Haikyuu!! The Dumpster Battle Review

After four years of waiting, Haikyuu!! fans can finally breathe a sigh of relief because the production team has continued the story of Hinata and his teammates with the film "The Dumpster Battle," released in 2024.

In this movie, we finally witness the match between the "crows" of Karasuno High School and the "cats" of Nekoma High School, a legendary rivalry that fans have eagerly anticipated.

But was turning one of the fan-favorite arcs from the manga into a film instead of an anime series the right decision? What kind of story does the fifth Haikyuu!! film tell? Check out this synopsis and review from Showpoiler to find out!

Synopsis

After defeating the powerful Inarizaki High School, Karasuno High School advances to the third round of the Harutaka Volleyball Tournament to face an even tougher opponent, Nekoma High School. The matches between these two schools have always been legendary because of their intense competition.

Although they have faced each other in practice matches before, Karasuno High School and Nekoma High School will now showcase their true abilities, honed from defeating many previous opponents.

Kenma, the nonchalant setter of the Nekoma team, will finally face off against Hinata, the passionate spiker of Karasuno High School, who has been a good friend since their first meeting.

Hinata really wants to show his full ability in this match, while Kenma sticks to his motto: "the most important thing is to win no matter what."

The first set of the match was dominated by Karasuno, who showcased their rapid improvement. This surprised the Nekoma team, as their opponents seemed much stronger than in previous practice matches.

Although initially intimidated, Nekoma tried to adapt and narrowly defeated Karasuno with a score of 27-25.

In the second set, each team member displayed their balanced abilities. Tsukishima, despite being provoked by Kuroo, rose to the occasion and even bested him several times. Other members like Nishinoya, Sugawara, and Yamaguchi also shone in their moments.

Team Nekoma was equally impressive, particularly Kenma, who began to find the match enjoyable and played with increased effort. He frequently demonstrated his skill in ball placement, game analysis, and strategy.

Kenma also implemented a defensive strategy for his team, knowing the opposing team would continue to attack relentlessly until they were exhausted.

While this strategy was effective, Karasuno ultimately won the second set due to their undiminished spirit and stamina. However, this is when Kenma began to strategize more cleverly because he recognized Hinata's weakness: handling the ball.

In the third set, Kenma targeted Hinata by limiting his movement to spike, which successfully caused his confidence to falter. Hinata missed several passes from Kageyama, who noticed his self-doubt. Hinata's performance continued to decline.

On the other hand, Kenma realized he had never felt this passionate before. For the first time, he wanted to win using his full ability while playing volleyball. Since childhood, he had joined the volleyball club because of Kuroo, his best friend, who could always motivate others.

Kuroo had a deep passion for volleyball. He constantly talked about the sport, showed Kenma many aspects of the game, and eventually convinced him to join the team after recognizing Kenma's potential as a strategist.

Kenma was actually a homebody who had only enjoyed video games since he was young. The only thing that could excite him was finishing the game he was playing. That's why he was surprised but also happy when this passion finally emerged during the volleyball match.

As Kenma's determination began to peak, Hinata, who was feeling down, slowly started to recover. He realized he couldn't fall into the enemy's trap and needed to find a way out of his problems.

At that moment, Kageyama was there for Hinata again. After Coach Uzui's advice, Kageyama no longer hesitated to pass the ball to his spiker. Their partnership returned, making the match intense once more. So, who will win this "Crow vs. Cat in the Dumpster" match?

A Special Arc for Kenma

The Dumpster Battle feels like a special arc for Kenma because the plot unfolds through the perspective of the Nekoma High School setter. Even his initial encounter with Hinata, from the first episode of the anime series, is retold from his viewpoint in this film.

The film places significant emphasis on Kenma's character development, tracing back to his childhood. The typically indifferent player gradually discovers a passion for volleyball during the match, ultimately finding joy in the competition against Karasuno High School.

However, the production team ensures that other key characters are not overlooked. Kenma's narrative remains intertwined with other players such as Hinata, Tsukishima, Kuroo, and additional team members. The coaches also receive attention, though not as extensively as the main characters.

Emotional Rewards for Fans

Although I have not completed the entire Haikyuu!! anime series, I can tell that this film offers an emotional treat for fans. Those familiar with each character will appreciate their further development in this movie.

The film includes numerous flashbacks which serve as a journey through our memories of the characters from the anime series. However, this could be a drawback in The Dumpster Battle for newcomers, who may find themselves perplexed by unfamiliar backstories.

At the start of the film, the production team tries to introduce nearly all the characters, but this introduction might seem superficial and rushed for those who haven't followed the Haikyuu!! story previously.

Therefore, my advice is to watch the Haikyuu!! anime series before seeing this film. It's not necessary to view all the seasons—just the last one, season 4, which sets up the match featured in this film. Alternatively, you could watch the previous Haikyuu!! films for a quicker overview.

A Cine-VR Surprise

One special treat from Production I.G for the viewers of this film is the introduction of a Cine-VR (cinematic virtual reality) shot, presented from Kenma's perspective during the final round of the match. This innovative approach is a first, as it has not been featured in either the anime series or any previous Haikyuu!!! films.

These shots bring a dramatic flair to Kenma's experiences as one of the main protagonists, enhanced by the complete commitment of the voice actors, particularly Kaji Yuuki as Kenma. This element made me appreciate the film's detailed and well-executed production.

The Dumpster Battle was a delightful surprise for Haikyuu!! fans, a secret the production team had been keeping since 2020. The film effectively delivers the legendary match between Karasuno High School and Nekoma High School.

The decision to adapt this arc into a film was judicious, as the narrative remains engaging despite the apparent omission of some scenes. Fans of this popular sports anime should definitely not miss it!