Haikyu!!

Haikyu!! is a popular Japanese manga series written and illustrated by Haruichi Furudate. It tells the story of Shoyo Hinata, a boy who dreams of becoming a great volleyball player even though he is very small. The series was published in Shueisha's shōnen manga magazine _Weekly Shōnen Jump from February 2012 to July 2020 and collected into 45 volumes called tankōbon.

An anime television series based on the manga was made by Production I.G. The first season aired from April to September 2014 with 25 episodes. A second season followed from October 2015 to March 2016, also with 25 episodes. A third season aired from October to December 2016 with 10 episodes. The fourth season was split into two parts and aired from January to December 2020, totaling 25 episodes. In February 2024, the first part of an anime film called Haikyu!! The Dumpster Battle was released, with the second part coming in 2027.

The series has been very successful. In 2016, it won the 61st Shogakukan Manga Award for shōnen manga. By December 2025, over 75 million copies of the manga had been sold, making it one of the best-selling manga series ever. Both the manga and anime have received many positive reviews from fans and critics around the world.

Plot

See also: List of Haikyu!! characters

Shoyo Hinata, a student in junior high school, becomes passionate about volleyball after watching Karasuno High School play on TV. Though small, he is inspired by a skilled player called 'The Little Giant'. Hinata joins his school’s volleyball club, but he is the only member. For two years, he tries to get others to join.

In his final year of junior high, some friends agree to help, and Hinata plays his first real match. They lose to a strong team that includes Tobio Kageyama, an amazing player known for his skill. Hinata and Kageyama become rivals and promise to face each other again in high school.

Hinata gets into Karasuno High School, surprised to find Kageyama there too. The school’s volleyball team has lost its former greatness, but Hinata and Kageyama team up, creating a new and exciting way to play. They help each other improve and work together to bring Karasuno back to its old strength, aiming for the Nationals.

Both Hinata and Kageyama dream of becoming professional volleyball players and promise to play together again after high school. They share a strong bond and are dedicated to each other and the sport.

Media

Manga

Main article: List of Haikyu!! chapters

Haikyu!! was written and drawn by Haruichi Furudate. It first appeared as a short story in January 2011 and began regular publishing in February 2012. The series ended in July 2020, with all its chapters collected into 45 books.

In North America, Viz Media released the series starting in 2016. Shueisha also made it available in English online in January 2019.

Radio drama

A radio drama for the series aired in November 2012 on TV Tokyo. It featured voice actors performing scenes from the story.

Anime

Main article: List of Haikyu!! episodes

An anime series based on the manga was produced by Production I.G. The first season aired from April to September 2014. Four seasons followed over the next few years, each with different songs for opening and closing scenes.

Four special animated episodes called OVAs were also released between 2015 and 2020.

Two compilation movies came out after the first and third anime seasons.

In 2022, two final anime movies were announced. The first, Haikyu!! The Dumpster Battle, came out in February 2024 and was shown in North America in May. The second movie is planned for 2027.

Video games

Haikyu!! Tsunage! Itadaki no Keshiki came out for the Nintendo 3DS in Japan in September 2014. Another game, Haikyu!! Cross Team Match, was released for the same system in March 2016. The main character also appeared in a crossover game for PlayStation consoles.

Stage plays

Main article: Hyper Projection Engeki: Haikyu!!

Stage plays based on the series began in 2015, with Kenta Suga playing the main character.

Reception

Manga

Haikyu!! won the 61st Shogakukan Manga Award for the shōnen category in 2016. It was also voted one of the greatest manga series by readers of Da Vinci magazine and ranked highly on several "Book of the Year" lists from Da Vinci over the years. By the end of 2025, the manga had sold over 75 million copies worldwide.

In Japan, Haikyu!! was among the best-selling manga in several years. Critics praised the story for its deep look at personal and mental challenges, along with its focus on character relationships and team dynamics.

Anime

Haikyu!! was named one of the best anime of the 2010s by Polygon, IGN, and Crunchyroll. It was popular on streaming services in many countries during the winter 2020 season. The anime won awards for Sports Series of the Decade and had high rankings on Tumblr. Characters and music from the series also received nominations and awards.

A real volleyball player from South Korea, Kim Yeon-kyoung, enjoyed the anime’s portrayal of volleyball, even though some moments were exaggerated. Critics praised the anime for showing team work, personal growth, and detailed animation that made the sport exciting to watch.