Haikyu!! The Dumpster Battle

If you're a Haikyuu!! Fan, I'm sure this one has been on your watchlist. Had a chance to watch it yesterday, my 2nd Japanese movie in a theater.

There's this troubling trend of anime makers releasing a movie before the beginning of the next season, then breaking the movie down into episodes as a part of the season when it releases. Happened with Db Super, Attack on Titan, Mugen Train, and now, sadly this. Capitalism over content, I guess. If you can sell tickets and not release the episodes online, might as well make some money if it's there to be made.

Haikyuu IMO is one of the best written shows - ever- and I was afraid that they'd skimp out on the details in the movie. Folks familiar with the manga said they've covered everything they're supposed to but the film did feel rushed.

Haven't read the manga - I enjoyed the film but I felt something was missing. The focus is on Nekoma - i didn't necessarily mind that, leave it to Haikyuu to tell the story from the opponent's POV and still do it well, right!? I guess the emotions and the excitement (with the game) that one's used to in the anime had to be cut out for the sake of runtime, this entire match could have been a whole season. But of course, you can do that with a film.

The game itself wasn't as thrilling as the ones I'm used to in the anime, but I guess that was also expected...? The animation was nothing mindblowing, but first person POV in the game was WELL DONE! The sound design was still GOOD but I've been blown away from what the anime has had vs what was in the film.

Subs were BAD, at least for me. There's a lot of going back and forth in time, players 'thinking' in the present and talking to each other. This happens in quick succession and the flashback subs stayed on the screen for longer, there wasn't any difference between the subs for the Internal monologue and the actual interaction. The scenes cut back to back, and so does the audio but the subs just kept stacking on top of each other and it became hard to heard but knowing the context you didn't need to read and could follow along.

All that said, it still amazes me how they're drop a movie not in the Heroes' POV and still make good content out of it. That's been one of Haikyuu's strengths and they played it well. Kenma's character development was impressively shown and if he were the star of the show, this would have been a great film. Still felt something was missing - for me. Not sure if it was the POV. But it still ended up being a good film in my books. Just not what I expected it to be. Enjoyable movie still, can't wait to see what the anime's got. Quarterfinals with Kamomedai beckons; just hope it's not another movie because I want 20 episodes and not an 85min movie.

2024film-008(2/24/2024) I've finally reached "The Dumpster Battle". Having been produced as a movie, the animation was filled with spirit and was incredibly captivating. It felt more like a continuation of the anime rather than a standalone film, so it was appreciated that they inserted flashbacks at key moments without excessive explanation. Since I haven't read the original manga, I'm not sure if these flashbacks also exist in it. I've been a big fan of Yaku from Nekoma High School since just before watching this movie, so I was delighted to see him shine in this installment as well. I'm really looking forward to the continuation, but I wonder if they'll continue it as a movie or an anime?

Animation:

The animation of this movie can't exactly be compared to many other animes out there. This movie was likely strongly limited by thejr lack of locations. With 90% of the movie showing a single place, a stadium. But even with that, each scene looks great. Many animes suffer from deadlines hindering how much detail they can add. But since it came out as an movie, they had more time to work on those things. Most of the scenes look great, and the animation absolutely adds to the emotions of each scene.

Plot:

I was on the edge of my seat for the whole show. I even had to sit up from the theatre's reclined seating. There's plenty of tension in the story, and the stakes feel high. While I did safely expect the protagonists to win, the story keeps you engaged. Every moment I was wanting more! There was so much symbolism and scenes with figurative language that I would love to spoil, but I want more people to see this review and watch the movie with zero spoilers. However, both me and my friend were locked in. I was afraid to blink. The pacing was excellent and there wasn't a moment where I was going 'hurry up and get back to the good stuff'.

Music:

It was hard for me to judge the music throughout the movie without distracting myself from the action, but they do use it well. There is one scene in particular, where the music is used so amazingly to drive the stakes up.

Characters:

If there are any characters you already love from Haikyuu, especially if they're from Karasuno (Hinata) or Nekoma (Kenma), you will love them even more. I do think they could've given a little more time to some of the other characters.

Other:

I wish I could rewatch it again for the first time, and it's great to go with friends.

You ABSOLUTELY will enjoy it a thousand times better if you have prior knowledge (atleast watch the anime first) before seeing this movie. I can imagine that it would be difficult to enjoy if you have no prior experience.

As a big fan of Haikyu!!, I approached "The Dumpster Battle" with high expectations and a strange, almost personal connection to the series. The movie delivered in many aspects with great scenes and compelling storytelling, capturing the essence of what makes Haikyu!! So special.

The animation quality was top-notch, and the intense volleyball matches were as exhilarating as ever. The character dynamics and emotional moments were handled beautifully, and surprisingly, the flashbacks integrated well without feeling disruptive.

However, despite these strengths, I couldn't shake off a feeling of unfulfillment. While the movie did an admirable job of compiling the story, it felt like there wasn't enough time to dive deeply into the intricacies and character developments that a full anime season could have provided. The depth and nuance that come with episodic storytelling were missed, leaving me wishing for more.

In conclusion, "Haikyu!! The Dumpster Battle" is a great watch and a satisfying experience for fans who have waited so long for this installment. Yet, it left me yearning for the richer, more detailed exploration that only an anime season can offer.

I recently watched this movie in the cinema and found it to be a thrilling experience. I highly recommend catching it on the big screen for that extra level of immersion.

As a competitive volleyball player, I found the choreography and animation incredibly immersive and breathtaking. It felt like watching a real match in real time, keeping me on the edge of my seat. While the movie starts off feeling a bit rushed, it soon settles into a steady rhythm. The fast pace was a refreshing change from the anime's frequent internal monologues and pauses, enhancing the overall immersion.

I watched the dubbed version in the cinema, which was entertaining as I was used to the subbed version. Although some might find the new voice actors jarring, I enjoyed the change.

I haven't read this far in the manga, so I couldn't be disappointed by any omissions. As a standalone movie that picks up where season 4 left off, it was an amazing experience.

I recommend recapping the end of season 4 if it's been a while since you last watched it. I'm really looking forward to seeing how they conclude this series with the next movie.