Popular volleyball anime, Haikyuu!!, has become one of the most loved anime series of all time and is probably the most famous sports anime out there, bringing in all kinds of fans. Many who watch this series start out by not really being fans of sports, and some may not even be fans of anime, but they become hooked on the beauty that is Haikyuu!!
Because of the show's wild popularity, many have dubbed it to be the best sports anime of all time, with the likes of Hajime no Ippo, and ranking above Kuroko no Basket. It hits almost every detail that makes the series as a whole one of the greatest anime out that is still airing. The second half of season four of Haikyuu!! has fans excited.
10 Best: Animation
The animation in this series is by far one of the best in any sports anime and continuously impresses fans of the series and draws in new fans. The animation is extremely fluid and makes the volleyball players seem almost realistic in terms of their running and jumping.
The action sequences are highly anticipated due to this as each match is different and exciting. The animation can basically make viewers feel each impact of the ball against their own hands.
9 Fell Short: No Superpowers
This isn't an actual problem with Haikyuu!! at all, but many fans of the genre find the "superpower" element of sports anime to be extremely fun.
In Kuroko no Basket, another wildly popular sports anime, each of the main characters has a special skill in basketball that ends up becoming more and more like a superpower with special moves. This element of superpowers makes the series feel more like shonen than slice of life anime, which Haikyuu!! seems to fall into more.
8 Best: Characters
The characters in this series are absolutely fantastic and have a ton of depth. This story doesn't just focus on Hinata, it dives into each of the characters' lives as they each become closer as a team. Even the background characters who rarely play end up becoming really important. This show also excels in showcasing characters from different teams and the struggles they go through while playing the game.
There have been entire mini-arcs that focus on a match between two teams that aren't Karasuno. These other characters are shown so much, that characters from other teams are easily listed as favorite characters by fans.
7 Fell Short: Two Main Characters
Having two main characters isn't really an issue in any anime series, and when it does occur it usually focuses on two rivals trying to achieve the same goal, like Naruto and Sasuke for example. In Haikyuu!! the two main characters are Hinata and Kageyama, who end up being on the same team with one another shortly after declaring their rivalry.
What gets messy about having two main characters in Haikyuu!!, and the way the series goes about it, fans almost forget which of the two is actually the main protagonist. Fans see both of their stories unfold and develop and lose sight of which story they should care more about.
6 Best: The Sport
Something that often makes or breaks a sports anime is its sport. While Free! is loved by many, not too many people find the idea of watching a swimming anime exciting. The same can be said about a number of other sports that have had sports anime as well, but something about the team-on-court/field dynamic (such as basketball or baseball) makes sports anime fans go wild.
That team spirit is what thrives in these shows and volleyball is no exception. The series has made a number of people more into the sport, and find it thoroughly enjoyable to watch.
5 Fell Short: More Relatable
This aspect obviously could definitely (and would mainly be considered) a good thing. However, many anime fans don't watch the show to relate to the main character who has wild superpowers in another world, or a harem of women falling in love with them.
They watch it to see another, wild, exaggerated, reality. And Haikyuu!! is very bound to the real world. Every exciting volleyball move Karasuno and the rest of the teams make can actually be mimicked in the real world. As mentioned, this could also be a good aspect. It makes the series feel a bit more real and relatable, and might even inspire some to go out and play volleyball themselves.
4 Best: Fighting Spirit
This series has a ton of fighting spirit which is an absolute necessity in any sports anime. Fighting spirit is that drive that seemingly fuels shonen anime to keep the protagonists going, even when the odds seem against them.
Some of the most hype moments in the series are all caused by Karasuno's (and the other teams') fighting spirit. It gets fans just as excited as the players and is their pure drive to win and succeed. Haikyuu!! is filled with this as Hinata continuously tries to be the best that he can be, despite his height.
3 Fell Short: The 4 Year Gap
Season 3 of the hit volleyball anime aired in 2016. It had a ton of fans extremely hyped for more to come as the series was destined to progress. Not only did season 3 end with the team winning their way into nationals, but it also opened the door for much more to come.
But suddenly, fans were left waiting on end with no word of a fourth season until four years later when season 4 aired in the first half of 2020. This wait time was forever, and it became an unexpected surprise when season 4 was announced, but that wait time also lost a few fans along the way.
2 Best: Comedy
Haikyuu!! is incredibly funny and always manages to ease any kind of tension with a few well-placed jokes. Many of the Karasuno members, particularly Hinata, Nishinoya, and Tanaka, are absolutely hilarious and silly and seemingly love to make fools out of themselves, especially the latter two who are obsessed with the team's manager.
The dynamics between Karasuno and other teams also are amazing as each of the characters seems to perfectly bounce off of each other.
1 Fell Short: Popularity May Scare People Off
A lot of people don't like to watch things when they get overly popular. Because media is oversaturated, they may feel like a well-enjoyed series is overhyped or overappreciated, when really the series is just good and deserves its praise. This is true for Haikyuu!!.
The series is absolutely fantastic but a lot of anime fans aren't sure whether they want to jump into it or not due to its popularity. This in no way is the series fault, but fans still seem to like to vouch that other sports anime are better while not giving this series the time of day.