Haikyuu!! To the Top
Summary: After their triumphant victory over Shiratorizawa Academy, the Karasuno High School volleyball team has earned their long-awaited ticket to nationals. As preparations begin, genius setter Tobio Kageyama is invited to the All-Japan Youth Training Camp to play alongside fellow nationally recognized players. Meanwhile, Kei Tsukishima is invited to a special rookie training camp for first-years within the Miyagi Prefecture. Not receiving any invitations himself, the enthusiastic Shouyou Hinata feels left behind.
However, Hinata does not back down. Transforming his frustration into self-motivation, he boldly decides to sneak himself into the same rookie training camp as Tsukishima. Even though Hinata only lands himself a job as the ball boy, he comes to see this as a golden opportunity. He begins to not only reflect on his skills as a volleyball player but also analyze the plethora of information available on the court and how he can apply it.
As the much-anticipated national tournament approaches, the members of Karasuno's volleyball team attempt to overcome their weak points and refine their skills, all while aiming for the top!
[Written by MAL Rewrite]
Description
After their triumphant victory over Shiratorizawa Academy, the Karasuno High School volleyball team has earned their long-awaited ticket to nationals. As preparations begin, genius setter Tobio Kageyama is invited to the All-Japan Youth Training Camp to play alongside fellow nationally recognized players. Meanwhile, Kei Tsukishima is invited to a special rookie training camp for first-years within the Miyagi Prefecture. Not receiving any invitations himself, the enthusiastic Shouyou Hinata feels left behind.
However, Hinata does not back down. Transforming his frustration into self-motivation, he boldly decides to sneak himself into the same rookie training camp as Tsukishima. Even though Hinata only lands himself a job as the ball boy, he comes to see this as a golden opportunity. He begins to not only reflect on his skills as a volleyball player but also analyze the plethora of information available on the court and how he can apply it.
As the much-anticipated national tournament approaches, the members of Karasuno's volleyball team attempt to overcome their weak points and refine their skills, all while aiming for the top!
[Written by MAL Rewrite]
Haikyuu!! To the Top Trailers
Haikyuu!! To the Top Pictures
Haikyuu!! To the Top Review
Haikyuu!! To the Top — After their triumphant victory over Shiratorizawa Academy, the Karasuno High School volleyball team has earned their long-awaited ticket to nationals. This overview is intentionally spoiler-free and focuses on tone and intent rather than plot specifics.
Thematically, It sits firmly within Sports conventions as a TV work and has garnered attention (MAL score: 8.37). This work explores character dynamics, tonal shifts, and the interplay between narrative ambition and execution. The story's pacing and tonal choices are crafted to complement the central ideas, often emphasizing atmosphere and emotional truth over explicit exposition. The show's ability to evoke a consistent mood — whether melancholic, exuberant, or contemplative — is a recurring strength, and the scenes are constructed so viewers can infer stakes without needing explicit spoilers.
Characterization is a core pillar here. Protagonists and supporting figures are written with distinct motivations and narrative roles; even when archetypal, the series invests in small behavioral details that make choices feel earned. Character arcs are handled with an eye for gradualism: development often arrives through incremental beats rather than abrupt, expository shifts. The interactions between characters create texture, and relationships are used to illuminate both personal flaws and larger thematic concerns.
On the visual front, production values play a significant role. The animation quality varies by sequence but frequently showcases thoughtful direction and composition. Background art, framing, and color palettes are used deliberately to support tone — quieter scenes favor muted palettes while action or heightened emotional beats employ brighter, more kinetic visuals. Direction choices, such as camera movement and shot selection, often elevate scenes beyond their raw script, creating moments that linger in the viewer's mind.
The soundscape — score, incidental music, and sound design — complements the visual language. Music cues are placed to maximize emotional resonance without manipulating the audience with melodrama; this restraint often leads to more authentic emotional payoff. Sound design punctuates key moments, and when the series leans on silence, those quieter moments are given weight by measured audio choices.
Pacing and structure are handled with craft. Episodes are arranged to build tension and release methodically, and the narrative rarely rushes through important emotional beats. That said, the deliberate pacing may feel slow to viewers who prefer faster plot turnover; the reward is greater nuance and an accumulation of meaning across the series. Accessibility is generally good — one can appreciate surface-level pleasures, while repeat or attentive viewing reveals additional layers.
No title is without flaws. Occasional unevenness in subplots or variable animation across episodes can be distracting. Some tonal shifts might feel abrupt if you expect uniformity; others will argue that those shifts are purposeful. These are worth noting, but they seldom undercut the larger achievements of the work.
In sum, Haikyuu!! To the Top offers a rich experience for viewers who value character-driven storytelling, considered visual design, and a soundtrack that supports rather than overwhelms. For fans of Sports, this is an especially rewarding watch. It's recommended for those who appreciate layered narratives and artistry in animation, and best approached with patience and attention to nuance.
Characters & Voice Actors
Hinata, Shouyou
Main
Murase, Ayumu
Japanese
Hinata, Shouyou
Main
Baugus, Bryson
English
Hinata, Shouyou
Main
Lupinacci, Simone
Italian
Hinata, Shouyou
Main
Trouffier, Tom
French
Hinata, Shouyou
Main
Torrent, Darío
Spanish
Hinata, Shouyou
Main
Almeida, Lucas
Portuguese (BR)
Kageyama, Tobio
Main
Ishikawa, Kaito
Japanese
Kageyama, Tobio
Main
Gibbs, Scott
English
Kageyama, Tobio
Main
Oldani, Andrea
Italian
Kageyama, Tobio
Main
Herlin, Simon
French
Kageyama, Tobio
Main
Wolko, Roman
German
Kageyama, Tobio
Main
Puig, Enric
Spanish
Kageyama, Tobio
Main
Casemiro, Bruno
Portuguese (BR)
Akaashi, Keiji
Supporting
Oosaka, Ryouta
Japanese
Akaashi, Keiji
Supporting
Albano, Davide
Italian
Akaashi, Keiji
Supporting
Gee, Jeremy
English
Akaashi, Keiji
Supporting
Fort-Junca, Benoît
French
Akaashi, Keiji
Supporting
Augustus, Demétrios
Portuguese (BR)
Akakura, Kai
Supporting
Seki, Kouji
Japanese
Akakura, Kai
Supporting
Anthony, Ryan
English
Staff
Honda, Tasuku
Producer
Kurashima, Mayumi
Producer
Maeda, Toshihiro
Producer
Matsushita, Keiko
Producer
Morihiro, Fumi
Producer
Okamura, Wakana
Producer
Satou, Masako
Director, Episode Director, Storyboard
Kikuta, Hiromi
Sound Director
Kamakura, Yumi
Episode Director, Storyboard
Makino, Tomoe
Episode Director
Matano, Hiromichi
Episode Director
Heo, Pyeonggang
Storyboard
Nomura, Kazuya
Storyboard
Ootsuka, Takashi
Storyboard
Sasaki, Shinsaku
Storyboard
Shimoda, Masami
Storyboard
Yoshida, Taizou
Storyboard
BURNOUT SYNDROMES
Theme Song Performance
CHiCO
Theme Song Performance
HoneyWorks
Theme Song Arrangement, Theme Song Lyrics, Theme Song Composition