Haikyuu is a sports anime I had always heard a lot about but I never tried to watch because I thought it would be a typical underdog story and I have seen enough of those. However with so many people being emotional about the manga's end I felt like I should definitely give it a try.

The show at first seems slow and typical, two rivals, one of whom is an underdog while the other is a volleyball genius and both of them ending up in the same team and eventually becoming a super duo. But it isn't the story that sets Haikyuu apart from every other underdog story, it is the execution. The love for the sport that the characters in the series have can be felt at every moment, that I find myself caring for the sport and wanting all these characters whether they are from Karusuno or not to achieve greater heights. I felt this even more in the second season.

The first season starts off a bit slow but once the main rivals Aoba Johsai come in, the series starts gaining momentum, the team properly comes together and then the tournament starts. Haikyuu is exceptionally good at executing the matches, that even those with completely predictable outcomes manage to be compelling. I am far from a sports enthusiast so even I am surprised about how much I enjoyed the matches, as the series goes on, the matches are no less interesting than an action sequence.

Characters:

Hinata: Hinata is seemingly the typical passionate, driven and optimistic hero and he really is all that and initially I wasn't really drawn to him and his journey but his drive and enthusiasm eventually grabbed me. His passion for the sport is overwhelming and drives forward everything in the show, not just him but his entire team. His hunger for growth is inspiring, even if he is like many other characters on paper, he is certainly one of the better executed ones.

Kageyama: Kageyama is also like several characters we have seen before, arrogant, rude and extremely talented but again he is one of the better ones, his arc in the season was satisfying as we slowly see him becoming a team player. Also unlike how he looks he is not the brightest bulb for things not related to volleyball. He and Hinata are pretty silly together and his "Hinata BOKE" is imprinted in my brain.

Karusuno Team: They are a lovable team who like our main duo are passionate about the sport and are intent on reviving their fallen name. Nishinoya is great to watch and shines as much as the main characters in the matches. Tsukishima the tall smarty is also a key character who will be explored more in further seasons. The series dedicates a good amount of time to all the team members which helps us root for their success.

Oikawa: Oikawa is the captain of the main opponent of the season Aoba Johsai, he is a setter and is Kageyama's senior from middle school. He is one of the best characters in the series, time is also dedicated to him and his team and by the end you want Karusuno to win but don't want Oikawa and his team to lose either.

The thing that the show does really well is it tries to give some amount of depth to most characters we encounter, all the opponents key characteristics are highlighted and we even get to know them to some extent. The passion for the sport that every character radiates makes me want to play some kind of sport too or just move.

Soundtrack:
The soundtrack and score do exactly what they are supposed to do, they perfectly reflect the drive and passion for the sport that all our characters have and the show itself manages to have at every moment.

Art and Animation:
I love the character designs and yes Hinata is just another orange hair boy but I think it suits his character so I don't mind. The attention to detail at some points is great and the animation during the matches is just exceptional.

I feel my review doesn't do justice to do show but almost no review will, it is difficult to capture the feeling that Haikyuu gives while watching in appropriate words. While at its core it is an underdog story, every opponent is presented as a human that rooting for Karusuno isn't as simple as it ordinarily would have been.