The Pulse of “Evolution” Depicted in “Haikyu!! Second Season” — Why Do the Crows Who Know Defeat Aim for the Sky Again?

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.

Following their defeat against Aoba Johsai in the Inter-High Preliminaries, the Karasuno High School Volleyball Club begins to move forward again, setting their sights on the Spring High Preliminaries.

In the midst of this preparation, it is decided that they will participate in a Tokyo Training Camp where powerhouse schools, including their rival Nekoma High School, will gather. The team members pour even more energy into their practice, eager for the opportunity. However, in order to participate in the camp, a certain “trial” awaits them…

In the world of sports, there is no medicine more bitter than “defeat.” However, there is a scenery that can only be seen by those who chew on that bitterness and swallow it.

Haikyu!! Second Season. This story, which begins with the defeat against Aoba Johsai in the first season, is not merely a record of a revenge match. It is a magnificent documentary of boys who, faced with the cruel reality that “we cannot win as we are,” repeat self-denial and reconstruction to literally “evolve.”

The greedy learning at the Tokyo training camp, the friction and collision within the team, and the existence of newly joining managers and rivals. The composition where all these elements intertwine intricately and converge into the climax match against Aoba Johsai is simply superb. Today, from the perspective of a veteran columnist, I will unravel the heat and charm of why this second season is called the masterpiece of the series.

One of the major highlights of the second season is the Tokyo training camp arc in the first half. Up until now, Karasuno High School centered its strategy on the absolute weapon of Hinata and Kageyama’s “freak quick.” However, in consecutive battles against powerhouse schools, they hit a wall where that weapon alone is not enough.

“We can’t win as we are.”

Hinata’s thirst creates a conflict with Kageyama, the heart of the team, leading to a situation where coordination is temporarily disrupted. However, this “destruction” was essential for evolution. Hinata greedily seeks new techniques, and Kageyama struggles to master a “stopping toss” that matches the spiker. Tsukishima breaks out of his shell of “it’s just a club activity,” and Yamaguchi polishes his weapon, the serve. The process of individuals trying to evolve separately is thrilling to watch, but the explosive power when they mesh again is tremendous.

The figures of rivals from other schools, like Bokuto and Kuroo from Fukurodani Academy, guiding them as mentors despite being enemies, also warm the heart. Not “yesterday’s enemy is today’s friend,” but “today’s rival is tomorrow’s mentor.” This refreshing relationship is a major charm supporting the worldview of Haikyu!!.

What is wonderful about this work is that it is not just a story about geniuses. In the second season, the spotlight shone particularly on the pinch server Tadashi Yamaguchi and the next captain candidate Chikara Ennoshita.

Yamaguchi is the only first-year who is not a regular. While being overwhelmed by the difference in talent, he continues to polish his weapon, the jump float serve, to stand on the court. The scene where he is sent in during a desperate pinch in the match against Aoba Johsai, overcomes the pressure, and scores a service ace. At that moment, there shouldn’t be a viewer who didn’t clench their fist in front of the TV. “Running away is definitely something you’ll regret.” Because he has a past of failing and running away, the weight of that step is different.

Also, the conflict of Ennoshita, who stood on the court as a substitute for the injured Captain Sawamura, is depicted very humanely. He, who has a debt of having run away from the club in the past, supports the team under pressure and awakens as a mental pillar. The growth drama of those who are not geniuses but have life-sized worries gives depth and reality to this work.

And then comes the semi-final against the nemesis, Aoba Johsai. It is no exaggeration to say that this match is one of the best bouts in sports anime history.

Tooru Oikawa, the “Great King” who stood in Karasuno’s way in the first season. His talent, effort, and trust in the team are admirable, even as an enemy. His figure utilizing even the new force Kyotani (Mad Dog) and cornering Karasuno is truly charismatic. However, the evolved Karasuno goes above that.

The last scene, Hinata’s spike decided at the end of a long rally. And Oikawa’s ultra-wide toss and his figure chasing the ball while crashing into the floor. The moment the outcome was decided, respect and loneliness for the loser rushed in as much as the joy. “Talent is something you bloom, sense is something you polish.” This match, where the aesthetics of the man named Tooru Oikawa were condensed, was perfect not only as a story of the winner but also of the loser.

Haikyu!! Second Season is not just a sequel. It is a supreme youth drama that carefully depicts the process of “rebirth and evolution” of how those who knew defeat stand up again and aim for the sky.

Every time the OP theme “I’m a Believer” plays, we are wrapped in a sense of elation as if we are running with them. Animation, direction, music, and script. This work, where everything fused at a high level, goes beyond the framework of sports anime and gives the viewer the vitality to “do my best tomorrow too.”

If you haven’t seen it yet, please watch it through from the first season. And even if you have already seen it, please trace the trajectory of their evolution once again. Surely, new discoveries and emotions are waiting for you.

Next is the decisive battle against the absolute champion, Shiratorizawa. The flight of the Karasuno High School Volleyball Club will not stop yet.

• 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