I just want to start this off by saying how much I absolutely adore this anime. Show-stopping, spectacular, never-the-same, amazing, wonderful, funny... Y'all.
I'm gonna start off by saying the non-personal reasons I have for loving this anime first, because that's what matters in a review, and I'll also be reviewing Haikyuu as a whole and not just the first season, so, yeah.
So in general, this anime follows the story of Hinata, a first year student finding his way in the volleyball world, especially as a short person. His drive and energy is legit inspiring. I don't like to just say it, but for real. I hear anime protags giving their speeches about what's important and what's not, but it never really compares to Hinata's drive.
Another thing, the main cast of the show, Kurasuno's volleyball club all have very interesting stories of their own. The character development that Kageyama faces during the show is so great to watch. He went from somewhat annoying and aggravating, to my favorite character in the show. Literally in s4 he'll breathe and my brain says: serotonin.
As well as the fact that the show gets you to care about the other teams just as much as the main team. It makes the watcher feel so much more when watching the matches. Half of the time, I hope both teams win, because I care so much about all of them. Neko, Aoba, Fukurodani, etc, I love all of them so much even if I root for Kurasuno in the end. Most shows tend to rely on the audience hating the other side in order to make you love the main team, but Haikyuu doesn't do that. In s4, I could not express how happy I was to see Kuroo and Kenma again. Like when they showed up on screen I was screaming, y'all. Same with Bokuto omg.
I think it's so wild how this story makes you care about it. In reality, it's just some volleyball anime. But it leaves this impact on the watcher that I rarely see in other sports anime, or just anime in general.
Also I know way too about volleyball now... lol.
Now to talk about why this anime is so important to me, specifically.
I'm a transgender man. I have a small frame, I'm actually the same height as Hinata (5'3-4), and I've never been involved with men's sports. Whether it's because I personally don't believe in myself like I should, or knowing that I won't be treated the same as all the others in guys sports. Watching this show makes me feel as if I'm apart of that world that I've never gotten to be apart of. That specific part of the -teen boy experience- that I've never gotten, one of many. It's like I get it back. I also get the feeling of having a close net group of male friends, something I've never really had as well as a trans guy.
I empathize with Hinata so much too, as someone who is looked down upon in sports because of my body. But seeing him try so hard everyday, and seeing him be one of the best on the team, and just... everything. It inspires me so much. In fact, I plan on trying out for volleyball next year. I'll be on testosterone by then so hopefully I won't get fuckin bodied by all the transphobic white boys at my school :)
Anyway. Haikyuu's given me something irreplaceable, I finally get to experience that feeling I never got to, even if it's just an anime.
So yes, watch this anime. The original Japanese dub is awesome and the English dub is fucking hilarious. Seriously, watch this shit.
Fly high, Daichi... RIP to a real one