Haikyuu!!

Have you ever come across something that's impossible to dislike? If you haven't, Haikyuu will be a definite first. It's like looking at a cute and fluffy puppy that's yawning, no sane human being can resist falling in love with it. I think Haikyuu is the best sports anime that exists today, and I don't say that lightly because there are so many brilliant options out there. Even though I was an uninterested volleyball novice, this anime immediately roped me in with its flair and passion for the sport. If you ever thought that volleyball was just a non-complicated and chill beach game, be prepared to get blown away. 

Like most sports anime, Haikyuu's story is very straightforward. It follows an ambitions underdog volleyball team from Karasuno High that wants to compete seriously. While watching we explore the various dynamics of the people in the team, as well as the sport itself. Don't worry if you aren't familiar with volleyball because the anime will explain this to you pretty well over time. The show is extremely realistic without any fancy powers or over-the-top animations, but still gripping and exciting. What really sets Haikyuu apart is that even though it has a strong central protagonist, Shoyo Hinata, every single character is still detailed perfectly. I mean each and every one because there is nobody who gets sidelined or who isn't complex with unique characteristics, counting players on other teams. It's done so well that I think each player in the anime has enough backstory for a spin-off season of their own. This is also where the danger lies, as Haikyuu gets you attached, and you won't let go without going all in emotionally. Be prepared to binge so hard and fast that you won't even realize when you've finished five seasons (counting specials) and four movies. What else do you really need in a great sports anime: Get's you fired up (check), has amazing visuals (check), great characters (check), does justice to the sport (check). So what are you waiting for to watch this?

While Haikuu's animation style is really great, I've noticed that they repeat the exact same animations for certain actions like volleyball services and receives pretty often. This, for me, is a slight put off because everything else is so damn perfect. Watching those few frequently reanimated scenes makes me feel uncomfortable, like I'm driving a Lamborghini with a play mobile steering wheel. 



My personal ratings are:

Story: 4/5
Character Development: 5/5
Dialogue: 4/5
Music: 5/5 

Overall recommendation: Nice Kill!

Catch Haikyuu!! on Netflix.