“Even if we're not confident that we'll win, even if others tell us we don't stand a chance, we must never tell ourselves that.”
-Daichi Sawamura
In today's anime age; a world filled with over-analyzations and deconstructions, it's always nice to see a series like Haikyuu come along as if to passively antagonize critics with its immense amount of hype. I've been quite guilty of it in the past, often thinking there was no other reason to watch a series than to critique how much it made you 'think'. But to all the fault-finding reviewers and critics out there (myself included), I have one thing to
...
say... just save your words for once. People aren’t watching this anime to tirelessly dissect its story or characters on a philosophical level. Haikyuu is about having fun, comradery and the love of volleyball. The ultimate underdog story. That's pretty much it.
If you told me a couple of years ago that an anime franchise involving high school sports would become one of my favorites in the medium, I probably would've laughed in your face. But I've come to realize that the quality of an anime goes beyond how it makes you think. How it makes you feel is just as important... because at the end of the day, most of us watch anime as a means to escape the repetition of everyday life and just enjoy ourselves. It transports us somewhere exciting, somewhere we normally don’t experience ourselves. Anime should be fun, and Haikyuu is no exception to that.
Haikyuu's third season could almost be viewed as an expansion pack to the main series, or as one reviewer put it, much like DLC for your favorite video game. This is a fair assessment given the truncated 10 episodes compared to the first two seasons of 26 episodes each. Karasuno finds themselves pitted against the powerhouse Shiratorizawa, in a 5 set match no one expects them to win. There is less character development overall, but more than enough action to make up for it. I’d say this season emulates the intense tone produced by the last few episodes in season 2, my favorites of the entire series. The result is a nail-biting, pulse-pounding thrill ride to the match's epic conclusion. It's just what I needed to get me through a relatively lackluster fall season.
There isn’t much in the way of story this season, due mostly to its shorter run time. Being in a 5 set match is unfamiliar territory for our favorite Karasuno team, which begins to show as the series progresses. Exhaustion starts to become a factor, and for the first time I can remember in Haikyuu, players begin to tire mentally and physically. This incorporates an important aspect of playing sports, making the characters that much more relatable to someone who’s been there. We also see a culmination of the variety of new skills Karasuno’s players have been practicing come to fruition when they matter the most. Whether from Nishinora’s jump-setting or Tsukishima’s read-blocking, each player plays a pivotal role in turning the tides at one or more points during the match. The writers of Haiykuu also continue their emphasis on the backgrounds of Karasuno’s opponents throughout the match. It was a tad watered down from last season, and I would still have liked to see Ushijima’s past elaborated on more.
Perhaps the most interesting part of the whole series up to this point is the sudden mental involvement displayed by none other than the deadpan Tsukishima. Normally Tsuki exhibits a personality as dynamic as a cardboard box, but shocks us all as he begins to become more engaged and driven to help out his team. He emulates the mentality that no one likes to lose, and I found myself actually cheering out loud for him when he blocked Ushijima for the first time. Another refreshing point to bring up about the cast is how passive a role Hinata and Kageyama actually play in this season. As the series progresses, the narrative shifts from the drive and determination of Hinata as an individual to the importance of teamwork and synergy. The result is truly powerful and I’ve begun to really get attached to every member of Karasuno’s team.
Obviously the hype in Haikyuu is beyond unreal, and the third season is the best example of this. Even the relatively stone-faced members of Shiratorizawa get wrapped up in the excitement. Anime has proven time and time again that you can breathe life and intensity into any subject matter. Some people may fault the series for its plethora of overreactions and such, but at this point the viewer should come to expect it based on the precedent laid out by Haikyuu’s first two seasons. It’s the necessary evil of sports anime, but one I have grown to forgive Haikyuu for because I love it the series that much. Even up until the last episode, the result of the match was unclear and allowed me to stay glued to my screen for the entire 10 episodes. Karasuno doesn’t always win, and that vulnerability makes you cheer for them even harder when they do.
