If you are new toanime,the diverse range of anime genres can make it hard to choose where to begin, but whether you are a fan of action, romance, drama, or comedy, you cannot go wrong with theHaikyuu!!series, which combines and balances all of these genres perfectly. On the surface,Haikyuucenters around the Karasuno high school volleyball team; a bunch of ragtag kids who are distinctly different from each other but share one thing in common: their passionate love of volleyball. But do not be turned off by the fact that this anime is about volleyball because, beneath the surface,Haikyuuis really about this unique team of kids who are all equipped with their own set of dreams and fears, and who each embark on their own unique hero’s journey. Bizarrely, it makes for a very moving viewing experience watching the chaotic and diversified Karasuno characters learn to gel together as a team, and all of a sudden, you can’t help but root for them. At its heart,Haikyuuisnot just your average sports anime, but it’s about pushing yourself, chasing your dreams, overcoming obstacles, and nurturing friendships that are forged by the joy of sportsmanship.
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Hinata Shoyo Will Be Your New Favorite Character
Haikyuu’smain character Hinata Shoyo (Ayumu Murase) is a vivacious, determined, and optimistic boy who arguably faces the greatest challenge out of all theHaikyuucharacters due to his short stature which is considered a hindrance in volleyball, but that only makes Hinata work twice as hard. Those who shun him and discourage his dreams of playing for Japan’s Olympic volleyball team become fuel for Hinata to push himself and prove everyone wrong. It’s this essence of working towards a goal thatbuilds the momentum of theHaikyuuseries. It is the perfect anime to binge because the Karasuno team slowly and steadily hone their volleyball skills, and you watch them go from a disorderly, amateur team, to an incredibly formidable group of kids who get better and better as they are continuously challenged by strong opponents.
As forHaikyuu’s combination of genres, the action of the series comes from the slow-motioned, fleshed-out execution of the volleyball games. In real life, volleyball is a strikingly fast-paced sport, but inHaikyuuthe games are slowed down which highlights the characters' marveling plays and makes them look effortlessly cool. This slow-paced animation also makes it easy for anime beginners to follow. The comedy of the series, however, is practically everywhere, because as much as the characters look cool through their volleyball skills, they are still teenagers rendered by angst, awkwardness, and wild energy. The quirks and conflicting personalities among the Karasuno team, as well as the other volleyball teams that Karasuno plays, play a part in the comedic nature ofHaikyuu.Basically, there’s a whole lot of boyish teenagers fired up by competitiveness, arrogance, and their love of volleyball. Naturally, their shared love of the game sees the characters overcome their differences, but it is really Hinata’s outspoken and communicative nature that brings all the teams together and creates friends among foes.
‘Haikyuu’ Is Full of Exciting Characters and Heart
Newbies to anime should not be daunted byHaikyuu’s vast array of characters, because each one is starkly different from the next, which just makes it harder for you to choose your favorite. The romance ofHaikyuuis minimal, but the theme of love and friendship is threaded throughout the series and is really the foundation of Karasuno, for there is an emphasis on the fact that volleyball is not a one-man sport, and it is important to learn to rely on your teammates, and in turn, allow them to rely on you.
Hinata’s counterpart Kageyama Tobio (Kaito Ishikawa), is considered a ‘genius’ type volleyball player with a tendency to want to do everything himself. Kageyama’s hyper-independence stemmed from a trauma caused by his middle school volleyball team abandoning him, but hyper-independence does not measure up in volleyball. There are six players on the court, not one. Therefore, a part of Kageyama’s personal growth is learning to trust and rely on his teammates, which makes up a large part ofHaikyuu’sdramatic elements. The drama of the series is further interwoven through Karasuno’s success and rewards from their wins, but also their pain and discouragement from their losses. But Karasuno’s ability to get stronger stems from their belief that there is always room for improvement.Hinata, Kageyama, and their teammates are always striving, looking for new volleyball skills to absorb.
‘Haikyuu’ Is Bingeworthy!
Really though, it is hard to articulate the richly inspiring essence ofHaikyuu.The anime is fun, lighthearted, hilarious, and easy to watch. Not only will you come to love the characters, but you will also strangely come to love volleyball. Ultimately, it depends on what your taste is, and if you prefer something more action-packed or fantasy-based, this won’t be the anime for you. But,unlike other popular anime seriesthat have over 200 episodes which is a lot for anime beginners,Haikyuuhas just 85 episodes. The series also has a SUB and a DUB option which makes it accessible for newbies to anime who may find it hard to keep up with subtitles. Luckily, theHaikyuuDUB and SUB are both good, so rest assured you won’t miss anything no matter which viewing option you choose.
