During the 90s Slam Dunk made every Asian kid wanted to dunk the basketball rim. From 2001- 2010, Eyeshield 21 made kids want to speed to the end-zone of an American football field. Now between 2011 -2017, Haikyuu!! I dare say any kid watching this, will want to spike a volleyball. While Haikyuu may recycle familiar team sports anime tropes, the execution is so polished and surgical, and taken from such a rich material, that the end product successfully celebrates all the things that we hold dear about sports anime without being tired or cliché.The basic and essential experiences of the human condition are explored and resolved in a timely and satisfying fashion; hubris, ambition, intensity, determination and winning, are tempered with trust, forgiveness, teamwork, cooperation, unity and loss. Relationships and conflicts are fashioned organically and not once did it seem contrived or overplayed.The animation is solid, produced by Production I.G. (Ghost In The Shell). The pace is spot on and you will most likely be compelled to binge watch the entire season just to know what happens next. The plot, while simple is effective, and it doesn't deviate from it's primary motivation nor corrupted with trivial romances, side stories or fillers. Characters are well designed and with solid backstories as well as motivations. You will be rooting for the sullen, arrogant but gifted Kageyama, whose genius is as much a curse as it is a blessing. You will be cheering for tiny Hinata, whose pint size body could barely contain his enthusiasm and zeal. You will laugh, cry and admire Tanaka, Nishinoya, Sugawara and Sawamura whom are all integral to the Karasuno High School Volleyball team. The action? Top class. With great angles taken during spikes and receives, as well as Japanese Anime's trademark style of fast popping action, you eyes will be glued to your screen watching every point won or save, making you want to do the same.And that's what the best sports anime do; they don't just make you want to watch, they make you want to play.

Can I just say that I freaking LOVE Haikyu.The show itself is pretty simple. It follows the adventures of a boys' high school volleyball team, and it is a bit overdramatic at times, but it's so much fun!! It's hilarious, the characters are so easy to fall in love with, there's no constant peril or evil overlord or magical powers, it's just volleyball. It sounds pretty boring and stupid at first, but trust me, watch the first episode. You'll be blown away.The production quality is super as well. They never get lazy with the animation. The funny bits are perfectly worked into the show without ruining the intense bits. Every single episode is completely and totally worth it.I just don't really have much else to say. It's an amazing show all around.

This is my first ever anime series and I'm happy I got to catch up on this gem of a show! Though I hardly play sports nowadays but it revived my interest in athletics. It has all the emotions, great story and likable characters! It shows how to have passion for something you love and how this can take you to great heights! It's all about doing what you love and have a burning desire to excel in it! It inspired me that failure can be a stepping stone to success, importance of teamwork, believing in your abilities and ignoring your imperfections at the same time! PS Eagerly waiting for 3rd season!😂

I've seen far more anime than most other 51 year-old Americans, but that still isn't a lot compared to younger folks who are obsessed with it. I mention this because my perspective, no doubt, is not that of a typical younger fan. So, while the other review, so far, is glowing and describes the show glowingly, I am not a fan and don't have the same sort of life experiences. Now I am NOT saying that "Haikyuu!" is a bad show...but I just didn't experience it the same way that the other reviewer did. As for me, I've watched a few anime series here and there and have watched a few hundred Japanese films...mostly live action. So keep this in mind as you read this.The story centers on an incredibly chipper and high-energy high school student in his first year. While Hinata loves volleyball, in middle school he barely got a chance to play at all due to the few kids in his school who wanted to play. He also has little experience and is quite short. In his one chance to play in a game, his team is soundly defeated and one of the opposing players, Kageyama, ends up going to the same high school as Hinata!! Considering how arrogant Kageyama is, it's not surprising that the two being fighting instead of working together as teammates. Naturally, they eventually learn the spirit of teamwork and soon their team goes from mediocre to amazing. Can the spirit of competition and teamwork take them to the top?Like many sports anime programs, the show is way over the top as far as how the various players act and react. Subtle, it ain't...but it is often quite enjoyable and the more you watch the more you get sucked into the story. The animation quality is about on par with any other anime, the writing quite nice and non-anime lovers should still appreciate the show. Among the best anime I have seen? No...but still well made and engaging.