Review: Haikyuu: the battle of the garbage dump is an emotional film for fans

For an anime series to work, its character needs to have a real motivation or, as we say now, a canonical event that makes their life turn upside down. In the case of Haikyuu We have Shoyo Hinata, a short boy who becomes obsessed with volleyball and who tries to revive the name of Karasuno High School that now only lives on previous memories.

Now, in Haikyuu: Battle of the Trash Can, we have a certainly advanced story that you will not understand, unless you know the most basic concepts of both anime and manga. Sure, it’s a very entertaining product out there, however, it’s not as easy to follow for outsiders to the series.

Likewise, its execution as animation is very good, without the need to reach wonder. This is because there is quality in each frame, drawing, backgrounds and so on, but there are also some camera shots and tracking of the ball that will leave you speechless. At the same time we also fall into some weak moments, but they are the least.

With all this exposed, how can we rate this production that will finally premiere in theaters in Mexico on May 30? It’s time for us to tell you how this anime movie is going that many fans have been waiting for for a long time.

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A challenge between friends and a motivation to improve

Haikyuu: Battle of the Trash Can is a film written and directed by Susumu Mitsunaka that adapts one of the most notable episodes of the manga written and illustrated by Haruichi Furudate. This is a direct sequel to the anime, so fans will be happy to have a canonical production.

The story of The Battle of the Dumpster presents us with the very special first official duel of Karasuno High School – which is where Shoyo plays – against Nekoma High School, which is where Kenma plays, who has a kind of antagonistic role – without being some kind of villain -. These two schools had already had practice matches and this is the first time they face each other in a duel that will not have revenge, since whoever wins will survive the high school tournament in Japan and move on.

Beyond the motives that Shoyo and Kenma have, there is a kind of bond between the players from both high schools, as they know each other well from previous practice games. You can even see that there is a real building of relationships that will spark sparks between the characters. The only problem is that it can be an overwhelming experience for audiences who don’t know the series. But those who do know, as they say, “fall softly” and even quickly empathize with all the funny moments.

The context behind the rivalry between Shoyo and Kenma is presented in a very measured way. Well, you can tell that “there is something” between the two, but you don’t know how big it is until the film is reaching its key moment. For the common anime consumer it is fine, however, the same and it is not so great for other types of audiences, which pigeonholes the film. It is not like in The First Slam Dunk where the film explains itself without needing to know the previous story.

The two teams and the personal challenge

As I already told you, Shoyo Hinata is the protagonist of the series. He is a little boy who wants to revive the name of Karasuno High School that once had “a little giant” in its ranks. To carry out the feat of being national champions, Hinata is accompanied by Tobio Kageyama, who is a star setter and one of the pillars of his school.

On the side of Nekoma High School we not only have Kenma Kozume, who seems to not enjoy volleyball and practices it as if out of obligation, despite the fact that he is a natural strategist. We also have Tetsurou Kuroo, another player who is in the third year of Nekoma and who teams with Kenma from the beginning. Much of the development of Haikyu: The Battle of the Dumpster focuses on these two, who are seen to have a solid friendship that is forged without ties and that at some point feels forced.

What makes the story of the garbage dump battle very special is that there really is a kind of respect between the teams and the desire not to abandon their game plan. There are even several twists and turns in the narrative process because there are moments when you really imagine that everything is going to go to hell and it turns out that thanks to an individual genius that comes from believing in oneself, things work out, both on the one hand and as from another.

This detail is perhaps what makes the development of Haikyuu: Battle of the Trash Can. Maybe you arrive blank, but the emotions don’t stop and explain themselves. Those who already know the series are going to bite their nails, they will scream and will not lose their capacity for wonder, because the construction of the animation is very good and the approaches are solid.

Animation with action and many pauses

The work that Production IG does with Haikyuu It is of proven quality. But how much of an improvement is there compared to the movie? It is important to emphasize that the budgets for feature films are totally different from those for a television series, so the quality varies from one product to another.

In the precise case of Haikyuu: Battle of the Trash Can is that we have a very well presented product. There is no noticeable irregularity between the character designs or moments in which the animators have committed some kind of insult. It’s a good job and up to that point, it’s not remarkable either.

Likewise, the quality of the water drops is very surprising, as well as the movement of the cameras during a good part of the animation. That is where a good part of the budget is noticeable. You just realize that there is a kind of conscientious work to give the fans spectacular moments, especially in the final stretch, when we have a first-person view that makes you feel like you are inside the field.

What is a reality is that the film takes many pauses to establish the context of the film in a more concrete way. Try not to leave loose ends regarding the relationships of the characters, however, it is also important to note that it is also a product designed for those who already know the story.

Haikyuu fans are going to love her for her presentation

Now, Haikyuu: Battle of the Trash Can It fully fulfills its objective of entertaining, but above all the fans of the series. It’s not like I’m trying to give a twist to the story that you most likely already know – because the manga ended in 2020 -.

What is is that it is about making a real attempt to make fans happy with seeing one of the most exciting encounters in the series but now on the big screen. It seems that it is not a major incentive, but when a big moment in a manga is taken to anime and directly to the cinema, the experience takes on much greater value.

In particular, what has the greatest value is that all the characters have a very specific weight in their development. They don’t fall into the sin of Captain Tsubasa where only a few have very developed dialogue and the rest shout or cheer each other. There is a lot of room here for small stories to have relevance.

If you are a fan and you have a performance with others, it is a fact that you are going to have a great time, because there will be cosplay, a lot of excitement and screams everywhere. Maybe in one of those t
here will be people carrying stuffed animals, towels and even scarves. Technically the movie theater will become part of the stage because of the emotion of the movie.

Should you go see Haikyuu: Battle of the Dumpster?

Followers of the series Haikyuu They will be very happy that the film of the battle of the garbage dump arrived in Latin America. It wasn’t even that long of a wait because this film premiered in Japan in February and a few months later you can already enjoy this animation from the big screen. Even if you hurry me up, you will see that there is the option to see it in 4DX, which can be an interesting investment because you could feel the ball hitting your back.

But, like any other anime, how good is it? Haikyuu: Battle of the Trash Can? As mentioned throughout this review, this is a film designed exclusively for the fan of this series. Anyone who doesn’t know the context of the anime or manga is going to feel lost from the beginning to the middle, which is quite a bit. What is a fact is that this production will encourage you to do two things: play volleyball or simply watch the anime that is available on Crunchyroll.

If you are a big fan, then you have to go see it. It’s animated one of the highlights of everything Haikyuu and that is why the film is worth it. Those who don’t know it may not have a good entry point in this animation, but it may work to get you excited and encouraged to get to know the series.