Is it better than Season 2? Unfortunately, the abridged format coupled with less interesting characters cause it to fall short of the brilliance surrounding the second installment. Many of the training camp episodes from last season did more to add to the story than I realized, causing viewers to really bond with the opposing players that much more. Not to mention Oikawa being the character you wanted to cheer for but couldn’t. Another aspect of the series I didn’t find to be irritating until this point was the lack of family members from Karasuno’s players being shown in the stands. Instead we are limited to a select few that are grouped together while the rest of the crowd seems to consist of the student body. From attending many high school sporting events in the past, it can be somewhat hard to fathom how the parents of these kids aren’t even in the picture in their matches. A small complaint, but one I just don’t understand. Maybe Furudate (creator) though Haikyuu had enough characters already!
Voice acting is still solid and the music is consistently upbeat and powerful. There are quite a few recycled tracks from the earlier seasons, which I actually found comforting more than stale for the series. The sound editing and effects are some of the best in the business, as Haikyuu delivers again with its realistic gymnasium sounds and crowd noises. The animation also seems like it received a significant upgrade from the show’s debut season, rivaling other sports series like Ping Pong in its level of “over-the-top-ness”.. Granted, only having to edit together one setting for the entire season probably allowed the animation team to expand their skills in other, more intricate areas.
To sum up this season in one sentence (as recommended by one of my MAL pals), Haikyuu S3 is “A white-knuckled underdog story driving 100 mph over the speed limit, wearing a huge grin the entire time.” It’s a series best viewed in one binge-watching session rather than enjoyed week by week, and is only bested by it’s previous installment. If you’ve seen the first two seasons, you’re already behind the curve by not picking this one up... it’s a hell of a good time! Thanks for reading and be sure to look out for more of my Fall ‘16 reviews!
Alternative Titles
Synonyms: Haikyuu!! Third Season, Haikyuu!! Karasuno High VS Shiratorizawa Academy
Japanese: ハイキュー!! 烏野高校 VS 白鳥沢学園高校
More titlesInformation
Type:
TV
Episodes:
10
Status:
Finished Airing
Aired:
Oct 8, 2016 to Dec 10, 2016
Premiered:
Fall 2016
Broadcast:
Saturdays at 01:55 (JST)
Producers:
Dentsu, Mainichi Broadcasting System, Movic, Sony Music Entertainment, TOHO animation, Shueisha
Licensors:
Sentai Filmworks
Studios:
Production I.G
Source:
Manga
Genre:
Sports
Demographic:
Shounen
Duration:
24 min. per ep.
Rating:
PG-13 - Teens 13 or older
Statistics
Ranked:
#422
2
based on the top anime page. Please note that 'Not yet aired' and 'R18+' titles are excluded.
Popularity:
#115
Members:
1,242,801
Favorites:
15,667
Available AtResourcesStreaming Platforms | Reviews
Filtered Results: 76 / 77
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Your Feelings Categories Dec 9, 2016
“Even if we're not confident that we'll win, even if others tell us we don't stand a chance, we must never tell ourselves that.”
-Daichi Sawamura
In today's anime age; a world filled with over-analyzations and deconstructions, it's always nice to see a series like Haikyuu come along as if to passively antagonize critics with its immense amount of hype. I've been quite guilty of it in the past, often thinking there was no other reason to watch a series than to critique how much it made you 'think'. But to all the fault-finding reviewers and critics out there (myself included), I have one thing to ... Dec 10, 2016
Like many other people, I initially wasn't attracted to Haikyuu. Seeing clips and hearing about anime such as Free made me think that Haikyuu too would be another fanservice sports anime. I was surprised, however, to find that I immensely enjoyed Haikyuu. Haikyuu is by no means my favorite anime, but it is the anime that I have become the most attached to.
Story: 8 If you've watched other sports anime such as Kuroko no Basket, the overall storyline is rather predictable, almost to the point where the anime becomes less enjoyable (as it lacks on that overall sense of surprise that is important in anime). Luckily, ... Dec 9, 2016
Given the monumental amount of hype that Haikyuu seems to have within its own fan base, I hope that this review will not come across as more negative than I intended it to, so I would just like to start by saying that Haikyuu is for sure one of the better traditional sports anime I have seen, but even so it is still far from perfect.
This third season picks up right where the last one left off, throwing us right into the Spring Tournament regional finals between Karasuno and Shiratorizawa. And that is pretty much the entirety of what this season is about as it ... Dec 12, 2016
“You are only an amazing ace if you can create a miracle.”
