The next movie could ruin Haikyu!!

Since its premiere in Spring-2014, "Haikyu!!" has become one of the most iconic and valued sports anime of all time. With a fanbase that exceeds millions of viewers delivered, the long-awaited celebration of the end of the franchise began in 2024. Between major announcements of the anime's production and large-scale events for fans, fans of "Haikyu!!" have a lot to discover to prepare for the next and final installment of the series.

The anime left its viewers with a huge cliffhanger at the end of season four in 2020, only offering viewers movies and sub-story specials and recaps that had left fans wanting more. With so many episodes yet to be adapted, anime fans have been asking for the premiere date of the fifth season of "Haikyu!!" for years. But what they received as a sequel wasn't a new season, it was two movies.

The Story So Far

From the first episode, "Haikyu!!" has followed the story of the comeback of the Karasuno volleyball team, which in recent years of tournaments has had nothing impressive to show the nation. With the big dream of proving themselves in tournaments, the team members train to work together and hone their skills to compete against various fearsome rivals. While all of the characters in "Haikyu!!" get a chance on stage, the two that get the most attention are Shouyo Hinata and Tobio Kageyama.

Hinata was initially inspired to play volleyball by Karasuno's star player, "the Little Giant," who, like Hinata, is short in stature but can jump higher than most other players and finish with impressive strength. As inspiring as his dreams are, Hinata still has to prove himself in every match he plays, as he is constantly teased for his size and lack of experience. Kageyama, on the other hand, doesn't have lofty dreams, but an intense drive for perfectionism and victory that, as a result, has sidelined his teammates. While no one doubts his innate talent as a setter, which he controls throughout the game, his inability to work with others proves debilitating to the success of whatever team he is on.

After overcoming his ego and embracing Hinata's potential, Kageyama learns to work with him to bring out the best in both of them. Together, they form the ultimate team and Karasuno's secret weapon. It's the power of this partnership that sparks hope in Karasuno, especially among veterans, who have few opportunities left to make their mark on the team they love. Throughout "Haikyu!!", Karasuno faces fierce rivals, such as his longtime rivalry with Nekoma, the iron wall of Date Tech, his volatile rivalry with Aoba Johsai, the sweeping legend and crowd favorite team Shiratorizawa, and the impressively technical team Inarizaki. Karasuno's story remains on a cliffhanger of his pending fight against Nekoma.

Will there be a fifth season?

In August 2022, the official media of "Haikyu!!" announced that the series would end with two films instead of a full season. The statement also reported that there would be a special film release event held in August 2023, but it was postponed to September 2023 for a special festival dedicated to anime.

On September 24, 2023, the event known as Haikyuu Fest was held at the Tokyo Musashino Forest Sports Plaza Main Arena in Tokyo. Nine thousand attendees, along with members of the production, celebrated the announcement of the two films that will bring the beloved sports anime to an end. Attendees received exclusive updates and had the opportunity to say goodbye and celebrate the franchise.

Eight of the main cast members, including Ayumu Murase (as Shoyo Hinata) and Kaito Ishikawa (as Tobio Kageyama), were in attendance, proving that the main voice actors would be returning for the films. The actors teamed up for a special reading of a script written by mangaka Haruichi Furudate. Fans were also treated to live musical performances. Among the exclusive news shared with fans, the one that was also unveiled outside of the event was the trailer and date of the first film.

What needs to be adapted?

Chapters adapted into the first film: Chapters 293-327.
Chapters to be adapted in the second film: Chapters 327-402.

While some fans are excited about the idea of being able to see more of "Haikyu!!", many are concerned about the fact that the series finale will be released via movies rather than a full season. One of the biggest concerns is that the two films won't be enough to cover all the details of Haruichi Furudate's original manga. The "Battle of the Dump Arc" only covered the story between chapters 293 and 327, making for a total of about 30 chapters of information.

However, there are another 75 chapters left, which could not be compressed into a single film without losing much of the character development. Very important events, as well as the current whereabouts of the main characters, have to be woven into the story to please the fandom that deserves it. That said, it hasn't been confirmed when the final second "Haikyu!!" movie will be released, so fans can only keep their fingers crossed and hope they don't screw it up.