If there’s one factor that I completely despised in my youth, it must be the world of aggressive sports activities. I all the time envied the way in which athletes carried themselves and the alternatives they acquired over the perceived “nerds.” For years, I held onto this sentiment till Haikyu!! modified my thoughts for the higher.

I nonetheless keep in mind the day when my companion, who was the epitome of a first-rate jock at school, began to look at it. I glanced at it a number of instances however ignored it on account of my aforementioned distaste for sports activities. However I finally gave in after she defined how a lot it completely captured her personal previous athletic journey.

How Haikyuu!! made me care a couple of high-school volleyball participant

The primary episode didn’t instantly impress me, however I used to be intrigued by the principle protagonist, Hinata Shoyo, a brief and inexperienced participant with an timeless ardour for volleyball. He finally will get crushed by the genius setter Kageyama Tobio in his first match. No matter rivalry may have bloomed is short-lived, as they each wind up on the Karasuno Excessive Faculty volleyball group. It’s a traditional underdog story, however I didn’t see the worth in it till later within the season.

The one factor I did initially relate to is Hinata’s insecurity about his top. I used to be a bit of quick as a baby, too, and didn’t develop a lot in maturity both. In gentle of this, I enormously admired his tenacity to push by way of, primarily since sports activities cater to a lot taller people. But, the true factor that lastly acquired me questioning my loathing for sports activities was once I watched Season 1 Episode 16, which was completely titled “Winners and Losers.”  

On this episode, we see Karasuno go to one among their first tournaments collectively, showcasing each successful and dropping sides. The montage of crying athletes who simply misplaced their recreation genuinely pulled at my heartstrings. Right here have been these youngsters attempting their finest to get a shot on the title, solely to have all of it go away within the very first match. It’s loopy to assume that these months of arduous work have dwindled all the way down to in the future, only for it to crash and burn.

The story may’ve simply ignored this dropping facet, however Haikyu!! isn’t all the time concerning the winners. As an alternative of merely specializing in Karasuno, it captures the whole thing of volleyball by way of different facet characters. Aspect character content material has sometimes been a hit and miss for me, but Haikyu!! does an exquisite job of mixing the 2 collectively. Their scenes are sometimes compelling to look at and aren’t drawn out to fully dismiss the principle forged.

As an example, the Winners and Losers episode presents perception into the opposite volleyball groups, particularly Hayato Ikejiri and Yui Michimiya. Although their storyline is brief, it’s thrilling to see them repeatedly attempting their finest regardless of the opposite group’s superiority. This isn’t even the final time we get a glimpse of the opposite facet characters, because the sequence will later have much more tales that includes Karasuno’s fellow rivals.

Haikyuu!! made me rethink my stance on aggressive sports activities

By exhibiting each side of the coin, I started to open my thoughts to Haikyu!! and sports activities altogether. My love for the present solely grew stronger the extra I related to the boys of the Karasuno group in later seasons.

I really like that the group members weren’t born with immense expertise. It appears much more sensible and relatable on this approach. Even Kageyama, who virtually appears too excellent at instances, makes errors and tries to be taught from them. You’ll be able to see that when he tries to change into extra team-friendly, separating from his tyrannical King of the Courtroom persona.

Regardless of how a lot expertise they already possess, every group member places within the work with late-night practices and boot camps. Then, once we get to the precise matches, issues actually kick into full gear. Seeing all of Karasuno’s arduous work repay is without doubt one of the most satisfying parts of the present. There’s one thing particular about watching a failed transfer from apply evolve right into a triumphant victory in a while. I’m not afraid to confess that I’ve shed a tear a number of instances throughout these successful moments. It’s largely on account of Haikyu!!’s epic visuals that make it virtually really feel like I’m really there watching the match.

The exhilarating matches are one of many fundamental causes I grew to become completely obsessive about volleyball. They’re as thrilling as an epic anime battle however with a sports activities twist. Typically, they are often fast-paced to seize the stress of matches, whereas different instances, they are often slowed down to offer you an ideal shot of a transfer. There are additionally a number of makes use of of images that actually present what a personality is feeling. One second I really like is Tanaka’s visualization of climbing up metaphorical stairs within the Damaged Coronary heart episode. It reveals how he’s attempting to achieve new heights, even within the warmth of battle.

Whereas all that is occurring, the sequence additionally guides you thru the volleyball gameplay itself. Haikyu!! Season 1 lays it out like a “Volleyball for Dummies” e book, explaining real-life positions like setter, center blocker, and libero. Finally, it will get to the nitty gritty stuff within the later episodes with particular volleyball strategies. I’ve by no means solely understood the principles and tips in sports activities, however by Season 3, I felt like I may go to an actual volleyball match and know what the heck is definitely happening.

Season 2, Episode 6 is the proper instance of this. It demonstrates the assorted tempos of volleyball gamers in a side-by-side comparability, which includes the timing of a spiker’s working method, differentiating a group’s plan of assault. In the event you had requested me about this years in the past, I wouldn’t know what you’re speaking about. However Haikyu!! explains these phrases and strategies each visually and audibly; they’ve now been embedded in my mind.

The visuals are probably the most essential, because the sequence repeatedly supplies examples of every volleyball technique as an alternative of simply saying it. It helped me perceive the world of volleyball with ease, and as a novice, it felt far more welcoming this fashion. Regardless of by no means actually being athletically inclined, it made me consider I may really strive volleyball.

Apart from the matches and the coaching course of, Karasuno’s emotional facet is what genuinely units it aside from different sports activities anime. If Haikyu!! didn’t go a lot into this, I don’t assume I’d’ve been as open to it. Thankfully, it does have a sentimental facet by way of their friendships reasonably than purely specializing in the brute drive of sports activities. I get pleasure from listening to all their hilarious conversations with each other and the brotherhood they develop over the course of the present.

I feel I really like volleyball now, and it’s all because of Haikyuu!!

After watching the sequence fully, I can now say that I’m a full-fledged volleyball fan. The sequence has motivated me to activate the sports activities channel and get misplaced in a number of real-life matches. This has additionally led to my fascination with the Japanese volleyball nationwide group, particularly with the alternative spiker Yuji Nishida. He’s believed to have impressed Hinata’s type, and he’s rapidly change into one among my favourite gamers.

It took me lengthy sufficient to change into a fan, however it’s all because of Haikyu!! for opening that door. Due to its emotional impression and correct portrayal of volleyball, I’ve watched the sequence about ten instances now. It’s helped me be taught extra about volleyball with its beginner-friendly explanations and overcome my lengthy hatred for sports activities.

The present even impressed me to buy my very own volleyball, and I plan to lastly go to an actual match to get the possibility to say, “Good Kill!” I even have a date set for the half one finale of Haikyu!! The Film: Decisive Battle on the Rubbish Dump.

Though I’m unhappy to see the sequence conclusion, I’ll all the time be glad about the constructive change it instilled in me. Now, I can respect the world of sports activities with a deep respect for the athletes who proceed to indicate their dedication.