Scratch that cheesy quote! If there is one idea this anime solidifies, it's, “You are only an amazing anime if you can create perfectly timed miracles!” Haikyuu!!: Karasuno Koukou VS Shiratorizawa Gakuen Koukou is literally, as the synopsis on MAL states, an anime where the whole plot revolves around the over hyped game between Karasuno and Shiratorizawa. This is the third installment in the Haikyuu!! franchise and I recommend you all to watch how a studio who lacks enough manga material to field a full 25 episode season, manages to show their over-hyped ... Dec 27, 2016
(Review got removed because it was updated to completion ;-; gotta make the climb back)
Well, pains me to say, but I’m gonna be the wiener who has to tell everyone the flaws of Haikyuu! again. I’m going to preface this review by saying that because I actually play volleyball, lots of the issues I have with the show are specific to someone who has knowledge of high-level high school volleyball, so because the vast majority of this fanbase doesn’t know anything about volleyball outside of this show, you might not be as annoyed at certain things as I am. This is just one humble man’s opinion. I ... Dec 9, 2016
Story: In this third installment of Haikyuu, the anime continues to follow the events of the manga with no significant changes. This season centers on the finals arc against Shiratorizawa, a powerhouse school known for its tall, strong, and talented players and has consistently represented the Miyagi prefecture in the National Spring Tournament.
Art and Sound: Even for those who keep up with the manga and therefore know everything that will happen in the anime, it's like you're discovering what happens in the match again for the first time. If there were any blocks, receives, or plays you read in the manga that made you cheer ... Dec 9, 2016
I take it back, I take it all back. I originally wrote a review during the season where I was of the opinion that this season was lacking compared to the first two. Still good, but not as great story wise. Well I just watched the final episode and hours later I'm still an emotional wreck.
If you're a fan of Haikyuu!! (as I assume you are, since this is Season 3) don't get discouraged while watching this season. Originally, I had thought that since this season was one long game that the story was a bit lacking. That it may have been a mistake to ... Dec 9, 2016
This season of Haikyuu was consistent in terms of the qualities Haikyuu has presented so far.
But I'd also like to note that due to its length and enviroments being pretty much stuck in one place due to this season consisting of a really long match, this season of Haikyuu will feel more like a long high budget OVA than a new season. It is a continuation of where it has left off previously, with the finals between Karasuno and Shiratorizawa, the match taking the entire length of this season. There's no new story elements, and the character development that the characters got is now presented ... Aug 30, 2018
Only a word for descript this Third season; Tsukishima!!!
The scene with Tsukishima and Ushijima was very epic. All caracters are very amazing..Every single character looks very good, especially Tsukishima,Ushijima and Tendou. They was very amazing. Don't forgetten the scene with Iwaizumi and Oikawa megane. Aww They are very perfect together. The anime style is unique and very well made, you can see the mark of the mangaka on each character despite the fact that they are all very different. The soundtrack looks is very good. Every scene has a song which fits perfectly. Each track is able to get us in the mood for the specific ... Dec 11, 2016
Haikyuu!! Season 3
The cherry on the cake. The top of the iceberg. The worthy ending of a spectecular show (for now). Haikyuu!! is a great show overall, with fluent animations - and even those are getting better from season to season and in the biggest moments even excel that, great and deep characters, a lot of hype and action and PURE enjoyment! I don't want to go into too much detail into why this show is the greatest sports anime of them all so far, but there is actually nothing they do horribly wrong. Every other sports anime so far had some flaws somewhere, and if ... Dec 10, 2016
This is my first review so i would like to start by saying that normally i dont write reviews no matter how great the anime but this anime really drew me in. This anime is probably one of the best if not the best sports anime i have ever seen the story was superb as if you see making a 10 episode anime of a single match is simply extraordinary.
As far the art it was as if it drew me right into the court. Sound was very good considering it is a 10 episode anime Characters were simply awesome getting to know a new side ... Dec 9, 2016
I'm not a big fan of sports anime.. At least it was what i thought. I was really skeptical when i began to see Haikyuu, but now, i'm very glad i watched it. It's like if a hidden passion for sports anime has awakened inside me, and Haikyuu is in the top of it. I don't know if this third season is the best; it's actually hard to choose just one season; to me, each one of them has its qualities, and they're equally outstanding.
