Before I start I’d like to say that this review is about the manga only.
Story:
The plot is good, but it’s nothing special. A small boy, wanting to become the best in a field of giants. And maybe for someone who isn't as invested in the sport as I am, it might not be interesting at first. It can also be predictable, but that applies to every fictional media with competition.
Art:
The art style changed a lot during the last 8 years, but it was always great. The fluidity of the movements were visible, the characters expression’s were relateable and the beautiful moments were beautifully drawn. Furudate’s art style will always be my personal favourite.
Character:
Haikyuu!!’s greatness is the characters. They are all well written and most characters get a ”spotlight” during the story. The kind and fun characters of Karasuno are the heart of Haikyuu!!. Hinata is an excellent main character along side with Kageyama. Haikyuu also has no villians. Everyone has their side of the story which makes us unable to hate them. The story’s most well written and realistic character for me is undoubtedly Oikawa Tooru, I recommend looking into his psychology and character more. The bonds and relationships between characters are also a big part of Haikyuu!!. We can talk about the soulmate bond between Hinata and Kageyama or the relationship between Akaashi and Bokuto. These bonds can be interpreted as romantic or platonic ones. I’m not a shipper when it comes to Haikyuu, but I do see where people are coming from.
Enjoyment:
I laughed with Haikyuu!!, I cried with Haikyuu!! and I experienced so many more emotions while reading Haikyuu!!. It’s an amazing and relatable journey of becoming the best. I’ll say it again, Hinata as the MC made the story really enjoyable.
Overall:
Haikyuu!! is very close to a masterpiece and is definitely a must-watch, even if sports aren’t your thing.
Thank you Haikyuu!! and Furudate-sensei for proving that volleyball is fun.
