My Reaction to Haikyuu!! The Dumpster Battle

SPOILER FREE!

I went to see Haikyuu!! The Dumpster Battle yesterday and it was wonderful. It was a direct continuation of Season 4 but with a slightly different POV, that of Kenma Kozume (Clint Bickham), brainiac setter for the Nekoma team.

All of what makes Haikyuu so special is on full display in this film. The use of strategic musical cues, exhilarating action sequences, stunning visual metaphors, and perfectly timed flashbacks elevate the hilarious, touching, and inspirational writing. The flashbacks are well chosen and plentiful in The Dumpster Battle, which isn’t to say they carry the film, but they greatly enhance it and give the narrative shape and heft.

We’ve spent so much of our time viewing this game from the perspective of volleyball maniacs, so getting into Kenma’s head and seeing how he really feels about his comrades and Shoyo Hinata (Bryson Baugus) was incredibly interesting. Of course, this isn’t the first time we’ve gotten into his head; in the Season 4 episodes, Cats vs. Monkeys and Trap we get to see how he copes with his limited stamina and athletic ability but robust intellect while in a game. (We also get to see him comically unravel and unload on gravity. lol) But this is different, he actually cares about his opponent and wants to best him. There’s almost a sinister glint to his plotting and planning, something that’s always been there just under the surface.

I was a bit begrudging when it was announced we were not getting another season of Haikyuu and instead would have to make due with two movies as the vehicles to wrap everything up. On the one hand, it takes a damn long time for seasons of Haikyuu to drop and even more years for the dub to show up, so this seemed like it might be an imperfect solution. But now, I realize this is a fine way to close out this series, sure it’s not a whole season or two, but if the second movie is as good as this first one, I know I will be fully satisfied at the ultimate conclusion.

Stray Thoughts

• It was so delightful hearing one of my fave ensemble casts again. Karasunoooooo FIGHT!
• I really enjoyed seeing how Kenma and Kuroo’s (Ty Mahany) relationship evolved. We got some of it in the series but the movie fills in the blanks rather nicely
• I also really enjoy how Tsukishima (Leraldo Anzaldua) has continued to evolve as a character. There are a couple of moments that had me like “That’s my Tsuki!”
• As much as I love hearing the voice of Sugawara, Adam Gibbs in new things (Natsume’s Book of Friends owns my heart), I wish Kageyama’s Scott Gibbs was as booked and busy. He played Dr. Moreau in the Case Study of Vanitas and I was like “HE SHOULD BE EVERYWHERE HE’S SO VERSATILE.”
• Same as above for Greg Cote. He’s so charismatic and hilarious as Tanaka and I want to hear him in more things. I guess if I watched more Hi-Dive anime I’d hear them?

4.5/5