The new Haikyu!! movie, The Dumpster Battle, has fans of the volleyball anime excited to follow along with their favorite characters again.

Haikyu!! The Dumpster Battle Movie

Recently at Anime NYC, we interviewed Keiko Matsushita and Shoichiro Taguchi. Matsushita and Taguchi are the visionary producers behind the series’ latest movie endeavor, The Dumpster Battle. The Dumpster Battle was released on May 31, 2024, delighting fans of the series.

Haikyu!! has captivated anime audiences worldwide. The anime is a compelling portrayal of Shoyo Hinata, a determined young volleyball player standing at just 5’4″ with dreams of becoming a volleyball ace. The series stands out not only for its dynamic protagonist, but also for its well-rounded supporting cast and intricate storytelling.

As a devoted fan of Haikyu!!, I was eager to dive into the creative process behind this highly anticipated film.

Interview with Keiko Matsushita and Shoichiro Taguchi

During the interview with Matsushita and Taguchi at Anime NYC, I was curious to see how they managed to honor the original series with the new movie.

Jeff: What creative choices did you make to ensure that the match in the film lived up to the emotional and narrative significance it holds within the series?

Keiko Matsushita shared her insights, revealing that the film was conceived as a culmination of the characters’ youthful experiences. She explained that the narrative arc follows Hinata from being underestimated and striving to befriend Kageyama, to joining the volleyball club and evolving as an individual. The film, she noted, represents a pivotal moment in Hinata’s journey. It captures both the sense of nostalgia and the achievements of Karasuno, with a particular focus on Hinata’s growth. Matsushita emphasized the importance of conveying these themes, aiming to evoke both the bittersweet nature of youth and the satisfaction of accomplishment.

Matsushita: We saw this film as sort of as the culmination of the youthful days of these characters, because, you know, [Hinata] starts out with nobody is giving them a chance to befriend this guy. And then he joins the club and he grows as a person.

And it’s sort of this game, the my game is a culmination of his journey. So, you know, anything like this event toward the end, anything finishing like the festival that is this the film, the end is going to get sad. But at the same time, you have this this kind of [feeling] that you achieved something.

So those kind of feelings of youth days and memories and what you’ve achieved, that was something that really mattered and wanted to express the film.

Shoichiro Taguchi expanded on this by discussing the script’s focus. He highlighted that the film centers on Kenma’s perspective, illustrating his strategic mindset as he seeks to overcome Karasuno. The manga portrayed both Karasuno and Nekoma as teams with rich narratives. The film, however, zeroes in on the internal struggles and growth of Kenma and Hinata. Taguchi explained that this focus on their personal dialogues was a deliberate creative choice, designed to deepen the audience’s emotional connection to the characters.

Their explanations illuminated how The Dumpster Battle successfully enhances the emotional resonance of the match, making it even more impactful for fans.

Final Thoughts

As someone who had watched the film prior to the interview, understanding the creative decisions behind it enriched my viewing. It was clear that Matsushita and Taguchi’s thoughtful approach had not only preserved but also elevated the significance of this crucial match within the Haikyu!! series.