Haikyu!! The Dumpster Battle
Haikyu!! The Dumpster Battle was everything I wanted and more. This is a really good movie from start to finish. I mean the anime alone was already fire and this first film was no different. But being able to watch it on the big screen was epic. From the sights to the sounds this movie meets all expectations and then some.
What surprised me most was the approach to this movie. They jumped straight into the thick of things, focusing heavily on Kenma as a character. It's reminiscent of what they did with Gwen Stacy in Spider-Man: Across The Spiderverse. I appreciate this way of storytelling. As a fan of the series you expect them to hyper-focus on the main character cause that’s who you came to see. But in taking a step back to introduce to some and present to others Kenma as a rival. It opens up the opportunity to build them up as a character to make a bigger impact later in the film.
Another thing this movie does well is catch you up to speed with what is currently in the anime. They execute this by giving us insight into Kenma’s point of view. By showing us everything from how he got introduced to volleyball to the moment he met Shoyo for the first time. You create this perfect storm of lore to create an epic match-up between rivals. This works on multiple levels. For first-time viewers it gives context to the world and why this one match is so important. While also giving returning viewers new lore that adds more tension to the plot. And they accomplished this without making recaps that leave you feeling finessed. You know the ones where they speed-run the previous arc with no innovation at all.
So the big question is can you watch this movie without watching the anime? I’m going to have to go with yes and no. Don’t get me wrong this movie is entertaining enough to watch by itself 100%. But with the context of the anime in mind, it just hits different. Even knowing Shoyo’s team has to win at the end of the day didn’t really matter to me. Cause for one they already announced there is a second movie in the works. But I also want to see this little giant vs little giant match they have been teasing for so long. Plus this movie isn’t just about the win. It’s about the game itself and the act of play. Striving to reach that flow state that can only be manifested through effort and desire. It is about seeing these players working together in pursuit of one goal.
What I love the most about Haikyu is that they explore what team sports are really about. This anime and movie is about the act of playing. That is where you can find true joy. And that feeling is universal but it also manifests in different ways. It doesn’t even have to be volleyball-specific it can apply to anything. Sure winning is important but it’s all about how you get there. The reason winning feels so good is, because of all the time you spent practicing. All to you spent playing, and even losing. This movie shows you all those things and more.
Much like the game of volleyball this movie is a roller coaster of emotions. It’s full of highs and lows. The rallies were epic and the animations were as crispy as usual. Seeing all the hard work both teams put in payoff in-game was super satisfying. Every serve had me on the edge of my seat. My favorite moment in the entire movie was the high ball. I won’t say any more than that cause you just gotta see this movie for yourself.
Honestly, I don’t have any complaints about this movie. The first-person POV moments have me excited for the future of sports anime. Having a sports background made those moments hit even harder than normal. This movie is bigger than volleyball. The character growth takes this anime to the next level. From a world-building standpoint characters like Kenma got to shine. And you know how the old saying goes it takes two to tango. So for this to lead up to the mirror match against the other little giant I’m super geeked for movie two.
There is still so much more I could say about this movie and Haikyu in general but I will leave you with this. We’ve seen these players become more confident and better communicators. We've seen them develop their skills and even court awareness. But most importantly we‘ve seen them get stronger as a team. Together both of these teams created a moment. A moment that I will remember and continue to watch for a long time. For that reason and everything I stated prior I am giving Haikyu!! The Dumpster Battle a 9/10 G-Files Score.
