Haikyu!! is by far the most beloved sports anime series there is. Through its humongous cast of colorful characters, the series has its own vibe. I mean, you know a story is doing something extraordinary when even the side characters have their respective fanbases.
But why do we care so much about Haikyu!!'s characters?
Why do we feel so sad even if it's the defeat of the opposing team?
Well, that's what we'll be talking about today—the breathtaking "Character Writing" in Haikyu!! and why it matters.
For starters, Haikyu!! is among the only few series that execute each of their character's introduction and development so flawlessly that it made the series evolve into something much more than just a story. It made it feel alive and paved the way for us to connect emotionally with the story. And that, in my opinion, is the very foundation of what makes this tale so great.
The world doesn't always revolve around the main characters; the opposing teams' characters are often just as relevant, if not more. In addition, there is a wide range of individuals with their unique ideas and philosophies about the sport and life in general. The symbolic and thematic value conveyed through the characters, and their motivations have continuously inspired millions and millions of people all across the globe.
He, with the courage to fly, can get through almost any wall. He who relentlessly hones his instincts can overcome natural talent. The love of the game, that one character-defining moment, the mental dilemma of being weak, the insane thirst to become better, quite literally evolve into a better player.
When you witness all these elements working together in harmony, the impact multiplies, and it's not just the characters that seem alive; it also makes YOU feel alive. That's the beauty of it all, and that's why it matters. Sure enough, there may be mutant prodigies or idiots obsessed with volleyball, but they all feel human, whatever the kind of person or player.
We won't go over every example of ingenious character writing in Haikyu!! but let's discuss a few examples.
First, we have Kei Tsukishima; his development is what you can refer to as “something inconceivable” in the context of where his story began. Tsukishima was introduced as a tall, somewhat conservative jerk. Of course, that was just the first impression the author wanted us to have.
Little by little, his character began to evolve into this well-versed blocker who keeps having second thoughts about this game he has always played; maybe it’s because of his past or current philosophies, or perhaps both. But he isn’t quite sure about dedicating so much time to something which merely qualifies as an extracurricular. Just why is everyone so obsessed with Volleyball?
Through his interactions with Kurou and Bokuto, the author laid down the seeds for the eventual big moment he needed to fully experience that state of temporary Euphoria Bokuto was talking about.
And guys, I know I don’t need to remind you that we all screamed at, “It’s Just a Block….”
That moment had the same effect on many viewers as it supposedly did on Tsukishma. It embodied all of Tsukishima’s development, and to this day, it remains among the most emotional and hype anime moments of all time.
Isn’t that beautiful. How can real fiction sometimes be? This is all a mark of genuine character writing.
Then there is Tooru Oikawa.
His introduction also portrayed him as somewhat of a jerk but not quite. At first, he is a smug, rather charismatic mystery. The audience is fawning over him, especially the girls. You can sort of tell that he would be a crucial character down the line.
But this, too, was just how the author wanted Oikawa to be seen through the protagonists' eyes.
As the story goes on, and his character is explored. We get a first-seat view of his mental dilemmas, insecurities, and strengths. The subtle disconnect between how he appears to be on the outside and his inner persona, and his shift in ideology through the series is why Oikawa is one of the many characters in Haikyuu whose fanbase rivals that of the main characters.
I can say the same about Miya Atsumu and his discrete individuality, not to mention his characterization through his brother and insurmountable hunger for the game.
But instead of him, let's talk about a little less flashy yet equally intriguing character.
"Kita Shinsuke" is the enactment of a philosophy. Instead of portraying an idea, the author created a character that lived that idea. "Someone is always watching," "Routine," "Consistency," "Doing what you practiced."
However, he is introduced as Inarizaki's captain, a force to be reckoned with, unlike most of his team. The man is self-aware that he is average in pretty much all of the domains of volleyball. So what does he do?
He provides his team with a backbone and gets them back into their gears.
Kind of similar to what Daichi is to Karasuno. This enunciated Daichi’s significance and made us see the captain’s role differently. The guy embodies what it means to follow “The Process,” and that, in my opinion, is surreal to think about.
We also have other examples like how Yamaguichi crawled into becoming the Spear of Karasuno. Bokuto’s and Akashi’s contrasting relationship, and how the roles were reversed over the National’s tournament. Hoshiumi being the figment of inspiration for Hinata’s ultimate evolution, the contrast between the different personalities of all of the Top 5 greatest Aces ranked at the National Level, and more.
Even the teams themselves have their own ideologies that give them the backbone needed to keep climbing toward the top.
The contrasts between the personalities of different characters, the emotional highs and lows, the satisfaction of seeing a character grow, and the endless amount of inspiration that can be taken from these characters are why HHaikyu!! indeed outdid itself when it came to character writing.
