I keep re-reading the manga, I love it so much! The characters and their relationships are so cute (especially between Hinata and Kageyama, or Kageyama and Aikawa's rivalry).

The reason why I like this manga so much, is because it's a more realistic take on the sport. It shows hardships and gives them a reason to grow stronger, their improvement and how talent is a big deciding factor, how height in volleyball can really make the game more different and the opponents more tougher, etc etc.

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Concerning Betmen's comment:

First of all, I am not discrediting your opinion by any means (that you find it just good). However, I am discrediting (a little) the facts that you gave for your opinion - FACTS. I apologize if this offends you somehow, but your comment lit a certain fire in me that I just felt the need to add my own 2 cents.

Of course there's going to be a lot of repetitive movements in sports - not just volleyball. This isn't some random action manga where characters can use their body freely to either kick, punch, elbow, slash, or even use magic to destroy/hit objects or people. There's a certain way people play volleyball and that's either to: pass the ball, set the ball, and spike the ball. However, volleyball is also flexible enough where a person can use any part of their body to do all of that (spike, pass, set, etc.), as long as they don't use an open hand below a certain level of their body.

Let me just point out, this is all with their BODY. They can't just magic a sword in the midst of a game and wave it around, hoping to catch their opponents off-guard or strike the ball. There's also a certain set of rules to the game that limits the players and removes a few options they can do, i.e. open-hand passes, illegal screening, touching the ball twice (not including serve receives first passes), etc.

So yes, sports will have a lot of repetitive movements. Despite this, it's still exciting to watch/read or participate in. You should try a sport, if you haven't.

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Plagiarism: the practice of taking someone else's work or ideas and passing them off as one's own. [Making Haikyu not a plagiarized version of slamdunk, seeing as they both have a different set of characters, schools, dialogue, etc.]

Let me tell you one thing: there will never be an original character, idea, or book aside from the very first work of art/literature/movie, etc. that it's been seen in. This includes both Slamdunk and Haikyu. In the past, there has probably been many characters that are similiar to Nishinoya or Miyagi. There has also been many relationships that are similar to the rivalry between Aikawa and Kageyama - way too many, in fact. So, I don't see why you think this is plagiarism. They might be similar, but there's a clear difference between volleyball and basketball.

Once again, I apologize if this offended you, but it just bothered me.

TLDR; There will be repetitive movements in SPORTS - try watching a sports game. This isn't plagiarism, there's just only A FEW similarities between a few characters/relationships, other then that, the dialogue, setting, etc etc is totally different.

... Last updated on November 7th, 2015, 4:40pm

After reading and watching a lot of sport manga/ anime, I finally came to this. At first, I'm not really interested in a volleyball series (after all those popular basketball, soccer, baseball MA out there), but then I watch the anime, then I turn to read the manga at the instance.

There is no word that can describe my grateful feeling in discovering Haikyuu. At that time I was stuck at Kuroko no Basket, it's a good manga, but not a good sport one, because of the supernatural thingy. Haikyuu is much different, even different from many old and legendary sport manga out there (like Slamdunk, Prince of Tennis and stuff), because it is too... normal.

No special super human skill with fancy name, no monster protagonist posses superpower, no annoying villian that want to destroy the main characters because he or she feel like it. Not really. No. They are just normal high schooler playing for the sport club. They DO really good at playing that particular sport, but their mind and thoughts are pretty much teenagers, playing sport, wanna have fun, aim for victory, no killin' or threatening and stuff. I love that sense of reality (and innocent).

And it doesn't mean it's not good. I watch the anime for like 3 times until now, and finish the manga up to the latest chapter (around 150) in 3 days, still crawling for more. The art may not be favor by most people, but as time goes by, you will understand it contribute a lot to the humor and the action of the story. Character development is awesome, even the smallest characters have some scene, you can't really hate anyone. The emotion, I can burst into tear for any lost of anyteam, because I can easily putting myself into their position.

Another one thing I love, is how the mangaka potrays the sport, not only around the protagonists, but tell the story about high school kids, their student life, about win and lose, about their love with volleyball. And he mention about the girl volleyball team, too, but not too much due to the storyline. But still good, nobody ever done that, and I love it!

You don't have to know about volleyball (sport in general) to start reading this manga (or any other sport manga). Read it, and you may eventually fall in love with the sport.

The anime is good, too.

... Last updated on April 10th, 2015, 12:00pm

Haikyu!! is definitely one of the only few volleyball mangas/animes out there, and it's a great series.

The main protagonist high school team, Karasuno, is made of quirky and unique characters. It's very much like an "underdog" type of plot. It has a serious side but has plenty of gags or comic reliefs to keep you entertained and the story light-hearted.

When I was reading Haikyu!!, the plot felt very intense when it needed to be, and I was reading each chapter nonstop. That's a good aspect, because I don't think I was ever bored! The plot was moving at a good, steady pace, and the characters always whipped up a new surprise to shock me.

The art is its own unique style, and I enjoy it. None of the major characters look even slightly the same, except for their heights, which is a running "gag" in the series. Since this is originally a sports manga, a key problem in some art is movement. There is a lot of movement, and it's important that a reader sees where the ball is moving and such, I think the mangaka did a great job though. The game movement is quite easy to follow, because sports can get a bit hectic.

You don't have to like volleyball to enjoy this manga. But I have to admit, I'm a fan of the sport now after reading this!

