Summary

  • The remaining chapters of Haikyuu!! will be adapted into two anime movies, the first of which releases on February 16, 2024.
  • Some Haikyuu!! fans are concerned about condensing so much material into film format, since such a decision likely means certain plots will be shortened or cut entirely.
  • The decision to make Haikyuu!! movies instead of continuing the anime series may be the result of several factors, including budget restrictions and the success of Jujutsu Kaisen's and Demon Slayer's anime films.

The following contains spoilers for Haikyuu!! by Haruichi Furudate, Adrienne Beck, and Erika Terriquez, available in English now from Viz Media.

It has been a long three years for Haikyuu!! fans waiting for news about a potential Season 5, but the official Haikyuu!! Twitter account revealed a two-part film that appears to adapt the remaining chapters in the beloved volleyball manga. There was initially some confusion, since it had appeared there would be a new season in addition to the Haikyuu!! Final movies. However, this was later clarified by the account.

The announcement brought mixed emotions from fans. On one hand, it excited them to know that an animated film adaptation of their favorite sports series was on the way. Others, however, were upset that the rest of the Haikyuu!! manga — over 100 chapters — will somehow be adapted into two movies. Is it really possible to adapt so much material into a Haikyuu!! movie or two? Fans will know the answer soon enough as the first of the two upcoming movies will be released on February 16, 2024.

Updated on February 15, 2024, by Ajay Aravind: Haikyuu!! is widely regarded as one of the best anime of the 21st century, making it a prize jewel of the Shonen sports subgenre. Further, many professional volleyball players have commended the anime series for its authentic depiction of the sport. With so many manga chapters left unadapted, fans are concerned that there's just too much information to be compressed into a pair of films. This feature has been updated with more information about the upcoming Haikyuu!! movies.

Haikyuu!!'s Anime Storyline So Far

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Ever since Shoyo Hinata saw the Little Giant, a volleyball player who seemed to fly on TV, his life was forever changed. The sight inspired him to play volleyball. He met his first rival in middle school: Tobio Kageyama, a genius setter notoriously known as the King of the Court. When Hinata arrived at Karasuno High School, he hoped to improve so he could play against Kageyama once more. Little did he know they would now play on the same court as teammates.

Hinata and Kageyama became known as the freak duo thanks to their special technique, where the former would be able to spike the latter's superfast set with his eyes closed. After a key defeat in Season 1, the Karasuno team realized they all had to evolve in order to get better. After their win over Aoba Johsai in the semifinals, Karasuno went on to defeat Shiratorizawa in the finals to qualify for Nationals. In Season 4 of Haikyuu!!, Karasuno paired up against the talented Inarizaki team, where Hinata and Kageyama had their hands full with the Miya twins.

The Remaining Manga Arcs In Haikyuu!!

Following Karasuno's triumph over Inarizaki in Chapter 290, they must now face Nekoma in the legendary Battle at the Garbage Dump. Karasuno and Nekoma have faced each other many times in practice matches. However, Karasuno's aggressive offensive style often came up short against Nekoma's unflinching resilience and their ability to never let the ball hit the ground. Karasuno will then play against Kamomedai, who were first introduced in Season 4 of the Haikyuu!! anime. Disaster strikes and their first time at Nationals ends soon after.

After graduation, all the players have gone their separate ways. Some have stopped playing volleyball after high school and others, like Kageyama, have become professional athletes. Hinata, however, goes all the way to Brazil, where he takes up beach volleyball to improve his skills in every aspect. When he returns to Japan, he's like an entirely different player and the match between his team and Kageyama's team is of epic proportions. The Tokyo Olympics also play a critical role in the manga's final chapters. However, Haiykuu!! ends with the FIVB Volleyball Men's Club World Championship in Chapter 402, where Kageyama and Hinata are going to be on opposite teams.

