Football is a team sport, so what better way to celebrate a score than with an anime technique to combine two heroes?
Fans of the National Football League’s Cleveland Browns haven’t had much to smile about over the past few years. The team had an abysmal 1-15 record during the 2016 season, then lost every single one of its games in 2017.
But things are looking just a little bit brighter this year. On September 20, the Browns got their first win since December of 2016, and in their next game, versus the Oakland Raiders, rookie quarterback Baker Mayfield hit tight end Darren Fells for the first touchdown pass of his professional career, as well as Fells’ first of the season.
.@BakerMayfield's first career TD pass goes 49 yards to @DarrenFells! #Browns #CLEvsOAK
— NFL (@NFL) September 30, 2018
📺: FOX https://t.co/UedVjY62Yo
But while the big scoring play itself was enough to excite football fans, those who also enjoy anime were electrified when Fells’ teammate and fellow tight end David Njoku (number 85) joined him in the endzone for a two-man celebration.
Or maybe we should call that a one-man celebration, since they’re doing the Fusion Dance from martial arts anime Dragon Ball Z, which the series’ heroes use to combine their bodies and consciousnesses, like Goten and Trunks do in the comparison clip below.
Fells and Njoku did the fusion dance to become Fjoku 🔮 @DarrenFells @David_Njoku80 https://t.co/zxSqEHZB5Q
— The Checkdown (@thecheckdown) September 30, 2018
Sadly, despite Mayfield’s 49-yard strike giving the Browns a 17-7 lead, Cleveland’s defense would give up 21 points in the fourth quarter, including a tying score with just 30 seconds left, which sent the game into overtime, where the Raiders would pull out a 45-42 victory. The Browns’ record now stands at one win, two losses, and one tie, which suggests it’s likely going to be another tough season for the team and fans, but at least they can always look back to the play where their players seemed superhuman, even if just for a moment.
Source: Instagram/clevelandbrowns, Twitter/@thecheckdown via Anime News Network/Lynzee Loveridge
[ Read in Japanese ]
Follow Casey on Twitter, where he’d like to remind everyone who hasn’t watched Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure recently that it’s totally true that San Dimas High School football rules.
[ Read in Japanese ]

Starbucks Japan opens new store inside historic seaside quarantine station near Tokyo
Starbucks Japan releases first-ever gacha capsule toys, featuring iconic menu items as plush coffee charms
Tokyo’s newest viral dessert is like a Japanese parfait inside a bread bun [Taste test]
7-Eleven Japan now offering baked-in-store pizza by the slice with two very different topping sets
7-Eleven Japan adds new cold soup smoothies to its convenience store drinks range
Starbucks Japan opens new store inside historic seaside quarantine station near Tokyo
Starbucks Japan releases first-ever gacha capsule toys, featuring iconic menu items as plush coffee charms
Tokyo’s newest viral dessert is like a Japanese parfait inside a bread bun [Taste test]
7-Eleven Japan now offering baked-in-store pizza by the slice with two very different topping sets
7-Eleven Japan adds new cold soup smoothies to its convenience store drinks range
New Studio Ghibli washi tape adds anime flair to Japanese stationery
Japan’s foreign resident population hits record high as Japanese population hits record low
New service lets Tokyo tourists display their faces on giant screen at Japan’s busiest intersection
Godiva Japan gets into the shaved ice scene with two luxurious frozen desserts this summer
Studio Ghibli releases new Spirited Away earrings featuring mysterious anime bathhouse character
Tokyo subway installing new ticket gates that don’t accept payment through Suica or other IC cards
Japanese Shinkansen becomes an overnight hotel for three nights this summer
Giant Evangelion Spear of Longinus to be installed at Japanese train station with Eva art trains
Face lettuce appears in Japan, with the face of Death Note’s Light Yagami, but why?
Starbucks Japan releases a miniature display rack so you can create your very own store at home
99-year-old woman rescued while attempting to climb Mt. Fuji
Pokémon Card Stores requiring facial recognition scans for entry in Japan in latest anti-scalper move
Kyoto receives more foreign tourists than ever before, but fewer visitors say they’ll return
Family Mart’s new Famima flagship in Tokyo has a hidden gem that most visitors miss
Starbucks Japan unveils exclusive new Frappuccinos limited to three regional areas
Studio Ghibli has a new anime out, and there’s only one place in the world where you can see it
Salomon releases Japan-exclusive Mt. Fuji hiking gear that doubles as an amazing souvenir
Japan now has human refrigerators inspired by Japanese vending machines
Hatsune Miku collaborates with Hokusai’s art in new Vocaloid ukiyo-e illustration series [Pics]
New Shinkansen luggage drop-off system begins in Japan, making train travel even easier
Japan triples departure tax, foreign tourists and locals now must pay more to leave country
Studio Ghibli releases anime T-shirts that pay homage to one of Hayao Miyazaki’s most personal films
Family Mart opens new “Famima” flagship store in Tokyo that’s like a tourist attraction
Uniqlo looks back to the very start of Pokémon with new black-and-white pixel art T-shirts[Pics]
Japan announces sudden 400-percent increase in visa fees for foreigners entering the country
Japan’s human washing machines will go on sale to general public, demos to be held in Tokyo
Starbucks Japan releases new drinkware and goods for Valentine’s Day
Starbucks Japan releases new sakura goods and drinkware for cherry blossom season 2026
Japan’s newest Shinkansen has no seats…or passengers [Video]
Japanese ninja certification exam attracts 131 candidates from Japan and abroad
Put sesame oil in your coffee? Japanese maker says it’s the best way to start your day【Taste test】
New Studio Ghibli washi tape adds anime flair to Japanese stationery
Japan’s foreign resident population hits record high as Japanese population hits record low
New service lets Tokyo tourists display their faces on giant screen at Japan’s busiest intersection
Godiva Japan gets into the shaved ice scene with two luxurious frozen desserts this summer
Studio Ghibli releases new Spirited Away earrings featuring mysterious anime bathhouse character
Tokyo subway installing new ticket gates that don’t accept payment through Suica or other IC cards
Okayama man arrested for catching butterflies in central Japan
Studio Ghibli Laputa figure looks like it’s really flying thanks to cool visual trick
Kyoto receives more foreign tourists than ever before, but fewer visitors say they’ll return
Starbucks Japan unveils new coffee drinks… for people who don’t drink coffee
Studio Ghibli adds new Ponyo glassware to its anime lineup for summer
Katana of one of Japan’s most famous swordsmen goes on display to help Kumamoto earthquake victims
Sanrio’s newest item looks like dog butt, exactly like it’s supposed to [Photos]
Tokyo security guard’s famous station tape font becomes official custom Nike streetwear