Ever since its initial release, Haikyuu!! has been a go-to comfort anime for many. However, with the expansion and diversification of the franchise, it may be overwhelming to know where to begin. To help, here is a guide on the proper order for watching Haikyuu!!.
The Haikyuu!! anime, based on Haruichi Furudate’s manga with the same name, was initially released in 2014 and quickly gained recognition as one of the top sports anime. This year, the franchise has released its first sequel film, Haikyuu!!: The Dumpster Battle, which has been hailed as one of the best anime movies of the year.
Despite his short stature, Shoyo Hinata is determined to become an ace volleyball player in Haikyuu!!. Along with his rival-turned-partner Tobio Kageyama and the rest of the Karasuno team, Hinata embarks on this journey to achieve his dream.
If you have yet to watch this beloved anime series, but are considering it, you can rely on us to assist you along the way. Without delay, let us discover the best way to watch Haikyuu!! for an optimal viewing experience.
How to Watch Haikyuu!! in Order
There are four seasons and one movie available to watch. It is recommended that you begin with Haikyuu!! and conclude with the final installment, Haikyuu!! The Dumpster Battle.
The complete summary is as follows:
- Haikyuu!! is an animated sports series.
- OVA 1: The Arrival of Lev Haiba
- Haikyuu!! 2nd Season Episodes 1 – 3
- OVA 2: VS Failing Grades
- Haikyuu!! 2nd Season Episodes 4 – 25
- Haikyuu!! 3rd Season
- OVA 3: Special Feature! Betting on the Spring High Volleyball
- OVA 3: Land VS Air
- OVA 4: The Path of the Ball
- Haikyuu!! To the Top
- Haikyuu!! To the Top Part 2
- Haikyuu!!: The Dumpster Battle
Haikyuu!!
The initial season of Haikyuu!! kicks off with Hinata being captivated by indoor volleyball while watching Little Giant’s on-screen performance. The remainder of the season follows his journey as he meets Kageyama for the first time and eventually joins the Karasuno team.
The current season consists of 25 episodes and covers two storylines from the Haikyuu!! manga: the Karasuno High Team Formation Arc and the Interhigh Arc. Along with thrilling matches, Season 1 also introduces key players such as Oikawa, Kenma, and Aone.
The Arrival of Lev Haiba
The first Haikyuu!! OVA, titled “The Arrival of Lev Haiba,”takes place chronologically between Seasons 1 and 2. Unlike the rest of the franchise, it is the only OVA that is not based on the manga and is exclusively adapted for the anime. Additionally, it focuses on the Nekoma team instead of the Karasuno team.
The main focus of the story is on the Nekoma volleyball team, who are joined by a new member named Lev, a tall Russian student with dreams of becoming the team’s ace. While the OVA is not essential to understanding the series, it does not contain any crucial information.
Haikyuu!! 2nd Season Episodes 1 – 3
If you choose to skip the initial OVA, you can jump straight into Haikyuu!! Season 2. The second season seamlessly continues the story from where the first one ended. Karasuno, having participated in the Interhigh tournament, is now eagerly anticipating a training camp in Tokyo.
Additionally, there seems to be a major hurdle standing in their way, and it is not a competing team. Rather, it is their fear of grades that is causing concern for most of the players. Specifically, Tanaka and Nishinoya, who are known as the eccentric pair, must successfully pass their exams in order to join the rest of the team at the Tokyo training camp.
OVA 2: VS Failing Grades
Before moving on to Haikyuu!! Season 2, consider pausing after Episode 3. This episode provides a comedic insight into how the troublemaking members of Karasuno attempt to pass their exams.
The comedy in VS Failing Grades is undeniably entertaining. The antics of the boys and the frustration of those trying to push them to pass provides great amusement. However, this aspect does not contribute significantly to the plot, and can therefore be disregarded.
Haikyuu!! 2nd Season
As Hinata and Kageyama enter the Tokyo Training Camp, they encounter challenges in their dynamic. In order to improve, they must learn to adapt, but this proves to be a difficult task.
Similar to its predecessor, Haikyuu!! 2nd Season consists of 25 episodes. This installment continues the story with the Tokyo Expedition Arc and a majority of the Spring High Preliminary Arc, showcasing more intense matches and introducing beloved new characters such as Bokuto, Akaashi, and Yachi.
Haikyuu!! 3rd Season
The third season marks a shift in Haikyuu!!’s usual format, as it focuses on a single match rather than multiple story arcs. The match in question is the Spring High preliminary final between Karasuno and Shiratorizawa, and the season is also the shortest with only 10 episodes.
Despite this, the 10 episodes remain some of the greatest in the franchise. The Karasuno vs. Shiratorizawa match is a must-see. Not only does it determine the team advancing to Nationals, but it also marks their toughest challenge yet as they face off against their strongest opponent, Ushijima.
OVA 3: Special Feature! Betting on the Spring High Volleyball
This is the third OVA of the Haikyuu!! franchise, which serves as a recap of the Spring tournament preliminaries. The story revolves around a news broadcast where the hosts provide commentary on the participating teams.
In contrast to the other OVAs, this one lacks entertainment value and does not contribute anything significant to the series. As such, it can be safely skipped.
