Title: Haikyu!! collection 1
Director: Susumu Mitsunaka
Studio: Production I.G.
U. S. Distributor: Sentai Filmworks, Section 23
U. S. Release Date: June 2nd, 2015
Format: Blu-ray / 13 espisodes / 325 minutes
Genre: Sports, Comedy, Drama, Slice of Life, High School
Age Rating: TV 14 (really it should be PG)
Overall Personal Rating: B+
Synopsis:
Shoyo Hinata isn’t a large guy, but he’s got huge ambitions. Ever since seeing a small player score in a National Championship, he’s been determined to become the next big thing in High School Volleyball. Unfortunately, the one time he was able to pull enough players together to form a team in junior high, they were completely trashed in their first and only match against a team led by up-and-coming setter Tobio Kageyama.
Now, enrolled at the same high school where his idol once played, Shoyo’s finally going to get his shot to join and play with a top team. There’s just one problem: Tobio Kageyama’s decided to attend the same school, and he’s already considered one of the best players in the game. Can a kid out of nowhere hold his own against the King of the Court? Or could the rivalry and competition actually be the best thing for both of them?
Commentary:
The number of sports anime that are being released in the U.S. has managed to hit an all time high and Haikyu!! is a pleasant addition. The story is simple and and the outcome is easy to guess, but the way it is coming together is pleasing and fun to watch. Shoyo reminds me a lot of a Naruto on the volleyball court. He is the little engine that can and with his desire to be on the court he manages to infect everyone around him. On the other hand Tobio is rather talented and arrogant but once these two are forced to be toghter they discover that they balance each other out and a natural team is born.
My only issue with Haikyu!! is that it falls into the trap that most sports anime fall into. This is another down and out team that has a bigger heart than talent and it comes down to the fact that they must rely on each other to make it happen. The first 13 episodes take us to that point were they discover that they still have a long way to go and set us up for a big comeback as the rest of the series develops.
Overall Grade: B+
The great thing about Haikyu!! is that you get a blending of characters that make up the team and how they manage to work out the problems they face. I also like the fact that Shoyo has that never say die attitude but is only a little annoying. Most of the time you want him to succeed.
Although I do like the series there are other sports anime out there that make the action even more powerful, but Haikyu!!manages to keep you rooting for these wannabe super stars. I am looking forward to the second half of the series to see if they end up in the finals at the high school tournament.
