The anime is based off the manga of the same name written by Haruichi Furudate. What started out as a one-shot transformed into a sports series that captures the very essence of volleyball. As a sport, volleyball tends to be one of the underrated activities when it comes to competition. While this may or may not be true coming from where you are, the sport hardly is ever seen in animation form. Haikyuu!! on the other hand takes concept of volleyball and chronicles it into a series of profound discovery.
As a sports show, most often or not, it involves competition. But to build from that, we have to start from scratch. Haikyuu!! does that essentially by creating a foundation for the sport and its competitors. While Hinata is the main protagonist, his teammates aren’t left in the shadows. The story focuses them each individually and collectively as a team as they work their way on their journey. While not an easy one, the anime smoothly details their motivation and development. In fact, the story is relatively simple as it takes place in Junior High School, a setting perfect for growth. As a young boy, Hinata develops a fascination for volleyball after witnessing a national championship on TV. From that one single memorable moment leaves a profound memory in his mind. To put it simply, he wants to be like them and perhaps even win a championship himself. Beginning as a club but later capturing the attention of other fans as a resilient team, Hinata is what some people can describe as the hardcore underdog.
And it’s true, the team starts in the beginning not being featured on national news like the one Hinata witnessed on TV. Instead, they work themselves up with training, willpower, and motivation. The teammates that Hinata works with have not only diverse personalities but also skillsets. This offers a decent amount of game-play as no match will feel the same coming from these players. But more importantly is how the team functions in unity. Because really, without teamwork, the game itself would be lost most indefinitely. Luckily, we witness most often the opposite of this as teamwork is skillfully indulged into the show. It creates inspiration, realism, and admiration towards Hinata’s team. At the same time, Haikyuu goes to lengths to show how far they develop. Win, tie, or loss, each game fought takes every ounce of their sweat. By the end of the day, it’s what they learned that matters. Well, we can’t also forget about rivalries of course. In the sports world, there’s always a bit of that that gives the birth to drama and personal pride.
Enter Tobio Kageyama (aka the King of the Court), a first year at Karasuno High School. Playing as setter, he is the opposite of Hinata. A genius on the court with a cold attitude, Kageyama serves as Hinata’s foil. And throughout the series, Hinata tries to desperately earn his respect by defeating him. Perhaps desperate might be the wrong word to use here though as the skill difference between the two is quite far-reaching, at least in the beginning anyways. Yet at the same time, Kageyama lacks something Hinata has and that’s the motivation to work with others as a team. Kageyama is a lone wolf and prefers to do things on his own. That spells out a recipe for disaster when it comes to teamwork. However, the show takes advantage of this concept by building on Kageyama’s weakness and mutates it into growth. It’s not measured by height standards, but by connection as he learns the true value of teamwork. That my friends is something to appreciate.
Speaking of appreciation, the show also gives the other players a chance for spotlight. Characters such as the captain Daichi Sawamura, vice captain Koshi Sugawara, and ace Asahi Azumane are just a few that makes the presence known. Additionally, certain players get back stories to enhance their credibility in development. The most prominent relationship though is still Hinata and Kageyama. It’s easy to notice them on the court because of their polar opposites. The series cleverly illustrate that through actions with dialogues, body language, and moves on the court. Collectively as well, it establishes the fact that Hinata seeks to earn respect from others by not just winning but also through his abilities. It’s a team that will inspire hope and one the audience can find themselves easily rooting for. Ask yourself this: was there a time when something felt utterly hopeless but still fought until the very end? If you go down, go down swinging. Think Haikyuu!! next time as the prime factor.
What’s also impressive about this show isn’t just the players or story but rather its style. Unlike certain shows where superhuman moves are adapted as a gimmick, Haikyuu!! retains its realism. There’s no absurd movements that seems utterly impossible to pull off in the real life. Instead, Haikyuu!! dynamically feature moves that can be adapted with fine degree of realism. These include the dives, spikes, serves, passes, and among others that can be seen in a common volleyball game. Only here, Haikyuu!! doesn’t push its buttons to outdo itself by incorporating inhuman moves like jumping 50 feet in the air. No, what you expect is what you will see and that’s a solid foundation of what volleyball really is. It even focuses on the very roles the players are part of such as wing spiker, setter, libero, and outside/weakside/middle hitter. In retrospect, the show will make you feel like you are also part of the game or even a player yourself because the moves that can be performed. Haikyuu!!’s performance is also more just realism in this way as it fuses together teamwork and realism for a show you won’t forget.
By all means though, Haikyuu!! is no perfect anime and it suffers from some flaws. The show can feel repetitive with the rivalry that may seem stale between Hinata and Kageyama. Their rivalry becomes less favorable as a plot device and can feel cheesy with their dialogues. Not to mention the fact that the story is predictable, their rivalry isn’t so far off as well. Furthermore, the story can sometime feel a bit slow paced on numerous occasions. And speaking of occasions, there are also some cliché factor and generics when it comes to gimmicks. The classic ‘manager beauty’ and intimidation from rival schools are a part of this. And although it is suitable for this type of show, it’s been done over and over again.
Animation is handled by Production IG, a studio that deserves praise for this adaptation. The character designs are smooth and in rhythm with the style of the show. Each of them matches their personalities and none of them stand out as Mr. Fan service just for showing off. Further testament of the strength for its animation is the game-play involved. Whether it’s teamwork or individual play, the camera smoothly captures a fine degree of the players’ movements. Nonetheless, it’s not a surprise for the studio considering its experience with action scenes and noticeable staff involved. It’s pure and solidifies its foundation of realism when it comes to the game. Even comedic scenes are humorous without trying diehard to appeal to the audience.
The soundtrack isn’t a powerhouse but is decent when it comes to execution. The OST has a well balance of intensity and calm moments. Whether on or off the court, the music retains its credibility to establish Haikyuu!!’s style. Dramatic moments are also captured on screen with the music to make it feel and look real. As the OP and ED song goes, they have likeability with decent pacing. But on character voices, Hinata’s mannerism might take a while to get used to. His squeaky voice can sound childish despite his intentions while his rival has the voice mannerism of an ego-centric. Ultimately though, it can be a mixed bag so better get yourself suited for it. On the other hand, a few noticeable OST will be memorable especially at some of the more significant games.
Haikyuu!! takes the sport of volleyball and delivers it to the audience in more than just a profound way. It rides this epic journey not just by winning or losing games but with development of the characters. The riveting style the show delivers also expands more than just simple teamwork but how players come together through their experiences. And thanks to its realism, Haikyuu!! represents a superior sports show that people can find relatable. You don’t need to be an athlete or familiar with volleyball to enjoy Haikyuu!! Instead, its rich realm of game-play and powerful animation will be enough to satisfy your needs. By the end of the day, you’ll find yourself smiling and admiring this show like the way Hinata did for his hero.