OVA 4: Land VS Air
The fourth installment of the franchise, Land VS Air, takes place chronologically after Season 3. While Karasuno struggles to secure their spot in the Nationals during the third season, the OVA focuses on the events surrounding the Tokyo teams.
Nekoma’s match against Fukurodani is the main focus of Land VS Air. This highly anticipated match features best friends Kuroo and Bokuto facing off against each other. Additionally, one team specializes in ground defense while the other is known for their exceptional aerial attacks, making it an incredibly thrilling game to watch.
OVA: The Path of the Ball
This installment continues with Nekoma’s journey after their defeat against Fukurodani, as they face Nohebi. As their final opportunity to qualify for the Nationals and finally have their long-awaited match against Karasuno, the tension is palpable for the team.
If you only follow Karasuno, you may choose to skip this one as well. However, the final two OVAs offer significant contributions to the story unlike the first three. They not only provide insight into the workings of other teams, but also showcase meaningful growth for certain characters.
Haikyuu!! To the Top
The next installment, Season 4, is titled Haikyuu!! To the Top. This season consists of two parts, with the first focusing on Kageyama’s experiences at the National Youth Camp and Hinata’s role as a ballboy at Shiratorizawa’s first-year training camp.
The animation and art style in this season may appear different at first, but with time, you will become accustomed to it. The first half of Season 4 consists of 13 episodes and concludes before Karasuno’s showdown with Inarizaki.
Haikyuu!! To the Top Part 2
The second half of Haikyuu!! Season 4 is a seamless continuation of the first half. With a total of 12 episodes, Season 4 spans a total of 25 episodes, mirroring the lengths of Seasons 1 and 2. Part 2 takes place during the highly anticipated Karasuno vs. Inarizaki match, which is considered one of the most thrilling matches in the series due to the formidable opponent team’s skilled setter, Kageyama.
Shortly after the beginning of the match, the Miya twins surprise everyone by flawlessly executing Hinata and Kageyama’s iconic minus-tempo attack. This realization causes Karasuno to understand that the Nationals will pose a greater challenge than they had anticipated.
Haikyuu!!: The Dumpster Battle
The upcoming film, Haikyuu!!: The Dumpster Battle, continues to chronicle Karasuno’s progress following their victory over Inarizaki in Season 4. Their longstanding desire to face their destined rivals on the orange court is finally being realized.
The highly-anticipated Karasuno vs. Nekoma match is the main focus of the 85-minute-long movie. As expected, the movie is brilliant and lives up to the franchise’s high standards. Despite the absence of two of the franchise’s beloved characters, it still delivers the same level of quality.
Haikyuu!! Final Part 2
This upcoming Haikyuu movie will serve as the final installment in the franchise and will continue where The Dumpster Battle left off, following Karasuno’s quarterfinal match against Kamomedai in the Nationals.
The post-credit scene of The Dumpster Battle hints at an upcoming match, but an official release date for the untitled movie has not yet been revealed. With the success of its prequel at the box office, fans can anticipate further announcements in the near future.
How many Haikyuu!! episodes are there?
As of now, Haikyuu!! has a total of 85 episodes.
Seasons 1, 2, and 4 consist of 25 episodes each, while Season 3 only has 10 episodes. As the series has not been renewed for a fifth season and will instead conclude with a final movie, this will be the total number of episodes for the franchise.
In addition to these episodes, the franchise includes five OVAs and one sequel movie, with another one currently in production.
Does Haikyuu!! have any filler?
Haikyuu!! stands out for its faithful adaptation of the manga, which means that viewers can enjoy the entire series without any filler episodes.
During the translation process from page to screen, a few scenes may be tweaked, but the main essence remains unchanged. Therefore, you can confidently dive into the series without worrying about any unnecessary filler episodes.
How many Haikyuu!! films are there?
Currently, there are a total of five movies for Haikyuu!!, in a sense: The End and the Beginning, The Winner and the Loser, Talent and Sense, Battle of Concepts, and The Dumpster Battle. However, the first four are considered compilation movies, as they consist of scenes from the previous seasons.
Movie 1, The End and the Beginning, is a collection of the first part of Season 1, which begins at the start and concludes after Karasuno’s first practice match against Nekoma. Movie 2 follows the boys’ journey through the Interhigh tournament, with a focus on their matches against Date Tech and Seijoh.
The third installment of the film series, Talent and Sense, provides a summary of Season 2. The title of the movie is a reference to the intense match between Karasuno and Seijoh in the Spring tournament, where Oikawa’s strategic sense goes head to head with Kageyama’s natural talent. Additionally, Movie 4 features a revised version of the Karasuno vs. Shiratorizawa match.
As they are all recaps of the series, the movies can be disregarded entirely and the episodes should be watched instead. The only essential movie is The Dumpster Battle, as it serves as a direct continuation of Season 4.
Where to Watch Haikyuu!!
Haikyuu!! can be watched on Crunchyroll and Netflix, with all episodes being accessible on both platforms.
The OVAs can be viewed for free on Ani-One Asia’s official YouTube channel. However, Haikyuu!!: The Dumpster Battle is currently not available on any streaming platform. You can catch the movie in theaters instead.
The conclusion of the Dumpster Battle and our perspective on how Haikyuu!! sets the precedent for sports anime.
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