a mom currently raising an elementary schooler and a preschooler. During my student years at Kyoto College of Science and Technology, I studied a wide range of fields including sound, lighting, and video technology, building a foundation in comprehensive stage production and creative expression. After graduation, I joined a music production company, where I still work, consistently building experience in production and engaging in a variety of music-centered tasks. Currently, I mainly handle articles for children, drawing on what I’ve learned about parenting and what I feel and discover through daily interactions with my kids. I hope my work can be of help to you, even in a small way!
A Vocaloid producer who is also a music writerAraki Jakkan
I’ve worked in a variety of roles—regardless of pro or amateur settings—including live event PA, cameraman for video and photography, restaurant staff, and logistics center staff. I now spend my days as a part-time writer. I’ve contributed to music and manga websites with feature/review articles, and wrote the liner notes included as a bonus for 1st PLACE Inc.’s “IA SUPER BEST.” As for my music background, I started playing guitar in junior high and focused on band activities during my school years. For over 15 years since then, up to the present, I’ve continued releasing original tracks as a Vocaloid producer. My areas of expertise are Japanese rock, Vocaloid, and manga.

Especially if you’re good at drawing, with sports day season approaching, your school might have asked you to design the cover for the sports festival pamphlet, right?

Designing illustrations that many people will see is tough!

You accepted the request but have no ideas… it happens all the time.

In this article, we’ve put together some cool illustration ideas related to school sports days!

Use the ideas here as inspiration and create your own original piece!

[Art] Cool Illustration Ideas for Sports Day and Athletic Festival (21–30)

pixel art style

An illustration design that incorporates a game-like, pixel art aesthetic sparks a sense of playfulness and turns the sports festival into an adventure.

By composing the whole piece in dot-pixel style and characterizing students as heroes, mages, and martial artists, it creates the feeling that they’re battling in assigned roles.

Placing courses and obstacles in a stage-like background makes the festival look like a level from a game, doubling the excitement of the events.

If the title area is finished with a logo inspired by classic game packaging, the overall quality will be even higher.

This design can depict not only victory and defeat, but also challenge and growth, emphasizing that everyone participating is a main character.

It will be a creative piece that even those who aren’t game fans can enjoy.

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mutō

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cheering squad

An anime-style design featuring a cheer squad is an appealing way to convey the excitement of a school sports festival.

The image of cheerleaders tightening their headbands and shouting with spirit captures the powerful support they give, even if they’re not on the field themselves.

Rendering it in an anime-like touch adds friendliness and draws viewers in.

Depicting the schoolyard and stands in the background creates a sense of unity across the illustration.

Adding speech-bubble messages or cheer phrases boosts the sense of immediacy.

It’s a design well-suited to an all-participation sports festival, conveying that both those who compete and those who support shine in their respective roles.

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mutō

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[Art] A Collection of Cool Illustration Ideas for Sports Day and Athletic Festivals (31–40)

komainu (guardian lion-dog)

An illustration themed around “komainu” is a striking idea that fuses tradition with power.

Komainu, long revered as guardians of shrines, symbolize protection and victory.

Placing them on the left and right in the A-un formation expresses beginning and end, conveying the drive to give one’s all from the start to the finish of a competition.

By emphasizing muscular physiques and piercing gazes for a bold presence, while incorporating Japanese aesthetics, the artwork is sure to stand out at the venue.

It will be a design that combines dignity with fighting spirit.

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kojifumi

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Demon Slayer

@aa04060 Original song – MELANIE – MELANIE

When it comes to cool designs perfect for school sports days and athletic meets, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba is the obvious pick! Using motifs like the Flame Hashira Kyojuro Rengoku’s famous line, “Set your heart ablaze,” or the protagonist Tanjiro Kamado’s earnest determination can express both fighting spirit and team unity.

Incorporating each character’s distinct breathing effects and the patterns of their haori will also create a striking visual impact.

If you depict the resolve to face challenges together with your teammates in a way that echoes the world of Demon Slayer, your team’s morale will soar.

It’ll make for illustrations perfectly suited to a fiery, unforgettable day.

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kojifumi

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Dragon

Despite being a legendary creature, dragons are something everyone has seen in some form.

Familiar from games, anime, and manga, dragons combine impact, power, and coolness—making them a sure way to energize a sports festival if used as a panel motif.

The key is deciding the angle from which to depict the dragon.

Rather than fitting the entire body into the frame, the trick is to center the layout on the part you most want to emphasize.

If you do want to include the whole body, using a silhouette can really bring out its cool appeal.

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miyabi

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manta

The manta ray, a member of the ray family with impressively large pectoral fins, makes a striking impact.

Officially called the “oni-itomaki-ei” in Japanese, this animal’s vivid blue appearance makes it a perfect motif for a school sports festival.

It’s also a bit less well-known than classic animals like tigers or eagles, so it’s a great choice when you want to avoid overlapping ideas.

By the way, mantas can live on a diet of plankton alone, which makes them a symbol of strength.

For that reason, choosing a manta when you’re aiming for victory might just bring good luck!

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Yuuki

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Lion vs. Wolf

At elementary school sports days, I don’t think rivalry flares up all that much, but at junior high school sports days, students often get intensely competitive.

This “Lion vs.

Wolf” design is a perfect idea for creating that sense of rivalry.

In the linked example the wolf appears to be angled diagonally, but for this kind of illustration, have them face each other from the side.

That way you can convey a feeling of opposition and add impact.

Classic pairings like a tiger and a dragon are also recommended.

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Ryo