In terms of story, this third season is a direct continuation from the second, so the story mustn't be judged alone, ... Oct 3, 2024
Pacing wasn't good. Typical Shonen. The hype seen from fans makes me set my standards really high and you'd almost expect it to be a masterpiece, but to me, it falls short. The show isn't that great. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy sports anime quite a bit, but it didn't speak to me as much as others. The moments where the animation turns up are great, but in between is boring and drawn out. It takes too long to build up. This could've been a 3-4 episode match and that would've been much more rewarding and made it better for me. A lot of
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Aug 17, 2019
Lord... since its premiere I must have watched and re-watched this season's Haikyuu!! for 20 times now and I am always mesmerized-- not only by its magnificence, but also by its timelessness.
For the prior two seasons, what made Haikyuu!! series stood out was the dynamic animation, sheer volume of character development, and Fast-and-Furious-like sports sequence. At this rate, most studios would just settle with already high level of quality and avoid 'flying too close to the sun'. Production I.G. is not one of those studios, though, and that is one daredevil, all right. As if they had studied really well what could have been for ... Dec 10, 2016
STORY: This is basically the moment where we all have been waiting for. In this season, two teams faced off against each other out of 5 sets. We can see the intensity and skills that both teams bring to the court. We can also see most of the characters that have made their appearances from the previous season. The anime emphasizes on the moves of the volleyball players (especially spikes and overhand serves). Both teams are being savages towards each during the matches… I find it to be amusing and hilarious (especially when its coming from Karasuno). The essence of what Haikyuu represents is still
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Jan 31, 2017
When I think about Haikyuu!! season 3, one thing comes to mind
DISAPPOINTMENT For me at least as an avid fan of Haikyuu!! season 1 and 2 what made Haikyuu!! so special was the concept of a human/humans overcoming unrealistic odds without unrealistic things happening (As in Haikyuu!! was grounded in realism). Though the story did not have much to it and the pacing was off at times, whatever was done was usually done fairly well. The characters were 2 dimensional and didn't have much to them other then their 1 or 2 major qualities, but this did not bother me much (Since actually depicting human ... Jun 22, 2024
The first time I watched this 3rd season, I was rating it only 7. As far as I remember, my middle school self thinks the match is boring. It's not really what I expected at all from a 3rd season of an anime I've been waiting for a while. That and plus I don't really like Ushiwaka's character back then haha.
But now here I am, years later. I'm rewatching Haikyuu again after it's been everywhere on my fyp (cause of the dumpster battle) and it's the best decision ever. In terms of character development, the attention to detail, as well as emotional value that are put ... Dec 16, 2016
Finally the long-awaited match between Karasuno and Shiratorizawa is here. Besides the fact that the title is basically a spoiler for those who aren’t caught up to the series, it represents what this season basically is about Karasuno and Shiratorizawa competing to become Miyagi Prefecture's Representative for the Spring High National Playoffs. What was originally teased as the start of the second season finally gets put into play in this short, but fast-paced third season. After the Karasuno vs Aobajousai match at the end of the second season, Karasuno vs Shiratorizawa has a lot to accomplish if it wants to live up to the title
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Jun 8, 2020
This anime will get you pumped .... Idk why people rate it with 6/7 ....
Its actually overall 10 ... It has everything action , massive tension .. And ending of the last game will just made your blood boil . When it started i was like eh another game when they will be losing and at the and they will be getting it back but..... There is one BIG BUT . Which is that it was actually close . The back story to enemy team was sick . And also seeing Karasuno fighting back and getting themself together as a team and fighting against only ... Mar 30, 2020
Haikyuu season 3: Karasuno vs. Shiratorizawa has a very apt subtitle because this truncated 10 episode season is literally just a depiction of the final battle between Karasuno and the previous representatives of Japan at the national volleyball level. I saw another review call season 3 "Haikyu S2 DLC" and honestly that's a good way to think of it. Season 2 was near perfect (I gave it a 10/10) and season 3 just adds more content to tide fans over until the next big release, so to speak. That all being said, everything I said about season 2 applies to this new season of Haikyuu
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