The Evolution Theory of “Flightless Crows” Depicted in “Haikyu!!” — A Classic Yet Innovative Masterpiece: Why Are We So Enthusiastic About Them?

Produced by Production I.G, this series depicts the passionate world of high school volleyball, centering on the “Freak Duo”: Shoyo Hinata, who dreams of the “view from the top” despite his small stature, and the genius setter Tobio Kageyama.

The greatest appeal of this series lies in its overwhelming character portrayal, where “no one is treated as a mere side character.” It depicts not only the joy of victory but also the reasons behind the losers’ tears and the struggles of ordinary players challenging geniuses, painting a picture that is both gritty and refreshing. The immersive direction—conveying the squeak of shoes kicking the court floor and the heavy impact of the ball—makes the viewer’s heart race and forcefully reminds us of just how cool it is to dedicate oneself completely to something.

A boy named Shoyo Hinata becomes captivated by volleyball after a chance event. Despite the headwinds of having no members in his middle school club, Hinata manages to gather a team in his third year and participates in his first and last official tournament. However, standing in his way is the genius player Tobio Kageyama, known by the nickname “King of the Court”…

“The View from the Summit” — Have words ever shaken your heart as much as these?

Volleyball. A simple ball game where teams try to drop the ball on the other side of a net. Yet, condensed within it are meticulous strategies, instantaneous judgments, and above all, the will to “connect.” The subject of this column is the anime Haikyu!!, a masterful adaptation by Production I.G of the manga by Haruichi Furudate.

Time has passed since the broadcast began, but this work has not faded; instead, it continues to gain new fans. Why is it loved across generations, from veteran sports anime fans like myself to active students? The reason lies in its overwhelming heat as a “hymn to humanity,” going beyond the framework of a mere “sports perseverance” (Supokon) story.

It stands at the forefront of the lineage of volleyball anime passed down from the classic Munich e no Michi (The Road to Munich), yet it is a rare work that possesses the “muddy heat” of Showa-era shonen manga. With a solid lineup of talented staff including character designer Takahiro Kishida, chief animation director Takahiro Chiba, and composer Yuki Hayashi, this is a youth ensemble drama depicted with unwavering strength.

Today, from the perspective of a veteran columnist, I would like to thoroughly discuss the singularity of the protagonist Shoyo Hinata, the charm of the rivals, and the strength to rise from defeat.

In recent Jump works, the image of the protagonist often feels like a “goody-two-shoes” who is somewhat of an honor student and loved by everyone. Characters like Tanjiro and Deku are certainly charming and match modern ethics, but one cannot wipe away the feeling that they are honor students who “make teachers and parents feel safe.”

However, Shoyo Hinata of Haikyu!! is different. He has neither technique nor intelligence, but is a lovable “idiot” and “shorty” driven by the primal desire of “I like volleyball” and “I want to become strong.” This molding can be said to correctly inherit the lineage of the royal road shonen manga protagonists, connecting from Son Goku of Dragon Ball and Hanamichi Sakuragi of SLAM DUNK.

Hinata is not the type to fit quietly in a classroom. Carrying the overwhelming handicap of height, he possesses explosive physical ability and a thirst for victory (ego) that more than makes up for it. What he shows is not textbook justice, but the exposed instinct of a sportsman. Not a “Good Boy,” but a “Good Guy” (in the Mob Psycho 100 sense). The exquisite sense of distance, where even the author does not side with him excessively, gives the character of Hinata reality and charm. The hunger for the strong lurking within his “shota-cute” looks. We viewers cannot help but be attracted to that gap.

And then there is the existence of the genius setter, Tobio Kageyama, who forms a pair with him. He, who was isolated as the “King of the Court,” gains a weapon called the “freak quick” by obtaining the “ultimate decoy” in Hinata. The evolution of modern volleyball, symbolized by the minus-tempo quick attack, is depicted with crispness and overwhelming power as animation. The catharsis of the moment the two mesh can be described in one word: “satisfying.”

The charm of Haikyu!! is not limited to the protagonist team, Karasuno High School. The players of the rival schools that stand in their way also have their own dramas, and are sometimes depicted with enough heat to make us empathize with them more than the protagonists. This can be said to be a deep love for supporting characters, similar to the masterpiece Big Windup! (Ookiku Furikabutte).

