At first glance, a manga series about volleyball players might seem strange. Can the sport’s strong, precise movements and coordinated team tactics really be captured through inked panels? And is there a big enough audience out there?
Evidently, the answer to both questions is yes: just ask fans of the popular volleyball manga “Haikyu!!”. With over 60 million copies in circulation, one of the bestselling manga series of all time has been adapted into an anime, a radio drama, a video game, compilation films, and even stage plays.
The series now makes its way to cinemas with “Haikyu!!: The Dumpster Battle”, the first of two films serving as a conclusion to this epic volleyball story.
Written and illustrated by Haruichi Furudate, the manga follows Shoyo Hinata, a young student obsessed with volleyball. Despite being short, Hinata has impressive jump skills and intense passion for competition.
In his first official game, however, he and his team lose badly. Hinata forms a rivalry with one of his opponents, Tobio Kageyama, and vows to defeat him in high school.
In a twist, both Hinata and Kageyama end up studying at the same place, and subsequently work together to restore the glory of Karasuno, a former volleyball powerhouse. In the process, both develop a strong bond and encourage each other to discover their full potential.
In the film, team Karasuno enter the third round of a prestigious tournament and must face off against their old rival, Nekoma High School. As both have scavenging animals in their names – “karasu” is Japanese for “crow”, while “neko” means “cat” – the showdown is nicknamed “The Dumpster Battle”.
Hinata finds himself playing against Kenma Kozume, an old acquaintance. Kenma is laidback and seems rather indifferent about volleyball, but is pressured to do well for the sake of his team.
Only one side will win: who will end up triumphant at the Dumpster Battle?
So, what else happens? Well, that’s it really. The whole film takes place at the volleyball game – and a very thrilling game it is, too!
In true anime fashion, every spike and swerve is presented very dramatically. You’ll soon be cheering each time a team lines up for a synchronised attack, and booing whenever your favourite player misses.
If you’re a volleyball newcomer who can’t tell a five-set from a floater, there’s nothing to worry about. The sports action here is quite easy to follow, with all the technicalities of volleyball presented in a relatively clear and accessible manner.
Newcomers to the series, on the other hand, may find themselves a little overwhelmed. Having this as your first “Haikyu!!” experience is like starting the Marvel Cinematic Universe with “Avengers: Endgame”.
This film assumes viewers are familiar with all the characters and events, and provides only basic explanations of everything that came before. So it’s best to read the manga or watch the anime before viewing this.
Diehard “Haikyu!!” followers, on the other hand, will probably eat this up. The film is a faithful adaptation of the manga, with many familiar characters making appearances.
True to most sports films, “Dumpster Battle” explores themes such as friendship and competition, and mostly does this well. Even if one team has better odds of victory (hint: the team with the main character in it), both Karasuno and Nekoma have fun characters, and both teams are easy to root for.
The movie is also visually impressive, boasting fluid animation and striking backgrounds. Its music is nicely done, with rousing numbers that really complement its high-octane action.
Overall, “Haikyu!!: The Dumpster Battle” is lots of fun – watching it is like attending a real-life sports tournament. Newbies will be a bit confused and wonder what the fuss is all about, but fans will love every moment of it.
Make sure to stay after the credits for a preview of the next film!
As of press time, ‘Haikyu!!: The Dumpster Battle’ is screening in cinemas nationwide.