“HAIKYU!! The Dumpster Battle” Review: Worth the Wait

HAIKYU!! The Dumpster Battle is the next incredibly exciting installment of the HAIKYU!! franchise fans have been waiting for. The long-awaited game between Karasuno and Nekoma keeps fans on their toes, cheering for both sides along with the crowds. Here is our spoiler-free review of the film.

Based on a Shonen Jump manga of the same name, HAIKYU!! was created by Haruichi Furudate. It is a slice-of-life, sports anime that focuses on Shoyo Hinata’s love of volleyball. Inspired by a small-statured player known as the “Little Giant,” Hinata creates a team in his last year of middle school. His team is matched up against “King of the Court” Tobio Kageyama’s team in their first tournament. This causes Hinata’s team to inevitably lose. After the crushing defeat, Hinata vows to surpass Kageyama. Entering high school, he joins the volleyball team only to find that Tobio has also joined. His once rival is now his new teammate.

HAIKYU!! The Dumpster Battle Review

Karasuno High School is up against their rival school, Nekoma High School, for a chance to prove how far their team has come as they play against each other in the Spring National Tournament. The film takes place after the fourth season of the Haikyu!! anime. However, fans do not necessarily need to be caught up on the anime to enjoy the showdown between Karasuno and Nekoma High School. While this does not serve (pun intended) as a stand-alone film, there are plenty of moments that bring viewers up to speed.

TOHO Animation has done it again. The animation is gorgeous, making it easy to keep your eye on the players the entire time. Throughout the film, there are threads of symbolism between the two schools’ mascots: a cat for Nekoma and a crow for Karasuno. Right from the beginning, we see a cat and crow’s feathers during a recap of the two main stars’ first meeting. Shoyo Hinata, from Karasuno High, and Kenma Kozume, from Nekoma High School, are the crow and the cat, respectively. Using crows and cats while explaining the goings-on during the “Dumpster Battle” is a brilliant use of a metaphor. It provides a true sense of rivalry as well as depicting each team’s strengths and weaknesses.

Also, the musical score is perfect in keeping the energy high. It is impossible not to smile when the competition is thrilling and the friendly rivalry is perfectly set up. However, the music elicits an even more intense feeling of excitement. From the opening of the film through the very end, the score pulls you in and helps you feel like part of the crowd.

Haikyuu!! English Dub Delivers Witty Dialogue and Stellar Performances

There are several characters that stand out in HAIKYU!! The Dumpster Battle. While Shoyo Hinata is generally the focus of the series itself, he is not the only one this film is centered on, and it gives fans a great look at character development. The backstory for Kenma Kozume learning to play volleyball from his childhood friend, Tetsurou Kuroo, gives insight into just how much both Kenma and Kuroo have changed. The love for the sport is different for each player, with Kenma being nonchalant about the game. It’s more of a way to socialize for him. This is a stark contrast to how happy and loud Shoyo Hinata is about his love for volleyball. Playing against Shoyo shows how Kenma begins to change his tune, and something shifts in him. Kuroo sees the way his friend feels about volleyball after all of these years and is glad he taught Kenma all of those years ago.

Similarly, Kei Tsukishima’s character growth stands out in this film. Like Kenma, Tsukishima has mentioned in the past how he doesn’t feel too connected to playing volleyball. However, over the course of the film, we see his mindset begin to shift. It is fulfilling to see how far these characters have come since their introduction in the series.

The English dub is a lot of fun. The banter between both teams (and within their own teams) is clever and hilarious. One voice actor who stands out for his performance is Ty Mahany. Ty Mahany as Kuroo is phenomenal. His delivery of sarcastic remarks, hyping up his teammates, and getting a rise out of the opposing team hits perfectly each time.

Haikyuu!! The Dumpster Battle: A Must-See with a Post-Credits Surprise!

HAIKYU!! The Dumpster Battle is a must-see film for any HAIKYU!! fan. Again, this is not a stand-alone film. But as someone who is not completely caught up on the anime, it is easy to fill in the blanks for context. Hard-core HAIKYU!! fans can absolutely drag their friends who are more casual fans to see the film. It will be difficult not to cheer for both Karasuno and Nekoma!

Be sure to stay after the credits! There is a scene you will not want to miss.

HAIKYU!! The Dumpster Battle will be in theaters in the United States on May 31, 2024. All four seasons of the anime, as well as the OVAs (Original Video Animations) and previous films, are available in Japanese with English subtitles on Crunchyroll.