The spearhead of this is undoubtedly Tooru Oikawa, the captain of Aoba Johsai High School. A handsome mask and frivolous behavior, but once on the court, he is a powerhouse who is more sincere about volleyball than anyone and greedy for victory. In contrast to the genius Kageyama, he polished his talent through hard work, and sometimes suffers from his own limits and jealousy towards geniuses. The scene where he gains realization through the words of his partner, Hajime Iwaizumi, is one of the best scenes in this work.

“The side with six people who are stronger is stronger.”

These words strike at the essence of the sport of volleyball. No matter how superior individual power is, you cannot win if you do not function as a team. Oikawa’s pride as a setter is to bring out 100% of the spikers’ power and snatch victory with the whole team. Even though he is an enemy to be defeated, we are helplessly captivated by his single-minded figure. Daisuke Namikawa’s acting is also wonderful, perfectly expressing his duality—frivolity and stoicism.

Also, it is a strength of this work that multi-faceted perspectives are prepared, such as characters like Kei Tsukishima who is cool/detached, and characters like Tadashi Yamaguchi who holds conflicts as an ordinary person. Those with talent, those without. Those with motivation, those without. Viewers will surely overlap themselves with someone, empathize saying “Ah, I get that,” and shed tears at their growth.

In sports anime, “victory” is the greatest catharsis. However, the reason Haikyu!! is a true masterpiece is undoubtedly because its depiction of “defeat” is excellent.

The defeat in the Inter-High preliminaries against Aoba Johsai. The reality of giving it their all and still not reaching it. The words spoken by their advisor, Takeda-sensei, to the devastated Hinata and Kageyama pierced the hearts of many viewers.

“Is losing proof of weakness? Isn’t losing a trial for you? It asks whether you can stand up and walk again after falling to the ground. If you remain on your knees there, that is the proof of weakness.”

These words resonate deeply not only with students striving in club activities but also with our hearts as adults fighting in society. Failure and setbacks are not the end. What matters is how you stand up from there. “To lose is not defeat.” This paradoxical message is the philosophy flowing at the foundation of this work.

And coloring that drama is the background music by Yuki Hayashi. The power of music to raise the viewer’s emotions to the climax, as proven in My Hero Academia and Welcome to the Ballroom. The hot BGM that flows at crucial moments synchronizes the heartbeats of the players on the screen with our heartbeats across the screen.

The scene of biting back frustration and eating rice with tears in the cafeteria. Because there is that muddy, human depiction, their subsequent growth and victory shine many times brighter.

Haikyu!! requires absolutely no knowledge of volleyball rules. They are explained carefully in the work, and above all, what is depicted is a universal story of “challenge and growth.”

It is a hybrid masterpiece that fuses the heat of Showa-era sports perseverance with modern animation technology (Production I.G’s high-quality animation). Every time we see the “Little Giant” Shoyo Hinata fly in the sky, we remember something hot that we had forgotten.

If you are tired of daily life and have forgotten to burn with passion for something. Or if you are still trapped by past setbacks. Please watch this work. “I’m feeling down, but let’s do my best again!” After watching, surely such positive energy will well up from the bottom of your body.

Karasuno High School Volleyball Club, the “View from the Summit” they aim for. Let’s go see that magnificent view together.

• Shoyo Hinata: Voiced by Ayumu Murase
• Tobio Kageyama: Voiced by Kaito Ishikawa
• Daichi Sawamura: Voiced by Satoshi Hino
• Koshi Sugawara: Voiced by Miyu Irino
• Asahi Azumane: Voiced by Yoshimasa Hosoya
• Yu Nishinoya: Voiced by Nobuhiko Okamoto
• Ryunosuke Tanaka: Voiced by Yu Hayashi
• Kei Tsukishima: Voiced by Koki Uchiyama
• Tadashi Yamaguchi: Voiced by Soma Saito
• Kiyoko Shimizu: Voiced by Kaori Nazuka
• Toru Oikawa: Voiced by Daisuke Namikawa

• Original Creator: Haruichi Furudate
• Director: Susumu Mitsunaka
• Series Composition: Taku Kishimoto
• Character Design: Takahiro Kishida
• Music: Yuki Hayashi, Asami Tachibana
• Animation Production: Production I.G