The manga is about 100 chapters (10 volumes) in, after the first chapter, each has about 18 pages, I'd say. I would say the series is still "young." It only began two years ago, and if compared to the other mangas Jump! has, Haikyu!! has a long way to go. Hopefully, the manga can continue with more surprises to come.

If you're more of an anime fan than a manga fan, Haikyu!! has just started its anime adaption. It's only a few episodes in, but the plot and details are almost exactly the same as the ones in the manga. It's definitely a laugh, so check it out!

I just read this manga non stop and its currently 4am and I'm still not asleep yet~!
This manga brings back some memories of Eyeshield 21's Sena and definitely reminds me of Kuroko from Kuroko no Basket! The so called 'Little Giant' reminds me of Yamato in ES21 of how he was the original Eyeshield 21 and some of the characters do resemble somehow~ Also the main duo look like Maho and Amachi from ST&RS... At times only for the 'King' though cuz Amachi is really nice compared to him...

Anyway, this is a great manga and it's still going strong! Love the volleyball concept cuz I've never seen it done for boys yet and the inspirational words of the characters is well stated especially on how passionate each of them are on their own position. I particularly love the Libero's words.. (Dont worry, I wont spoil ya~!)

All in all, the art may be a bit messy at times but the emotions and feelings the mangaka wanted to portray is definitely getting there! Besides, the 'funny' parts are really funny! XD

Happy reading~! ^_^

... Last updated on November 1st, 2012, 5:00pm

I am someone who don't read sport manga unless I loved the anime. But one day, I happened to see this manga and I thought the art were pretty special, so I give it a try without knowing anything about it except the fact it's about volleyball and the main guy is orange-haired.

I have to say that I fell in love with the manga IMMEDIATELY!I read all the 25 in one night! I never thought I would get so hooked up by a manga in Shounen Jump so quick! (and I couldn't hold myself to read the raws)

Many people don't like the art or have difficulties to get used to it. I personally LOVE the unique drawing the mangaka got! And seriously, the artwork might be one thing, but the way he makes the panel division is GENIUS! You can really see how he really works hard on those *impact* scenes! And don't worry if you have difficulties to understand sports move in manga in general, with Haikyuu, it's really easy to read since the mangaka don't use too make lines to draw the ball's movement and yet, you understand where the ball is going. (anyway, for me, I don't have this problem as I have with other shounen manga in general)

Another thing, it's the COMEDY! HAhha, I laughed so much! It's really fun to read! And the characters are all very likeable (especially the libero), even the enemies! And many side characters are very developed too, despite the little scenes they get!

And I just read ch.46. People, I swear you'll be amazed at the end of the chapter. What happened pushed me to recommand this amazing sport manga here!

While my experience with sports shounen is limited, yet I feel this is one of the better sports manga out there. The simplistic style with sharp angles and use of light and dark elements does a great job of putting the characters into a limelight, and yet at the same time maintaining the audience's focus on the ball in play.

The best part of this manga is its realistic portrayal of the mechanisms and plays of volleyball, yet still infusing readers with sheer excitement, explosive energy, and a drive to victory, all of which is embodied through Hinata, the team's "Little Giant" and central character. Unlike Kuroko no Basuke, where the main antagonists have skills that are almost unrealistic and impossible to enact in real life, volleyball is a sport in which there are lesser freedom in movement, and few "special" techniques. What it comes down to, ultimately, is skill and experience and an established trust in one's teammates, elements which this mangaka not only draws well, but manages to propagate in every arc, continuously and without fail. Yet the excitement never dies, because you see these sometimes comedic characters truly wanting to improve themselves in order to win. The journey to the top is never easy, especially when one even has a biological disadvantage, but I'm sure they will eventually get there. I'll just riding on this train to the end.

I was sucked in from the one shot and onwards. The shading is done well, and intensely brings out serious moments. And the comedy! Haha~

I love Hinata Shouyo and Nishinoya Yuu. Amazing! Especially 46!!!

I read a previous manga by this mangaka and loved it, and being a fan of sports series, I started this one as well. It's great. The characters are interesting, Haruichi's unique style of shading and action provide for some cool action as well. It's a great manga, and while the protagonist isn't terribly original, he's likable.

This is a phenomenal, remarkable, realistic sports manga. Without any need for villains, superpowers, or so many other story crutches, Haikyu!! is instead about lifelong rivalry, growth, and turning your hobby into a profession.

The mangaka is a master at using perspective and clever placement of panels and SFX to convey action. And they somehow managed to create a truly humungous cast full of characters with distinct appearances and personalities, without ever resorting to overt tropes or caricatures. And the story is filled to the brim with subtle callbacks to earlier chapters, which makes the conclusions to story and character arcs incredibly satisfying.

Remarkable.

The only thing to be aware of, lest false expectations lower your enjoyment of this masterpiece, is: There's a time skip. It's expertly executed, but if that bothers you anyway, here are the details:



... Last updated on July 18th, 2022, 3:00pm

If you still haven't read it yet you should start now, it's so great that you will feel all kinds of emotion and excitement... when reading this I I'm always holding my breath and then "whew" because of the pressure and tension i feel, and in my opinion that's more than 100% reason enough why this is one of the "Greatest Sports Manga" cause not all sports manga will make you feel the tension and excitement you get from sports...

i hope that the other upcoming sports manga will be as great or even half as great as this... I thank the author for the enjoyment he gave to the readers..