Anime 101: Haikyu!!

May 23, 2022

Haikyu!! is the most popular sports anime of all time according to CBR and is ranked in the Top 30 anime on MyAnimeList. In 2017, Haikyu!! won the 61st Shogakukan Manga Award for best shōnen manga. Building friendships and working hard to achieve your dreams are just a few topics that make this an appealing show for new anime fans.

Synopsis

To some, volleyball is simply a sport, but to Shoyo Hinata, the protagonist of Haikyu!!, it’s the only thing he thinks about. Hinata gained his passion after seeing a remarkably short volleyball player on television. Being short himself, Hinata adopted this player as his new idol and set out to become just like him.

Despite not having a boys’ volleyball team at his middle school, Hinata tirelessly trains alone and occasionally practices with the girls’ team. His refusal to give up is what leads him to Karasuno High School where he meets his rival and teammate, Tobio Kageyama.

Tobio Kageyama is a setter and a child prodigy. He began playing volleyball at a young age and competed seriously throughout middle school, where he gained the nickname, “The King of the Court.” To other teams, it recognizes his outstanding talent, but to his middle school team, the nickname is an insult. Kageyama is just as bossy as he is talented with little regard for teamwork.

Both Hinata and Kageyama aim to join the Karasuno volleyball team. However, they become quick adversaries when confronted with their differences. Even setting aside their dislike for each other, the Karasuno volleyball team is on a losing streak and lacks a coach. Hinata and Kageyama’s determination and love of volleyball propels them on an adventure to achieve greatness.

Haikyu!! is an outstanding show for anyone new to the anime world. Strife and obstacles are challenged with teamwork, camaraderie, and a zeal for volleyball. The story has lots of fun characters that are easy to get attached to and you might even learn something about volleyball along the way.

Where To Watch

Haikyu!! is available for streaming on Crunchyroll.

Cosplay Options

If you’re interested in cosplaying from Haikyu!!, the uniforms are relatively easy to purchase online and only consist of a jersey and shorts.

Shoyo Hinata – Hinata is energetic, positive, tenacious. He has bright orange hair and wears the number 10.

Tobio Kageyama – Kageyama is an arrogant perfectionist. Kageyama has short black hair and wears the number 9.

Kenma Koizumi – Kenma is quiet and loves video games. This character has blonde hair with dark roots and wears a red Nekoma uniform.

Toru Oikawa – A flirtatious showoff, Oikawa has dark brown hair and wears a white and aqua Aoba Johsai uniform.

Meet the Voice Actors

This fall, you’ll have a chance to meet the voice of Shoyo Hinata at Anime St. Pete September 17-18.

Bryson Baugus as Shoyo Hinata

Meet Haikyu!! Voice Actor at Anime St. Pete

You’ll have the chance to meet Bryson Baugus of Haikyu!! at Anime St. Pete in St. Petersburg, Florida September 17-18. Anime St. Pete is a brand new con and St. Petersburg’s first anime convention! It’s being held at The Coliseum, the same venue St. Pete Comic Con was held at in January 2022. Anime St. Pete tickets are on sale now.

Anime St. Pete Goes Big with a Line-Up of Six Popular Anime Voice Actors

The new con is going big with six anime voice actors. Here are the voice actors scheduled for Anime St. Pete:

Dallas Reid, who voices Asta from Black Clover and Zack from Angels of Death (below, first row left)
Bryson Baugus, who voices Shoyo Hinata from Haikyu!! and Falco Grice from Attack on Titan (below, first row right)
Aaron Dismuke, who voices Tamaki Amajiki from My Hero Academia and Alphonse Elric from Fullmetal Alchemist (below, second row left)
Ryan Bartley, who voices Rei Ayanami from Neon Genesis Evangelion and Young Kyojuro Rengoku from Demon Slayer (below, second row right)
Chris Guerrero, who voices Ainz Ooal Gown from Overlord and Shadow from Sk8 the Infinity (below, third row left)
Jill Harris, who voices Noelle Silva from Black Clover and Chiyo Yumehara from The Disastrous Life of Saiki K (below, third row right)

This post is part of Florida Comic Cons’ series, Anime 101, introducing and celebrating our favorite anime series and sharing cosplay ideas. Have you cosplayed as a character from My Hero Academia? Share with us on Facebook or Instagram, or submit your photo to be included in the Florida Cosplay Digital Magazine.

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Florida Cosplay Digital Magazine published by Florida Comic Cons

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