How The Rest Of Haikyuu!!'s Manga May Be Adapted

Karasuno and Inarizaki sweating in the Haikyuu!! anime
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The studio opting to go the movie route for Haikyuu!! — rather than adapting the rest of the anime into a few seasons — may be due to budget restrictions. After all, Season 4's production suffered some setbacks due to the pandemic. Other popular series such as Jujutsu Kaisen and Demon Slayer have seen incredible success with their respective anime movies, and the volleyball series may follow the same trend.

The animation team has had ample time to work its magic. However, two movies attempting to cover approximately 112 chapters and five arcs isn't exactly encouraging. At around two hours apiece, they will only cover 12 episodes of a regular anime season. Season 3 of Haikyuu!! was focused entirely on the Karasuno vs. Shiratorizawa match, while the second portion of Season 4 adapted the Karasuno vs. Inarizaki match.

As devastating as it might be for fans to see Haikyuu!! adapted into only two movies, this means the animation will be of movie quality. Only one of the two proposed films has an official release date. The first Haikyuu!! movie, titled Gekijoban Haikyu!! Gomi Suteba no Kessen, will chronicle the Battle at the Garbage Dump, one of the most eventful conflicts in the manga. Assuming the two movies will cover the rest of the series — including the time-skip arc — it's fair to say the material will be heavily compressed or even cut in order to incorporate everything. The second Haikyuu!! movie is presently untitled.

That said, the first part of the Haikyuu!! movie duo might have a short segue into the Kamomedai match, while the second part could focus on the entirety of that match before doing a brief glimpse of Hinata and Kageyama now playing pro. Depending on run-time, Hinata's training in Brazil might also be included in the second Haikyuu!! movie, since this was a huge part of his development as an athlete. However, the focus on Karasuno would mean other characters who have become so beloved in the fandom might not see the big screen. This may disappoint some since the Haikyuu!! manga has always made it a point to focus on teams other than Karasuno.

Will The Haikyuu!! Final Movies Be The End For The Anime?

It's Likely, But There Could Also Be More OVAs And Movies

Back view of the mysterious Tiny Giant standing in a dimly lit volleyball arena from Haikyuu!!

The first Haikyuu!! Final movie will have to compress the source material, and decisions will have to be made on what can be explained through exposition or omitted altogether. This would allow the second movie to follow Hinata's journey to Brazil without compromising the manga narrative too much. This would also allow a chance to focus on other characters aside from the two protagonists.

However, it might not be the studio's intention to cover everything in two movies. The last season of Attack on Titan was set to end with Season 4 Part 2, but the studio unexpectedly announced a Part 3. Haikyuu!! may do the same and continue the story in the form of movies, OVAs, or even a new season.

The Release Dates For The Haikyuu!! Final Movies

The main cast of Haikyuu!! huddling around in a circle
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There has been an official announcement for the release date of the first Haikyuu!! movie: February 16, 2024. That said, there's no current release date for the second Haikyuu!! movie. In the meantime, fans eagerly await the official word from Production I.G. and Toho Animation for when they can expect the second film and which platform they choose for a global digital release.

Interestingly, two million viewers who watch Haikyuu!! the Movie: Decisive Battle at the Garbage Dump in the theater are going to get a special treat. They will receive a special book called Haikyuu!! Volume 33.5, which contains tons of unique stuff like interviews and character illustrations. Haikyuu!! is a truly beloved series by sports fans and non-sports fans alike. While many had hoped to see another season, the Haikyuu!! movies will hopefully give the series the proper send-off it deserves regardless of how it chooses to adapt the rest of the story.

Yu Hayashi, Satoshi Hino, Ayumu Murase, and Kaito Ishikawa posing in Haikyu!! (2014)
Haikyuu!!
TV-14

Determined to be like the volleyball championship's star player nicknamed "the small giant", Shoyo joins his school's volleyball club.

Release Date
April 5, 2014
Creator
Haruichi Furudate
Cast
Ayumu Murase , Kaito Ishikawa
Main Genre
Animation
Seasons
4
Number of Episodes
89