Anime Review – Haikyu!!: The Dumpster Battle (2024)

Haikyu is one of the most popular modern-day sports anime, but the show has not had a new episode since 2020, leaving the story incomplete. In celebration of the show’s 10th anniversary, it was announced that two films were in the works to wrap up the anime. Haikyu!!: The Dumpster Battle is the first of these two films. The film follows our titular volleyball team, Karasuno High, as they have their first official match against Nekoma High in the 3rd Round of Nationals.

This film is closer to season 5 of the show than a traditional film, which is both a huge positive and a negative. You will be lost if you have never seen a single episode of the show or read the manga. The film does not explain the character dynamics or relationships; previous events should be common knowledge. While I did not find this to be an issue, as I know the story of The First Slam Dunk. Due to this, you can connect with the characters and their drive to win. Seeing Karasuno High change its tactics to beat Nekoma High is fascinating.

However, what I didn’t expect was to be so invested in Kenma Kozume, who is on Nekoma High’s team. Seeing him as a child, introduced to volleyball by his childhood friend and fellow teammate Tetsurō Kuroo, and how he works out the strategies for his volleyball team to beat Karasuno High is truly marvelous.

Production I.G was in high gear with this film. The animation is gorgeous; every time a character smacks a ball, dashes across the court, or jumps for a ball, there is so much momentum and impact. Even when sweat is dripping onto the court, there is an artistic beauty to it that resonated deeply with me. However, there was one moment that nearly had me standing up in pure awe. An extended POV shot blew my mind and was perfect. Working in conjunction with the animation, there is also a lot of visual storytelling that I found fantastic. The film uses the fact that animation is a visual medium to its full extent, leading to moments that make you want to raise your fists in the air.

But an aspect of the film that I feel will go unnoticed is the sound design. Every impact felt like a gunshot going off with how intense and impactful it was. From the squeak of shoes on the floor to the booming sound of the characters jumping and reaching for the heavens, every sound is a treat to the ears. I watched the English dub of this film and found the entire voice cast to be amazing. However, I did find it funny hearing Gendo Ikari’s English voice actor, John Swasey, playing a nice and ive character.

I enjoyed Haikyu!!: The Dumpster Battle. It is a fun and thrilling film that left me wanting more. This is a good thing, as there is still another film to come, and I know I’ll be there when it releases.

★★★★

In Cinemas from 31st May 2024 / Bryson Baugus, Scott Gibbs, Adam Gibbs, Adam Noble, Andrew Love, John Swasey / Dir: Susumu Mitsunaka / Crunchyroll / PG